4As Names Bernard Chan as CEO

The Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Singapore (4As) has appointed Bernard Chan as its Chief Executive Officer. With immediate effect, Chan will work closely with the executive committee to expand on 4As’ objectives of elevating the stature and prominence of Singapore’s advertising, media and marketing communications industry, while acting as the collective voice of the industry, and nurturing upcoming advertising talent and creativity. Chan will also represent 4As in related industry bodies, and government-led industry councils/panels at both national and international levels.

Since coming onboard, Chan has been busy with 4As’ restructuring plans as the trade association realigns itself to the evolving industry and ventures into new initiates to better engage and connect with the community ecosystem.

A veteran in the advertising and marketing communication industry, Chan’s experience in advertising and marketing communications spans almost four decades. In his last industry-related appointment, Chan was Principal Consultant for Dimension 8, a set-up with several senior partners from DNC International, where he was responsible for business development, as well as brand creation and strategy. Prior to this, Chan was the Principal Owner for DNC Advertising since 1974, Singapore’s largest locally owned advertising and marketing communications group with branches in Malaysia, Indonesia and annual Singapore billing of over $35 million with a staff strength of 110. For a decade, Chan sat as an Executive Council member in the 4As and was the association’s President from 1996 to 2003.

In the recent 5 years, Chan was involved in the non-profit sector focusing on senior services. This included the Tsao Foundation and Centre for Seniors. Chan is also the founder for Silver Tsunami Asia, a social enterprise focused on becoming an Asian-based movement to represent and champion the population group of those between 50-75, starting with today’s Baby Boomer group.

“We are very pleased to have Bernard onboard to lead the secretariat. Bernard’s perfect blend of both agency and not-for-profit experience is a valuable addition to the association. The Executive council and I look forward to working closely with him to make new exciting steps towards a more deeply connected community ecosystem while at the same time enhancing the value of membership through year-long programmes focused on professional skills enhancement, knowledge and professional competency, unilateral growth for industry and thought leadership” said Ted Choo, President of 4As.

The 4As also recently appointed Lauryn Tang as its Senior Manager for Programmes, who will work closely with Chan to expand and drive the association’s programmes for its members.

Interview with BRETT MITCHELL, Digital director, Droga5 Sydney, courtesy of AdFEST

 

 

Interview with BRETT MITCHELL, Digital director, Droga5 Sydney, courtesy of AdFEST

Brett Mitchell, Digital Director at Droga5 Sydney, is a self-confessed Japanophile, so AdFEST asked him for his verdict on judging Cyber advertising at ADFEST. (Brett was Jury President of this year’s Cyber Jury).

Q : What were your overall impressions as a judge at ADFEST?
A : The diversity of work was really great. Judging really different campaigns in different languages was tricky, but our Jury really seemed to scrutinize the work well. I actually thought we were quite hard on the work entered, but some of the winning stuff is pretty sensational.

Q : Uniqlo’s ‘Lucky Switch’ won Best of Cyber. Why?
A : It’s a unique, integrated idea that uses a widget to put Uniqlo’s brand on other people’s sites, which is quite cheeky. ‘Lucky Switch’ was actually a very close tie with the Uniqlo fashion show, which is all about making fashion more democratic.  It had a very nice tone of voice because fashion is so undemocratic and snooty.
And that reflects the brand, because Uniqlo does produce great clothes for very little money, as evidenced by my recent spending spree with them. So clearly the advertising’s working! Their delivery was 10 out of 10, the production values were incredible, which is why it won Gold.

Q : What makes a campaign worthy of Gold?
A: It’s a bit of work that makes you go, ‘Wow, that’s amazing, I wish I’d thought of that or done that’. It’s really just a singularly unique new idea, and certainly we saw seen a bunch of that throughout the week.

Q: And Bronze?
A : Bronze is still a really great bit of work, we saw many fantastic bits of work that didn’t get up for a Bronze, and I perhaps thought they might have. I suppose we had a fairly hardened up jury, so if you won a Bronze this year, it is a great piece of work. We’ve set a high level for the industry.

