Effie Asia-Pacific has named Visa Asia-Pacific CMO Danielle Jin as Chairperson for the 2026 APAC Effie Awards. A former juror and Head of Jury, Jin brings deep regional expertise and a strong focus on culturally relevant, data-driven marketing effectiveness to the programme.
Effie Asia-Pacific has named Danielle Jin, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Visa Asia-Pacific, as Chairperson for the 2026 APAC Effie Awards, placing one of the region’s most influential marketing leaders at the helm of the industry’s most closely watched celebration of effectiveness. The appointment signals a clear emphasis on measurable impact, cultural relevance and innovation at a time when marketing across Asia-Pacific is being reshaped by rapid technological adoption and shifting consumer expectations.
Jin’s appointment comes as the APAC Effie Awards continue to strengthen their position as a benchmark for marketing effectiveness, recognising campaigns that demonstrate clear, proven results rather than creative merit alone. With Visa’s top marketer for the region guiding the 2026 season, the competition is expected to sharpen its focus on work that blends strategic insight with tangible business outcomes, while remaining sensitive to the immense diversity that defines Asia-Pacific.
As Chief Marketing Officer for Visa Asia-Pacific, Jin oversees brand and marketing strategy across B2C, B2B and Marketing Services within the payments ecosystem. Her remit spans some of the world’s most dynamic and complex markets, requiring a careful balancing of global brand consistency with local cultural nuance. Over the past several years, she has led initiatives that have not only strengthened Visa’s brand leadership in the region but also deepened its engagement with consumers and partners, while accelerating the company’s digital-first approach to marketing.
Under Jin’s leadership, Visa has broadened its cultural and lifestyle presence across Asia-Pacific, moving beyond traditional functional messaging around payments to forge deeper emotional connections with consumers. By tapping into music, sports, travel and everyday lifestyle moments, Visa’s campaigns have aimed to reflect how people actually live, transact and interact across markets as varied as India, Southeast Asia, Australia, Japan and Greater China. These efforts have helped position the brand as both a trusted payments leader and an enabler of modern life, particularly among younger, digitally native audiences.
Her work has also been defined by an emphasis on measurable growth. Visa’s regional and cross-border campaigns under Jin have been driven by data-led insights and powered by emerging technologies, from advanced analytics to personalised digital experiences. This approach has translated marketing investment into demonstrable business impact, reinforcing Effie’s core philosophy that effectiveness is the ultimate measure of marketing success.
Jin is no stranger to the APAC Effie Awards. She has previously served as Head of Jury as well as a juror, giving her a deep understanding of the competition’s rigorous standards and judging philosophy. Her familiarity with the programme is expected to bring continuity as well as fresh perspective, particularly as the Effies continue to evolve in response to changes in the marketing landscape.
Before assuming her current role overseeing Asia-Pacific, Jin was Head of Marketing for Visa in Greater China, where she supported business growth across Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan. In those markets, she navigated a highly competitive and rapidly digitising payments environment, shaping marketing strategies that were closely aligned with local consumer behaviour and regulatory realities. Her experience in Greater China sharpened her expertise in managing complexity at scale, a skill that is central to leading marketing across the wider Asia-Pacific region.
Prior to joining Visa, Jin spent nearly a decade at PepsiCo Greater China, where she served as Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the beverage category. There, she led growth strategy alongside the company’s marketing and innovation agenda, working at the intersection of brand building, product development and consumer insight. Her background in fast-moving consumer goods has informed her approach to marketing at Visa, bringing a strong understanding of brand storytelling, innovation pipelines and the importance of speed and relevance in consumer-facing businesses.
Beyond her corporate roles, Jin has been widely recognised within the industry. She has been featured on Campaign Asia-Pacific’s Marketing Power List every year since 2021, an acknowledgment of her influence and leadership in the region. She also contributes to the next generation of marketers by guest lecturing on strategy and marketing, underscoring her commitment to advancing the profession beyond her own organisation.
In accepting the role of Awards Chair, Jin underscored the shifting definition of effectiveness in today’s marketing environment. “It’s an honour to serve as Awards Chair for the APAC Effie Awards,” she said. “Today, effectiveness goes beyond reach – it’s about forging authentic connections that deliver measurable outcomes and create lasting relevance. Asia-Pacific is a fast-evolving market where technology adoption, cultural diversity, and consumer expectations demand marketing that is both innovative and authentic.”
Her remarks reflect a broader industry conversation about the need to balance performance metrics with cultural meaning. In a region as diverse as Asia-Pacific, campaigns that succeed in one market may fall flat in another if they fail to reflect local values, customs and community dynamics. Jin’s emphasis on work that taps into consumer passions and is rooted in culture and community aligns closely with Effie’s mission to showcase marketing that works in the real world, not just on paper.
“I look forward to seeing work that reflects our region’s complexity and taps into consumer passions—rooted in culture and community—to set new benchmarks for marketing excellence,” she added, signalling that the 2026 Effies will reward campaigns that embrace nuance and authenticity alongside innovation and results.
The APAC Effie Awards are globally recognised as the gold standard for marketing effectiveness, awarding only those campaigns that can demonstrate proven impact for clients and brands. As marketers face increasing scrutiny over return on investment, the Effies’ emphasis on evidence-based evaluation has become more relevant than ever. The competition’s rigorous judging process, led by senior marketers and industry leaders, has helped establish it as a trusted measure of excellence across the region.
The Call for Entry for the 2026 APAC Effie Awards will open on 12 December, marking the beginning of what is expected to be a closely watched season under Jin’s chairmanship. With her blend of regional experience, data-driven discipline and appreciation for cultural storytelling, her leadership is likely to shape an awards programme that reflects both the realities and the ambitions of marketing in Asia-Pacific today.
As brands across the region navigate economic uncertainty, technological disruption and evolving consumer values, the Effie Awards under Jin’s guidance are poised to highlight work that not only stands out creatively but also delivers meaningful, measurable impact. Her appointment underscores Effie Asia-Pacific’s commitment to staying relevant in a fast-changing industry, while continuing to champion marketing effectiveness as the ultimate standard of success.
