Advertising & education legend who conquered the world, Lim Kok Wing, dies at 75

Artist, entrepreneur and educationalist Lim Kok Wing, perhaps best known for the universities that bear his name, has passed away at the age of 75. A statement released by Limkokwing University confirmed the passing of its founder by stating, “With deep sadness we convey the passing of Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Datuk Sri Paduka Dr Lim Kok Wing, our Founder President.“

Last week, it was reported that Lim had been hospitalised after suffering a fall but was in stable condition.

In a WhatsApp message forwarded to Lim‘s network, his children, Lim Kok Wing Jr and Tiffanee Marie Lim, wrote, “. . . We thank everyone for their generous outpouring of condolences. Our father was a great man with a vision that helped place Malaysia on the global education map. We are deeply heartbroken over his passing, and wish to be allowed privacy at this time for us to mourn a man we deeply love.”

Lim began his career as an illustrator, and was the pen behind Malaysia and Singapore’s first locally produced serialised comic strip, ABU, which ran in the now defunct Eastern Sun newspaper.

He then moved into advertising where, after five years with McCann-Erickson, he started his own company, Wings Creative Consultants, the first professional Malaysian agency, in 1975.

In less than three years, the company became one of the top agencies in the country and, in 1988, it partnered with global giants BBDO, one of the largest multinational creative agencies in the world.

In 1991, Lim turned his attention to education, founding the Limkokwing Institute of Creative Technology which, in 2002, became the first private college to be recognised as a university college. It was later renamed the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.

Over the years, the university has attained global recognition, with the Limkokwing name spreading its wings to other parts of the world. In addition to its flagship campus in Cyberjaya, there are locations in Sarawak, Cambodia, Botswana, Sierra Leone, and the United Kingdom.