Q :You also judged ADFEST’s 360 entries. Why did DDB Auckland win this year’s GRANDE 360 Lotus?
A : We only awarded three 360 Lotuses, and the GRANDE winner came down to DDB Auckland versus Contract Advertising in Mumbai. DDB’s Moro campaign is based around Auckland being voted as the 4th most livable city in the world. In typical New Zealand humour, they built an entire campaign around the number ‘4’ and making things ‘4th’ which is quite a nice idea. Contract Advertising’s campaign for Sanctuary Magazine was about saving the Indian tiger from extinction. I think the idea was probably stronger but from a 360 perspective, DDB just had more spokes in the wheel, so it won on that basis. I think we made the right call on that.

Q: As Jury President of the Cyber category, what was your role?
A :Just to facilitate the conversations, make sure everyone was questioning where we were voting, and just to keep conversations alive. And also sometimes to sit back and observe, but mostly to keep things flowing.

Q : Any highlights?
A : For me, obviously judging Asian work is great – you get to check out a whole lot of stuff you’ve never heard about before. Asia as a region is of special interest to me because I love all things Asian. On Saturday I had a sensational dinner at a restaurant recommended by chef Tetsuya, basically the chef proceeded to cook me all kind of delicacies like abalone baked in wakame and salt. So my overall highlight was a culinary one.

Brett Mitchell was in Tokyo last week as Cyber Jury President at ADFEST 2010.

NOTICE

 

NOTICE:

28^th June 2010, 09.20am GMT +8

We will like to notify to whom it may concern.

With immediate effect, Miss. Jane Wu Baoyu of NRIC S83XX649B is no longer an employee of Gleamedia Pte Ltd at the stated date & time. Miss. Jane Wu Baoyu is not authorized to transact on behalf of Gleamedia Pte Ltd.

Photo: Jane Wu Baoyu

For clarifications, please forward to allan@gleamedia.com for more information.

Michael Canning named 2009 YoungGun of the Year

 

Michael Canning named 2009 YoungGun of the Year
 

Leo Burnett Sydney sparkled at the YoungGuns Advertising Award as ‘Agency of the Year’ while Michael Canning, Senior Creative of the agency was named the 2009 Professional YounGun of the year, in recognition of his outstanding "Vote Earth" Campaign for WWF. With the brilliant achievements of the Sydney, Portugal and Toronto offices, Leo Burnett Worldwide has garnered a total of 2 Gold Bullets, 1 Silver Bullet and 5 Bronze Bullets and named YGAward Network of the Year.

Amy Tan, ZenithOptimedia, Young Professional of the Year

 

 

Amy Tan, ZenithOptimedia, Young Professional of the Year
IAS Hall of Fame 2009 Award Winner
Title category sponsored by Moove Media

 
It’s a real honour to receive industry recognition and this award
serves as a timely motivation for me to continue challenging the
status quo.

What Inspires Me :
I love the idea of being able to influence consumers’ reactions to a
brand. The whole concept of brand building and how a relationship can
be built between a person and a brand through careful, intentionally
crafted communications is a strong pull. To be part of that process is
fascinating for me.

My Beliefs : I believe media and creative work hand in hand in
determining the success of an advertising campaign. With the evolution
of media from one-way to multi-way communications, the integration of
the medium and message has never been more critical.

My Mentors: Harpreet S. Kaintel, Regional Strategic Director of
ZenithOptimedia APAC, has been an inspiration to work with. His
clarity of mind and that innate ability to bring a person’s work to
the next level every time are admirable traits.

One of my first bosses in the industry, Lester Ng, currently based in
Beijing China, is extremely passionate and from him, I learnt to never
take no for an answer.

My Hobbies : I try to make it a point to run every week as it clears
my mind, especially when things get crazy. I also love to travel as
it’s an extremely enriching and eye-opening experience; you literally
find something new at every turn of a corner!

AdLib congratulates Chris Chiu, Creative Director of the Year

 

AdLib congratulates Chris Chiu, Creative Director of the Year

 
Winning the IAS Hall of Fame Creative Director of the Year was a huge
surprise.I was a finalist in 2007 and heard more buzz about my chances
then. As I mentioned briefly the night of the event, based on the
submission criteria which requires at least 5 pieces of work, this
award is more about the body of work created and could only be
possible by way of the tremendous support provided by the entire Leo
Burnett agency.

