Dentsu Utama hits back: returns awards and quits 4As!

(Marketingmagazine.com.my) – In a response to our report today regarding certain Kancil Awards won by Dentsu Utama being withdrawn by the 4As, here is the official response by the Dentsu Utama Malaysia:

“On 29 December, Dentsu Utama was accused of plagiarism, a claim it strongly disputes.

Responding to these accusations, Dentsu Utama began an internal investigation into this allegation, supported by independent legal advice.

The conclusion was that such accusations are unfounded.

Throughout this period, Dentsu Utama has been openly cooperating with the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents (4As) on this issue.

Dentsu Utama, without being given the opportunity to defend itself, has now been informed that eight of the Kancil awards related to the WWF Anti-Poaching Cross River Gorilla and the Web Privacy Watch – Professional Man campaigns won in December 2015 will be revoked.

A decision which we believe is unsupported.

As a result, Dentsu Utama and its representatives will resign from the 4As with immediate effect.

Dentsu Utama is also returning all 71 Kancil awards including Agency of the Year (AOTY).

Dentsu Utama will continue its dialogue with the individual artists on this issue and continue to support its opinion that the allegations are unfounded.

No further statements will be made at this moment in time.”

T. Renganathan, Organising Chairman of Kancil Awards 2015 and Group CEO of FCB Kuala Lumpur, told MARKETING magazine, “It is regrettable but I can understand their position.”

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