Times have changed and so has the advertising industry. Modern day advertising has certainly become a lot more complex than it was before. With print ads, radio, TV commercials, social media, websites and more on the rise, a lot needs to be considered when creating, planning and managing a client’s advertising requirements. A growing population coupled with a thriving consumer base has seen the rise of advertising agencies in Malaysia. In this issue, Top 10 of Malaysia takes a look at its list of the top 10 advertising agencies in the country that are being recognized for delivering big ideas and gaining impactful results.
Ryan Ong, Managing Partner of Kingdom Digital Solutions Sdn Bhd
Kingdom Digital Solutions
Award-winning digital agency Kingdom Digital Solutions was founded in 2007 by Ryan Ong and Aravindan Chinnaraja. The agency offers creative ground-breaking digital solutions driven by strategic ideas and insights to help brands build lasting relationships with their consumers. The firm specialises in content strategy and creation, social media marketing, website design, display ads and digital creative production. It works with large brands across various industries such as Maxis, Sime Darby, Tesco and others. This year, the agency was named Local Hero for Digital Agency and Social Marketing Agency at the A+M’s Agency of the Year 2017.
Tan Kien Eng, CEO of Leo Burnett
Leo Burnett
Leo Burnett Worldwide believes in using a creative approach to drive dynamic business changes for its clients. Through a HumanKind approach to marketing, the agency puts a brand’s purpose at the centre of communications to transform human behaviour. It is one of the world’s largest agency networks with 96 offices in over 80 countries and over 8,500 employees. The award-winning agency works with some of the world’s most valued brands such as McDonald’s and Samsung. Its Malaysian clientele list includes Petronas, Carlsberg among many others. Leo Burnett Group Malaysia is also a 3-time Gold winner of Malaysia Creative Agency of the Year
Shaun Tay, CEO of FCB Kuala Lumpur
FCB Kuala Lumpur
FCB Kuala Lumpur transformed into a locally-owned creative agency and this worked well as it sparked an amazing turnaround that steered it away from major challenges. With a hands-on, energetic team and incredible group of diverse talents led by CEO Shaun Tay, Chief Creative Officer Ong Shi Ping and CFO Liew Kok Heng, the agency’s goal was to own the space between large network giants and local boutique shops. The agency’s client roster includes Motorola Asia-Pacific, RHB Bank, Havaianas and Levi’s to name a few, and its reputation for creative effectiveness has won the firm numerous awards from MARKies, PMAA Dragons of Asia and Marketing Excellence Awards.
Hugh Batley & Casper Andersen, Managing Partners of Lion & Lion
Lion & Lion
Founded in 2012 by managing partners Hugh Barley and Casper Andersen, Lion & Lion established itself in the region with offices in 6 major cities including Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Singapore. With its growing portfolio of clients including Google, the Coca Cola Company andNestlé, Lion & Lion focuses on transparent and measurable results through a data-drive and strategically-led approach to digital marketing. Its mission is to help clients with impactful marketing through an organisation where talented people are motivated by helping businesses grow.
Ng Wan Hoon & Long Yun Siang, Managing Partners of Roar Point Sdn Bhd
Roar Point
Roar Point is a brand consultancy that provides customised solutions to marketing challenges. It tells a great story for the brand to ‘roar’ so businesses get the results needed. Roar Point provides brand and market strategies, integrated marketing, marketing communications and advertising, brand development and digital marketing services. It helps its clients get the optimum combination to deliver best results. Its list of clients includes Family Mart, Aeroline, Golden Screen Cinemas and Maggi among others.
Eric Ngan, Founder of Dotplus Communications
Dotplus Communications
Within 7 years of its inception, Dotplus Communications has already risen to be one of the leading advertising agencies in the country. Dotplus’ strength lies in an experienced creative team who blends its vast knowledge in branding, creative design, web interactive design and video production. Even though it is relatively new, Dotplus has already accumulated a strong client list that includes leaders in telecommunications, property, healthcare and finance industries. It has even won the 2015 Grand Award at the ARC Awards International and produced over 100 annual reports for local and international conglomerates.
Grey Group Malaysia
Grey Group is one of the largest advertising agencies in the country and is dedicated to delivering big ideas that accelerate brand possibilities using ‘SHIFT’, an exclusive tool to create powerful businesses and building brands with creative ideas. It also conducts an annual research called ‘Eye on Asia’ to determine powerful underlying trends that help shape current branding and communications. It works with top brands such as Allianz, Webe and Volvo, and currently has offices in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Malaysia.
Brandthink Malaysia
As its name suggests, Brandthink Malaysia does work that changes perception and influences behaviour. Being one of Malaysia’s fastest growing advertising agencies, Brandthink has been known for providing not only advertising services but also PR and events. It has worked with big clients in luxury, fashion and lifestyle to launch iconic brands in Malaysia, Singapore and other countries in Asia Pacific. In 2011, it was voted PR Agency of the Year (Silver) and Direct Marketing Agency of the Year (Bronze) by Advertising + Marketing Magazine.
Isobar Malaysia
Part of the Dentsu Aegis Network, Isobar is a global award-winning innovative agency. Being experts in brand commerce and product and service design capabilities, it creatively solves client challenges, delivering the best results for many brands including Adidas, Coca Cola, andMondelez, among others. With 6,000 people in over 85 locations all over the world, Isobar constantly takes on new challenges and continues to transform businesses. Some of its accolades include Digital Agency of the Year 2015 (Gold) and Best Cause, Charity Marketing or Public Sector Campaign (Gold).
Naga DDB
Naga DDB considers itself to be storytellers creating work that matters to people. The people of Naga DDB strongly believe that creativity is a powerful force that certainly makes an impact. According to its clients, the Malaysian-based creative agency is able to provide creative ideas yet still maintain true to the local Malaysian culture and not diverting itself far from the current trends and changes. Its clientele list includes Lipton, Digi, Astro and Prudential.