Any creative director can only learn from the creative directors he or
she has had before. Learn from them and be inspired by them. Which is
why I’d also like to thank John Kyriakou, Patrick Low, Antony Redman,
Graham Kelly and Linda Locke for their guidance throughout.

Stress-reliever? Golf. Fortunately that’s all I need to get my head
out of the cumulative pressures of work. Not massages or foot rubs, or
hitting the pubs and drinking the night away. Golf is something I’ve
done since I was 9. I enjoy it as much now as I did then playing a
round with my dad. It’s an amazing game. And my wife loves it too.
Most of my annual leave is spent taking golf holidays to the various
golfing destinations around the world with friends.

Inspiration ? Wife and Son. My 2-year old boy, Brody, is the reason
why I do what I do. I’ve been in the business close to 18 years now
and never had a sabbatical or a break per se. We all know this job can
take a lot out of you. Yet being with my son always re-energises me.
Makes me want to be fitter, sharper, more compassionate – all at the
same time. Am sure that’s how every parent feels – it is a brilliant
feeling.

Richelle Gan, ZoMedia

Richelle Gan
Marketing & PR Executive, ZoMedia

AdLib  : Why you are Good at what you do?
Richelle: I have been a fan of ZoCards since my schooldays, and have been diligently making sure I collect all the quirky and fun ones that are out. My interest in collecting ZoCards has probably been the major driving force in encouraging me to shout out about our brand name since I am working for the company now.

AdLib : Highlights of your career
Richelle: A marketing career has definitely taught me how to deal with all kinds of people,  and I have really learnt how to manage my schedule better. . . . .so little time, so much to do – but I’m still surviving, so it makes me feel good about myself.

AdLib : Your Greatest influence in Life
Richelle: My family -  they’re my biggest influence when I was growing up..

AdLib : Fantasy business partner
Richelle: Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield! It would probably be an awesome experience to learn how their business strategies in building their ice-cream brand got to where it is today

AdLib : Biggest risk ever taken
Richelle: At the moment, it is probably the experience of going on the inverter ride at some amusement park for more than 3 times and screaming my lungs out, not because I was scared, but because the damn safety harness kept poking at my thighs and the pain was excruciating.. other than that, I reckon that bigger risks would come my way as I gain more working experience.. but I’m game for that.

AdLib : Best job outside of advertising/media/marketing
Richelle: A designer/artist who gets to hold exhibitions, host arty-farty parties and be all bohemian trippin! Either that – nor console/computer game tester.. woot!

AdLib : Your Favourite Media of Choice
Richelle: interactive postcards, online flash websites and video/podcasts. . . . I’ve got itchy fingers to fiddle with such stuff!

AdLib : Your Favourite techie gadget
Richelle: My Apple Macbookpro

AdLib : Most admired politician
Richelle: Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew of course. He’s brought Singapore from nothing to a bustling cosmopolitan city in less than 50 years! Now that is something to admire.. the perseverance and determination that he has.

AdLib : Your Idea of A Perfect day
Richelle: My idea of an ultimate perfect day would be waking up in Santorini, Greece and then exploring the island, and just  enjoying the magificant views of the villages and beaches.

AdLib : Fictional hero(es)
Richelle: Charlie’s Angels – those girls can kick butt and look good while doing it!

AdLib : Who should play you in a film about your life?
Richelle: That would be a tie between Audrey Tautou because she really got into the quirkiness of her character in Le Fabuleux destin d’ Amelie, and Emily the strange. Somehow I always wanted my life to be portrayed in an animated film.

Adlib : Hidden talent that nobody knows about, besides BS-ing
Richelle: Looking innocent but having the craziest thoughts in my mind.. *ROFL*.. can’t help that I look like a totally harmless small girl. . . . .

AdLib : Deserted Island favourite objects
Richelle: Water, Handheld GPS system to navigate around and a yacht full of friends who wanna play Survivor Richelle style. (sounds like a tough cookie of a gal, this one!)

