About me

My personal philosophy revolves around PEOPLE, PRODUCT and PROFIT. In that order, because when we take care of our people, the product will improve and profit will follow.

Purpose.

Fuelling the next generation of creative and would be business leaders to be relevant in today's world.

Passionate.

Curious about how people think and feel.

On sustaining talents.

We are losing talents to new industries. In addition, there is perception that creative agencies are sweatshops, which deter the young from joining. That is why, during my free time, I always accept invitations from institution of higher learnings to talk with students and hopefully inspire a few to consider joining the creative industry.

Over the horizon.

Adoption of AI and automation to transform what we do. To allow us to focus to be smarter.

Background.

In the course of my career as a Creative Director, I am thankful to be selected onto the judging panel of Regional and International awards such as Cannes, D&AD and Adfest.

Past achievements includes building Arc Worldwide Malaysia as the No.1 direct marketing agency in Asia/Malaysia for three consecutive years in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

I am also lucky to have a strong team and together we were awarded Campaign Asia-Pacific's regional Gold for Southeast Asia Agency Head of the year 2012. Voted Malaysia Digital Agency of the Year for 3 consecutive years, Malaysia Creative Agency of the Year 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2016 as well as Southeast Asia PR Agency of the Year 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All in all, over the span of my career picked up over 300 creative awards including 4 Cannes Gold.

The highlight, however, was when Leo Burnett Malaysia was voted the No.1 preferred agency by top marketers in Malaysia in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016, after sweeping the most number of Agency of the year Gold Accolades at the A+M Agency of the Year awards.

I believe that with GROWTH comes FREEDOM.

As CEO of Leo Burnett Group in Malaysia, I take pride, in building the creative reputation of the Leo Burnett group agencies in Malaysia. Supported by a strong team, we have transformed Leo Burnett Malaysia to be the a top of mind creative agency for ambitious marketer in Malaysia.

Earlier in March 2016, Publicis Groupe, the global communications enterprise united all Publicis Groupe agency brands' capabilities and expertise under one roof. I was fortunate to be appointed as the Group CEO of Publicis Groupe Malaysia overseeing brands including Leo Burnett, Arc Worldwide, Alpha 245, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi Arachnid, Starcom, Spark Foundry and Performics. Over the last two years we also launch four new agencies namely DIGITAS, PRODIGOIUS, MSL and Publicis Emil.

My favourite pastimes.

Movies, observing people, nature, life, designs, history and trends.

Ultimately, the concept of work is determined by our mindset. If we love what we do, it won't feel like work.

Skills

Advertising, Branding, Business Management, Creative Direction

Sector Experience

Accomodation, Automobiles, Automotive, Banking, Charity / Not for profit, Communications, Consumer Durables, Creative Services, E-Commerce, Education, FMCG, Food & Beverages, Insurance, Internet, Oil & Gas, Telco, Transport

