MALAYSIAN MARKETERS OF THE YEAR
CONCEPT
Brave and brilliant marketers deserve fame too.
The Malaysian CMO Awards are here to reward the best in the business of marketing.
This award is to identify talent, transparency, tenacity, and a take charge attitude.
OBJECTIVE
To recognize and acknowledge the immense contribution, inspiring leadership and trail-blazing achievements in Malaysia’s marketing communications industry.
An eminent panel of industry leaders will decide on the winners: all criteria based on results.
CONFIDENTIALTY CLAUSE: All nominations and their contents are accepted in the strictest of confidence, judges also sign an NDA before judging. All non-winners are never revealed to anyone.
TROPHY TRIVIA
Once upon a time, Ham who devised the show, was having lunch with a close friend who accidentally tipped his Pilsner glass to the floor in his haste to want to pay the bill first.
Ham picked up the tall broken glass, stared at it for a bit, and decided that would be the design for the trophy.
After all, happy accidents come to those who are happy. The trophy, which is custom-made in China, takes 3 months to arrive and is worth about RM1,000 a piece.
Of course, its real value as an award is priceless.
CATEGORIES
Entry Eligibility
Marketing Achievements from January – December 2022
Closing date for nomination:
30th November 2022
For extensions, please contact Vishnu
Judging:
10th December 2022
Awards Night:
10th February 2023
10th February 2023
By Discipline:
Marketer of The Year in B2B Marketing
This category recognises the marketer who has transformed a space where marketing is usually considered as ‘boring’ to one that is creative and generates positive ROI.
Marketer of The Year in SME Marketing
Limited budgets and resources are not a deterrent for our marketer in this category. This category recognises the marketer who has grown their brand in the ever evolving SME landscape.
Marketer of The Year in Omni-Channel Marketing
This category recognises the marketer who understands all touch points and has effectively created a seamless Omni-channel marketing customer journey for his or her brand.
Marketer of The Year in Millennial Marketing
It is not easy to understand today’s Snapchat generation but the Marketer who will take home this award knows exactly what makes Millennials tick.
Marketer of The Year in e-Commerce Marketing
This category recognises the seasoned e-commerce marketer who has successfully generated profitable interest for their e-commerce brand in a borderless world.
Marketer of The Year in Travel & Hospitality Marketing
The travel industry today is more than a glossy ad in a magazine. This category recognises the marketer who understands the travel industry and has produced cutting edge, multi-platform campaigns to inspire today’s travellers.
Marketer of The Year in Sustainable Brand Marketing
This award pays tribute to the marketer who understands and demonstrates the role of brands in pursuit of the definition of a fair and sustainable future.
For taking conscious steps to maintain the environmental, social, and economic balance for our present and future generations.
Marketer of The Year in Education & Training Marketing
This category applauds the marketer who has raised the bar in today’s education and training industry with messages that inspire today’s learners to empower their careers with the right education and direction.
Marketer of The Year in Media & Content Partnership Marketing
This category accolades the marketer who has utilized the powerful tools of media and content in their campaign executions through smart and valuable partnerships.
Marketer of The Year in Customer Experience Marketing
The essence of good marketing lies in how you make your customer feel.
This category recognises a marketer who understands this golden rule and has implemented the right strategies to give their customers the best experience.
Marketer of The Year in Event & Experiential Marketing
This category recognises a marketer who blends experiential marketing with campaign success. Including landmark events, memorable experiential campaigns with strong ROI results.
Marketer of The Year in Retail & Promotions Marketing
This category recognises a marketer whose sound insight in the retail industry has led to the success of their retail brands while harnessing the power of online retail.
Marketer of The Year in Festive Communications Marketing
There is nothing that pulls the heartstrings like a Malaysian festive ad.
This category recognises a marketer who has been able to make a lasting impact for their brand through their festive ad campaign.
Marketer of The Year in Data & Technology Marketing
This category recognises a marketer who is driven by data and unafraid of exploring new technologies to power their campaigns.
Marketer of The Year in Loyalty & Engagement Marketing
Today’s consumers are able to choose between one brand from another in a heartbeat thanks to the rapid evolution of technology.
This category recognises a marketer who is able to capture brand loyalty with today’s fickle consumer using path-breaking strategies.
Marketer of The Year in Influencer Marketing
KOLs have quickly become an important, sometimes necessary platform for almost every marketing campaign.