AdLib : Fantasy Partner
Richelle: Someone who is a total opposite from my sometimes eccentric personality, but is a total gamer and loves technology. . . . I think I found someone like that! (Does he have an older brother?)

Long Li Yann, O&M

Long Li Yann,
Group Communications Manager, Ogilvy & Mather

AdLib  : Why you are Good at what you do?
Li Yann: Because I always aim to learn from people around me.

AdLib : Highlights of your career
Li Yann: The best thing about my career is being able to talk to and learn from people from all walks of life. What they have shared with me often inspires me and keeps me going even when I am feeling down.

AdLib : Your Greatest influence in Life
Li Yann: There are too many – from my mother to my bosses to my GP tutor back in junior college – for me to list down as the greatest influence.

AdLib : Fantasy business partner
Li Yann: Warren Buffet or Robert Kiyosaki.

AdLib : Biggest risk ever taken
Li Yann: Moving from publishing to corporate communications. I’ve always wanted to write since I was eight. But there were some pretty compelling and atttractive reasons for me to make the switch.

AdLib : Best job outside of advertising/media/marketing
Li Yann: To be a yoga instructor at a beach resort. Preferably in the Maldives or Jamaica. Ooohh……..hmmm.

AdLib : Your Favourite Media of Choice
Li Yann: It is a tie-up between print and digital. I’m old school, nothing beats the feeling of flipping through the papers and magazines (I’m so sorry, trees!). But at the same time, the possibilities are endless on digital.

AdLib : Your Favourite techie gadget
Li Yann: My iPhone, hands down. I read, surf the net, track my expenses, take photos, watch movies and play games on this nifty, gorgeous gadget. Oh, and I can call and text with it too.

AdLib : Most admired politician
Li Yann: Nobody.

AdLib : Your Idea of A Perfect day
Li Yann: It depends. Some days, all I long for is to relax by the beach with a book in my hand and a martini by my side. On other days, I crave for a spot of shopping and a good massage, rounded up by Japanese food.

AdLib : Fictional hero(es)
Li Yann: Jean Grey.

AdLib : Who should play you in a film about your life?
Li Yann: An actress who is a mix of Callista Flockhart from Ally McBeal or Ellen Pompeo from Grey’s Anatomy. Because we are all petite and just a little neurotic (their characters are, anyway).

AdLib : Hidden talent that nobody knows about, besides BS-ing
Li Yann: I’m terrible at BS-ing, actually, I can’t keep my face straight. But I’m really good at singing everywhere – in the bath, in the car, to my cat (who just ignores me and walks away), at the dinner table…you get the point. I wasn’t a chorister for 13 years for nothing. (Hey, we have something in common here, let’s do a duet sometime, ok?)

AdLib : Desert Island favourite objects
Li Yann: A bottle of chilled Moscato, sunblock, a big straw hat, a camera and a gaggle of good looking, toned men playing beach soccer in front of me (yeah girl, go get ‘em all!)

AdLib : Fantasy Partner
Li Yann: I have to be diplomatic and say that it would be someone like…my husband!

Caroline Soo, Moove Media

Caroline Soo
Marketing Executive, Moove Media 

AdLib  : Why you are Good at what you do?
Caroline: ‘Coz of the cliche ‘Never Say Die’ attitude and the chase after the ‘high’ that I get from seeing my brand everywhere!

AdLib : Highlights of your career
Caroline: Being on the set with Stefanie Sun, lunching with Fann Wong? Seriously though, every campaign is good only while it lasts, thus I’m loving it when my boss and I look out for the next big bang to stun Singapore. Most memorable part of my career will be the interview that got me my first marketing job – it started me off on a vibrant path that I secretly suspect will become the source of my bubbly youth

AdLib : Your Greatest influence in Life
Caroline: Myself. For it is my own response to the people and events around me that determines my actions and molds the person that I am today. I guess you can say it’s God’s will that accounts for the pre-determined set of genes & pre-deposition towards life

AdLib : Fantasy business partner
Caroline: Don’t exactly have a particular one. Maybe Howard Schultz for the coffee freak in me or the next new media business guru

