Thesun 2008-11-27 Page24 Seven Advertising Mavericks Iconised

24 œ

theSun

media & marketing

C

I

| THURSDAY NOVEMBER 27 2008

T

A

T

I

O

N

Peter Beaumont

» was regarded as the

Return of AdAsia THE Asian Advertising Congress 2009 (AdAsia09) will take place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from Oct 22 to 25 next year. Malaysia first hosted AdAsia in Kuala Lumpur 19 years ago. Malaysian Advertisers Association (MAA) president Peter Anthony Das, who is AdAsia09 organising committee chairman, unveiled the logo and theme – Asia: Redefining The Future, following the endorsement by AFFA members at a meeting recently. The logo and theme are inspired by the words of authors John Naisbitt, Kenichi Ohmae, Kishore Mahbubani and Peter J. Williamson, who have shared the view that Asia’s rapid growth has propelled it into becoming the centre stage of global economy. AdAsia, the biennial gathering of the Asian advertising community, was initiated by former Dentsu president Hideo Yoshida and launched in 1958 in Tokyo. While AdAsia has been growing strong for 51 years, Malaysia has also marked 51 years of independence and growth. Despite the current global financial crisis, Malaysia is able to maintain a modest (gross domestic product) growth of 5% for this year. Tourist arrivals to Malaysia, according to the recorded from January to September was 16,329,855, representing an increase of 4.4% compared to 15,648,292 for the same period in 2007. “In a recent survey, Nielsen Global AdViews 2008 Pulse second quarter report shows that the share of Asia Pacific media spend is again leading the way with the largest increase at nearly 9%,” said Das, who is also the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) chairman.

Seven advertising mavericks iconised

doyen of the Malaysia advertising agency scene since he came to Malaysia in 1964 and worked at Jackson Wain and Leo Burnett. was one of the founders of 4As was a man of many suits – agency supremo, businessman, award winning cinematographer, newspaper columnist, artist, lively raconteur and yachtsman.

» »

Datuk Jaffar Mohd Ali

»

one of the individuals responsible for the construction of the Petronas Twin Towers. won the Max Lewis Awards of 1980, 1996 Advertising Man of the Year Award. Conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Letters in 1997 by Australia’s Charles Sturt University in recognition of his services to advertising education. a member of the World Council of the International Advertising Association which he was admitted in 1994 and later served as vice-president for professional development. served the 2As (now known as the 4As) for 15 consecutive years.

»

»

From left ... T. Renganathan (representing the late Jaffar Ali), Simon Beaumont (representing the late Peter Beaumont), Yasmin, Tiffanie Marie Lim (on behalf of Lim Kok Wing), Yeo, Smith and Teo Ee Sin (representing the late John Machado) holding the Hall of Fame awards.

by Angela Sargunan [email protected]

SEVEN local advertising mavericks were recognised yesterday for their contributions which helped put Malaysia on the world map of the advertising industry. The Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As) named seven deserving players in the advertising world who received the Malaysian Advertising Hall of Fame awards. The awards were conceptualised to recognise outstanding people whose commitment to excellence through their influence, ideas, creativity and innovation has changed the course of the industry in the country. The seven who were inducted to the Hall of Fame were Yasmin Ahmad, Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing, the late Peter Beaumont, the late Datuk Jaffar Ali, Janet Yeo, the late John Machado and Kenneth Smith. “The recognition is long overdue. The seven inductees, distinguished leaders and luminaries of the industry over the past 30 years, have sharpened the advertising industry’s landscape through their leadership qualities,” said 4As president Datuk Vincent Lee. “We wish to pay tribute to these leaders who best embody the qualities of insight, ethics and courage which are the key attributes of visionary leadership. Their Midas Touch and the collective creativity of these individuals are what we will be celebrating,” added Lee, who is also Naga DDB Sdn Bhd executive chairman. “We set the bar high with the first class of

legends because we want to recognise and honour those in our advertising community who have made an immeasurable contribution to our profession,” he added. Lee said the recipients were nominated by the 4As Council and selected for their achievements to the advertising industry based on three criteria: the power and value of brands they have built; their contribution to human capital development; their contribution to Malaysian society. “In conjunction with the Kancil Awards’ 30th anniversary, it is a good time to establish the inaugural 4As Hall of Fame awards,” 4As vice-president Tony Savarimuthu who is McCann Worldgroup CEO told reporters at the induction ceremony. The 4As will look into publishing a book to document the great brands and the achievements of great leaders which will serve like an achieve. The awards were presented with a plaque during the induction ceremony and will receive their trophy on the Kancil Awards night on Friday. Simon Beaumont, who received the award on behalf of his father, the late Beaumont said; “My dad would be amused to receive the Hall of Fame Award but he would be secretly pleased.” He said Malaysian advertising has changed tremendously since 40 years ago and his father would have been proud to have been part of it. The late Machado played the maverick and trumps the local ad industry. His wife Teo Ee Sim who was touched and slightly teary said Machado proudest achievement is to have worked with wonderful people, who have gone on to be luminaries in their own right.

» » »

»

Kenneth Smith

»

joined as the creative director in Ogilvy and Mather in Malaysia in 1971. won the first Clio Award (ever given to a Malaysian agency) for his Dunlop tyre cinema commercial. served as 4As president in 1978 during which he made it his mission to encourage the advertising industry in Malaysia and boost the reputation of the people in the industry.

»

»

Janet Yeo

» started her career

with Union 45 when it was still a sign painting company, and transformed it into a full-fledge advertising agency. responsible for building Union 45 which helped build branding for clients like Yeo’s for 20 years, and other brands like Anlene and Gardenia.

»

John Machado

» worked in Bates, Lin-

tas, Chuosenko before opening his own agency JM Creative author of advertising book Creative Desire and a book, Book of Beer for Anchor Beer.

»

Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Lim Kok Wing

» communications strategist » began working life as

a journalist and cartoonist, before moving into advertising later ventured into the education sector and establish the LimKokWing Institute of Creative Technology.

»

Yasmin Ahmad

» writer, creative director, story-teller, director » started her career

by writing scripts and directing television commercials had won several local and international awards for her work including the first and only Cannes Gold Lion for TV advertising earlier this year.

»