This category recognises the marketer who has creatively engaged with influencers in campaigns and leveraged their power to produce results
Marketer of The Year in Social Media Marketing
This category recognises the marketer who has been consistent in driving buzz-worthy campaigns on social media. While achieving results that defy the norm.
Marketer of The Year in Mobile Marketing
Today’s consumers are able to choose between one brand from another in a heartbeat thanks to the rapid evolution of technology.
This category recognises a marketer who is able to capture brand loyalty with today’s fickle consumer using path-breaking strategies such as gaming etc
By Industry:
Marketing Trailblazer Award
The award will be bestowed on the marketer who is never afraid to push the boundaries of innovation within their category. This award will go to the brave marketer who has made a difference with fresh thinking and breakthrough work.
- Marketing Trailblazer of The Year- Telco
- Marketing Trailblazer of The Year – Financial Services
- Marketing Trailblazer of The Year – F&B
- Marketing Trailblazer of The Year – Digital
- Marketing Trailblazer of The Year – FMCG
- Marketing Trailblazer of The Year – Media & Entertainment
Under 30s (free to enter):
Rising Marketing Star
The Rising Marketing Star is awarded to the most promising young marketer under 30 who is making waves in the local industry with ground-breaking ideas, strong strategic skills and has a tenacious will to grow in this industry.
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Rising Marketing Star of The Year – Financial Services
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Rising Marketing Star of The Year – Telco
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Rising Marketing Star of The Year – F&B
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Rising Marketing Star of The Year – Digital
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Rising Marketing Star of The Year – FMCG
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Rising Marketing Star of The Year – Media & Entertainment
(Free entry for this category)
JUDGES
Head of Judging Panel
Prof. John D Chacko
President
International Advertising Association (IAA) Malaysia
International Advertising Association (IAA) Malaysia
Chairman
45th IAA World Congress 2024, Penang
John is not just an industry leader here, but actively carries our country’s flag proudly around the globe in his capacity as Chairman of the IAA World Congress in 2023.
He was also the inaugural Chief Judge of the Malaysia Effie Awards and has led the CMO Awards jury since its inaugural year.
John has over 35 years of global experience in multinational FMCG companies across Australia, NZ, UK, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and Asia with brands like Kraft, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s.
He was also Group CMO, CEO/MD of Khazanah National subsidiaries, Proton and LeapED.
Advisor
Greg Paull
Principal & Co-Founder
R3 Worldwide
R3 Worldwide
Greg heads R3 – a global consultancy focused on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of marketers and their agencies.
They enable clients to get the competitive edge and a better return on investment from agencies, media and marketing spend.
With over 100 people in the US, Asia, EMEA and LATAM, R3 works with nine of the world’s top twenty marketers including Coca-Cola, Unilever, AB InBev, MasterCard, Mercedes Benz, Johnson & Johnson, Samsung and Kimberly Clark.
Judging Panel
Renzo C Viegas
Founder and Executive Director
Crescer Sdn Bhd
Renzo held senior positions in various Asia Pacific
countries including regional responsibilities until year 2008. His last held position was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Citibank Malaysia.
He was also CEO of Group Consumer Banking at CIMB after serving as Executive Director and Deputy CEO of CIMB Group from 2012-2015.
Before CIMB, he was Deputy MD of RHB Bank having started his working career with Citibank in 1985 where he progressively held senior positions across Asia Pacific.
He also served as Adviser to the Group CEO of CIMB Bank, where he was responsible for the development of overall business strategies until March 2019.
Dato’ William Ng
Founder & Group Publisher
Business Media International
Chairman
Small and Medium Enterprises Association Malaysia (SAMENTA)
William is a writer publisher par excellence and he set up the Enterprise Asia Center for Entrepreneurship at HELP University to promote business leadership.
He is also Group Publisher and editor-in-chief of Business Media International, Southeast Asia’s largest business- to-business media owner and publisher.
A regular CMO Awards judge since year one, William dissects marketing strategies and marketplace successes with a pragmatic business mindset.
He is also managing director of SGX-listed Audience Analytics Limited. For over 20 years, he championed of SMEs in various capacities and now chairs SAMENTA.
Dato’ Samson Anand George
Chief Operating Officer & Director
KIA Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Dato’ Samson Anand George is COO & Director of KIA Malaysia Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of KIA vehicles in Malaysia.