Awards

A+M Agency of The Year Awards 2016 - Bronze - Search Marketing, A+M Agency of The Year Awards 2016 - Gold  - Content Marketing, A+M Agency of The Year Awards 2016 - Gold - Brand Consultancy of The Year, A+M Agency of The Year Awards 2016 - Gold - Creative Agency of The Year, A+M Agency of The Year Awards 2016 - Gold - Event Marketing Agency of The Year, A+M Agency of The Year Awards 2016 - Gold - Public Relations Agency of The Year, A+M Agency of The Year Awards 2016 - OVERALL Agency of The Year, A+M Agency of The Year Awards 2016 - Silver  - Mobile Marketing, A+M Agency of The Year Awards 2016 - Silver - Digital Agency of The Year, A+M Agency of The Year Awards 2016 - Silver - Direct Marketing, A+M Agency of The Year Awards 2016 - Silver - Social Marketing, ADFEST Award 2016 - Bronze for Corporate Identity, ADFEST Award 2016 - Bronze for Internet Film -Best of Commercial PublicPrivate & Financial Services, APPIES 2016 (Singapore) - Silver - Food & Beverage Category, APPIES 2016 - Gold - Food & Beverage Category, APPIES 2016 - Gold - Pro Bono/Governement/Cultural, APPIES 2016 - Silver - Consumer Services, Campaign Southeast Asia - Agency Head of The Year 2012, Campaign Southeast Asia - Bronze - Malaysia Digital Agency of The Year 2015, Campaign Southeast Asia - Gold - Malaysia Creative Agency of The Year 2012, Campaign Southeast Asia - Gold - Malaysia Creative Agency of The Year 2014, Campaign Southeast Asia - Gold - Malaysia Creative Agency of The Year 2015, Campaign Southeast Asia - Gold - Malaysia Digital Agency of The Year 2012, Campaign Southeast Asia - Gold - Malaysia Digital Agency of The Year 2013, Campaign Southeast Asia - Gold - Malaysia Digital Agency of The Year 2014, Campaign Southeast Asia - Gold - PR Agency of The Year 2013, Campaign Southeast Asia - Gold - PR Agency of The Year 2014, Campaign Southeast Asia - Gold - PR Agency of The Year 2015, Campaign Southeast Asia - Gold - Specialist Agency of The Year 2015, Campaign Southeast Asia - Gold - Specialist Agency of The Year 2016, Campaign Southeast Asia - Planner of The Year 2013, Campaign Southeast Asia - Silver - Malaysia Creative Agency of The Year 2013, Campaign Southeast Asia - Silver - Malaysia Creative Agency of The Year 2016, Campaign Southeast Asia - Silver - PR Agency of The Year 2016, Campaign Southeast Asia - Silver - Specialist Agency of The Year 2014, Cannes Lions - Gold, EFFIES 2016 - Silver - Beverages / Alcoholic, EFFIES 2016 - Silver - David vs Goliath, EFFIES 2016 - Silver - Effort for Goods - Brand, EFFIES 2016 - Silver - Internet Services/Telco Products & Services, Malaysia PR Awards 2015/2016 - Bronze - Product Brand Development, Marketing Events Awards 2016 - Bronze - Best Event Targeted Community, Marketing Events Awards 2016 - Silver - Best Event Community Service, Marketing Excellence Awards 2016 - Bronze - Excellence in Brand Awareness, Marketing Excellence Awards 2016 - Bronze - Excellence in Launch Marketing, Marketing Excellence Awards 2016 - Gold - Excellence in Content Marketing / Native Advertising/Branded Content, Marketing Excellence Awards 2016 - Gold - Excellence in Customer Engagement, Marketing Excellence Awards 2016 - Gold - Excellence in Experiential Marketing, Marketing Excellence Awards 2016 - Silver - Excellence in Marketing Communications/Public Relations, Marketing Excellence Awards 2016 - Silver - Excellence in Marketing to a Male Audience, MARKies Awards 2016 - Best Idea - Out of Home, MARKies Awards 2016 - Best Idea - Social, MARKies Awards 2016 - Best Idea - Viral, MARKies Awards 2016 - Best Use of Branded Content, PMAA Dragons of Asia Awards 2016 - Black Dragon Certificate - Best Brand Trial / Sales Generation Campaign, PMAA Dragons of Asia Awards 2016 - Black Dragon Certificate - Best Marketing Discipline Campaign, PMAA Dragons of Asia Awards 2016 - Black Dragon Certificate - Best Product Launch / Re-Launch, PMAA Dragons of Asia Awards 2016 - Blue - Best Digital Campaign, PMAA Dragons of Asia Awards 2016 - Gold - Best Product Launch / Re-Launch, PMAA Dragons of Asia Awards 2016 - Silver - Best Digital Campaign, PMAA Dragons of Malaysia Awards 2016 - Black Dragon Certificate - Best Brand Building / Awareness Campaign, PMAA Dragons of Malaysia Awards 2016 - Black Dragon Certificate - Best Small Budget Campaign, PMAA Dragons of Malaysia Awards 2016 - Bronze - Best Marketing Discipline Campaign, PMAA Dragons of Malaysia Awards 2016 - Gold - Best Caused Charity Marketing / Public Sector Campaign, PMAA Dragons of Malaysia Awards 2016 - Gold - Best Digital Campaign, PMAA Dragons of Malaysia Awards 2016 - Silver - Best Product Launch / Re-Launch, PR Southeast Asia Awards 2016 - Gold for Best Use of Broadcast / Video, SPIKES 2016 - Bronze for Creation of New Brand Identity:Consumer/Corporate/Non profit

Trade Associations

4A's Malaysia