AdLib : Biggest risk ever taken
Caroline: Renting a car which was basically scrap metal & traveling in the sub-urban countryside of Greece with a map that literary talked Greek to me! The car spun when we hit a sandy patch & almost fell off the edge of the mountain road with us in it! Talk about a near-death experience. The spectacular view was almost worth it though

AdLib : Best job outside of advertising/media/marketing
Caroline: A talented writer or artist who is able to make any part of the world her home for weeks or months & simply move on from there. Drawing inspiration simply from the air she breathes & yet having the choice to live in the likes of Paris or Barcelona when she gets tried of playing the pauper writer. Kinda like an undercover anthropologist

AdLib : Your Favourite Media of Choice
Caroline: Interactive media

AdLib : Your Favourite techie gadget
Caroline: Vaio TT series

AdLib : Most admired politician
Caroline: Toni Morrison. She’s a politician wielding a mighty pen

AdLib : Your Idea of A Perfect day
Caroline: Waking up to coffee & creamy scrambled eggs with salad. Spending the morning curled up with a good book over a great scenic view. Followed by a game of beach volley in the late afternoon sun and finally relaxing over a message, great dinner and a bottle of semillon sauvignon blanc with my girl friends. Can I squeeze in a dive trip too? (Yeah, sure, there’s no limit to the imagination!)

AdLib : Fictional hero(es)
Caroline: The Fairy Godmother! She’s like the key person in all those fairytales   

AdLib : Who should play you in a film about your life?
Caroline: Hmm… Anne Hathaway

AdLib : Hidden talent that nobody knows about, besides BS-ing
Caroline: Cranking people up. No, really, I’m good. *Pause* Maybe in a psychotic way

AdLib : Desert Island favourite objects
Caroline: Grilled seafood with chilled white wine, solar system & mobile phone and Prince Charming

AdLib : Fantasy Partner
Caroline: Prince Charming with intellect. (go get him, girl!)

Erin Lee, Cathay Organisation

Erin Lee, Senior Group Communications Executive,
Cathay Organisation


AdLib : Why you are Good at what you do?
Erin    : I manage to stay cool in times of crisis. And having a bit of a split personality helps, when dealing with different people. And most importantly, I think I can write

AdLib : Highlights of your Career
Erin: Joining the PR/Comms industry. It’s been a great eye-opener

AdLib : Your Greatest Influence in Life
Erin: My mom. I didn’t know this until I read ‘Joy Luck Club’

AdLib : A Fantasy business partner
Erin: Miranda Presley, from ‘Devil Wears Prada’. I have a soft spot for outstanding, good looking women. Oh, and I don’t mind having a $5,000 coat tossed at me

AdLib : Biggest risk ever taken
Erin:  Climbing the Great Wall of China when I was 10 years old. I am TERRIBLY afraid of heights.

AdLib : Best job outside of advertising/media/marketing
Erin: Maybe a Taichi master. I’m currently taking lessons and developing a serious liking for it!

AdLib : Your Favourite Media of Choice
Erin: The Internet. Accessible, eco-friendly, information overload and tons of useful clutter – what’s not to like?

AdLib : Your Favourite techie gadget
Erin: Currently, my Asus Eee PC 9-inch netbook. It’s my chihuahua-in-the-bag substitute

AdLib : Most admired politician
Erin: Ghandi from the past, and SM Goh from the present

AdLib : Your Idea of A Perfect day
Erin: Cruising in my Swift on a cool, cloudy day and listening to Dave Brubeck’s
‘Time Out’

AdLib : Fictional hero(es)
Erin    : The Monkey King – this guy knows 72 transformations!

AdLib : Who should play you in a film about your life?
Erin    : Maggie Q? Except I will have to shrink her down by a few feet

AdLib : Hidden talent that nobody knows about, besides BS-ing
Erin:  Almost-flawless acting skills. Be careful when you talk to me

AdLib : Desert Island favourite objects
Erin    : A good book, a can of ice cold Stella Artois, and a family-size Cadbury chocolate bar

AdLib : A Fantasy Partner
Erin    : Johnny Depp. But if this fantasy comes true I will be sharing him with many other ladies