Dato’ was previously Group Chief Executive Officer of the Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings.
A true veteran of the automotive industry, he has been conferred the Ordre National du Mérite by the French government, underlining his contributions to the French nation through the automotive industry.
He rose from a General Manager to Naza Group CEO for Automotive Division and was Automotive Man of the Year 2012. Dato’ was instrumental in bringing Peugeot and Citroën to Malaysia.
Dato’ Sri Mohammed Shazalli Ramly
Group Managing Director
Boustead Holdings Berhad
A brand warrior par excellence he has led so many companies in the regional corporate landscape.
He had the mind of a creative person and the tenacity of a brand champion, having painted a rich tapestry of leadership across media, broadcast, brand, advertising, marketing and industry.
His last company position was Group CEO of Telekom Malaysia and served on several boards including Axiata, Celcom and Malaysia Airlines.
He was also a judge at the inaugural Malaysian CMO Awards.
Santharuban T. Sundaram
Chief Executive Officer
Etika Holdings Sdn Bhd
Ruban is a shining example of a marketing leader who now leads a group of companies.
He also has the distinction of winning the first Malaysian CMO of the Year Award five years ago in shining glory. He is the CEO at Etika Holdings, a unit under Asahi Group Companies, overseeing the Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei markets.
He remains CEO of ATLAS Vending. He was previously Etika’s senior vice president marketing and alternate business but took on the role of CEO of
ATLAS has since worked with brands including SC Johnson, Pepsi, Tropicana, and FWD Takaful. Before that, he was VP of marketing, as well as Group GM at Etika.
He also worked at Celcom Axiata as head of communications and planning, group digital services.
Caryn Loh
Managing Director
Watsons Malaysia
A dynamic leader with strong interpersonal, commercial skill and business acumen that led to the strong profitable and sustainable growth.
Attained market leading positioning (Watson’s became No. 1 Omnichannel retailer, No.1 in brand equity, No. 1 in market share growth and No. 1 top of mind brand in Malaysia) and company recognized results as key strategist, contributor, and decision maker in the organization to deliver and exceed the company goals and objectives.
Accomplished the restructuring and change management in placed in resulting increased sales, profitability and reduction of cost.
Karen Chan
Group Chief Commercial Officer
AirAsia
Independent Non-Executive Director
QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd
Karen is a rare business navigator in our midst. She served in regional marketing leadership roles for The McDonald’s Group and Coca- Cola, before becoming Chief Digital Officer for Pizza Hut Asia Pacific for almost three years.
Karen was also Senior VP of Digital for Clarks across Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa before joining AirAsia as Group Chief Commercial Officer last year.
She was also CEO of AirAsia.com, leading business transformation and creating a travel and lifestyle platform that is poised to change the face of the business.
Jeffrey Seah
Partner
Quest Ventures
Vice Chairman
HEPMIL Media Group
Jeff focuses on the development of the Data, Tech, Media and Content industries.
An ex advertising and media leader, he worked with Asia business organizations/
MNCs, Venture Builders/ Private Equity/Family Offices/Sovereign Funds, Corporate M&A units, Start- Ups and Individuals to realize the potential of people and their ideas, investments and businesses.
His current projects cover Industry Development facilitation, commercial Go-To- Market advisory and Digital Transformation/Corporate Reorganization implementation in Asia Pacific and Middle East markets.
Judging CRITERA
+ Business Results (30%)
The rewarded candidates will have shown their influence and involvement in positive business outcomes – whether its market share, revenue growth, or profit, in a responsible manner.
+ Case Study (30%)
We’ll assess case studies to see how the CMO has led, adapted and embraced the new way of working and delivered campaigns, launched new initiatives that progressed the economic health of the company, people and brand. How engagement and impact working together gets results.
+ Team Results (20%)
A top CMO will “hire giants” as David Ogilvy once said, and build a powerful marketing team that will give him/her the wings to fly. Attention will be paid to how the CMO has shown leadership in these critical times, mapping out cohesive and collaborative approaches while optimising team resources in a changing work environment.
+ Track Record (20%)
Breakthrough marketing is far more effective than traditional marketing. We will study the work of leading marketers, look at recognition and awards won, and identify those that are truly taking the risks to succeed.
