IT WAS a glorious evening at the 12th Putra Brand Awards as Malaysia’s favourite brands in their respective fields were once again recognised in a gala event after the 2020 edition ceremony was skipped due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This year’s event by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As), as voted by the public, saw 164 awards presented across 24 categories at The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, on Jan 21.
The event was held following strict standard operating procedure guidelines.
Platinum award recipients for the 2021 edition were Nike, Toyota, Shell, Carlsberg, Milo, Farm Fresh, Maxis, University Kuala Lumpur, Maybank, Gardenia, Panadol, Top, Ikea, Samsung, Astro, Golden Screen Cinemas, Dettol, UEM Sunrise, Guardian, McDonald’s, Malaysia Airlines and Shopee.
Shopee was the first top recipient of the award in the newly-introduced e-Commerce category.
Samsung, which came out tops in three categories — Communication Devices; Cameras, IT, Office and Business Equipment; and Personal, Household and Outdoor Appliances — was also named Putra Brand of the Year.
Representatives from Milo, Samsung and Toyota together with 4As president Andrew Lee (second from right) in the Hall of Fame category of the Putra Brand Awards 2021.
Samsung also received the Hall of Fame award, alongside Milo and Toyota, for winning in their respective categories for 10 consecutive years.
Representing the big winner of the night, Samsung Malaysia Electronics consumer electronics business head Jimmy Tan said they were proud of their achievements and looked forward to challenging themselves in terms of innovation and focussing on meeting the demands of Malaysian consumers this year.
“It is an honour for us to receive the awards and we appreciate the recognition given by Malaysians,” he said.
Putra Enterprising Brand of the Year award went to Farm Fresh.
The company’s founder and managing director Loi Tuan Ee, who had earlier accepted the platinum award in the Beverage - Dairy category, was elated with the Putra Enterprising Brand of the Year honour and visibly overwhelmed by the moment.
“It has been over 10 years of hard work from everyone in the team, especially our farm hands, to be where we are today and it is such an honour for us.
“We are all truly elated and glad that Malaysians appreciate what we have done and it was a bit of a surprise for us to excel against other multinational brands that have been here for much longer,” Loi said.
Milo’s marketing team received the Putra Marketer of the Year award.
The brand also received the platinum award for Beverage- Non-alcoholic category and the Hall of Fame award.
Milo Malaysia brand manager Jasmine Lim said despite the challenging period, the company strived to stay true to their values, digitalised their platforms and stayed relevant to the consumers.
“I think that is what helped us win the awards.
“We want to thank the people for choosing us,” she said.
(From left) Putra Brand Awards 2021 organising chairman Datuk Johnny Mun, 4As president Andrew Lee and Media Prima Television Networks chief executive officer Datuk Khairul Anwar Salleh presenting the Putra Marketer of the Year award to representatives of Milo’s marketing team.
Meanwhile, UMW Toyota Motor marketing director Mohd Shamsor Mohd Zain thanked the people for their support, which earned the company the platinum award for Automotive Brand category for three consecutive years and the Hall of Fame recognition.
He said Toyota would continue to innovate as they entered the age of electrification and mobility with the best interest of all Malaysians in mind.
The Putra Personality award went to Royal Selangor Pewter International Sdn Bhd chairman Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon.
Yong said he was delighted to receive the award for the work done over the years.
“As Royal Selangor Pewter heads into the future, we plan to further harness our product’s reputation as ‘Malaysia’s gift to the world’,” he said, adding that focusing on the e-commerce component of their business has helped fuel their exports and overcome the loss of tourists over the past two years.
The gold award winners were Adidas, Uniqlo, Honda, Perodua, Petronas, Michelin, Heineken, Tiger Beer, 100Plus, Vitagen, Yakult, Celcom, Digi, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Visa, Kit Kat, Maggi, Dettol, Sunlight, Energizer, Canon, Panasonic, Star Media Group, TGV Cinemas, Panasonic, Colgate, IJM Land, Aeon, Mr DIY, KFC, Grab and Plus.
Star Media Group (SMG) clinched the gold award under the Media Networks category.
The event organising chairman Datuk Johnny Mun said that there was an added level of enthusiasm for the return of the awards ceremony this year.
“The Putra Brand Awards has reached a stature where not many awards in the region can match and is not an award that money can buy,” said Mun.
“This year’s theme of ‘Honouring The Hero Brands Among Us’ means regardless of awards the winners received, all the recipients are champions in their own right,” he added.
“These are the brands that despite the pandemic, continued to advertise and invest in their brands as well as speak to consumers and the awards given out is the recognition given by the people of Malaysia,” he said.
The Putra Brand Awards was launched in 2010 by the 4As in collaboration with SMG.
Matrade is the Brand Champion Partner. It is supported by the Malaysian Advertisers Association, the Malaysian Digital Association and the Media Specialists Association.
More photos
Royal Selangor Pewter chairman Tan Sri Datuk Yong Poh Kon (right) receiving the Putra Brand Personality Award from Putra Brand Awards 2021 organising chairman Datuk Johnny Mun (left) and Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As) president Andrew Lee. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG, AZLINA ABDULLAH, AZHAR MAHFOF, MOHD FAIHAN GHANI and AZMAN GHANI/The Star
Maybank Corporate Sponsorship and Events manager Melanie Tham (holding phone) with (from left) group band management senior executive Aifa Azmi, group brand management head Fadzlin Ariffin, group social media marketing head Sofia Mohd E Wong, group corporate marketing head Shazlina Mohd Suffian and content strategist Tengku Amera Nafisah Tengku Amran celebrating the platinum award Maybank received in the Finance category.
(From left) 4As vice-president Nizwani Shahar, Malaysian Advertisers Association president Kadri Taib, Spectrum Outdoor managing director Henry Low, PBA 2021 organising chairman Datuk Johnny Mun and Star Media Group chief business officer Lydia Wang.
(From left) Michelin managing director Oliver Biggart, 4As council member LV Chong, Maybank executive vice-president Shazlina Mohd Suffian, Petronas Dagangan managing director Azrul Osman Rani and Visa Malaysia product head Kim J. Hak.
(From left) Nippon Paint general manager Tay Sze Tuck, Vivo CEO Mike Xu, Hurix’s CEO Datuk Dr. Pa Nok Ching, Berjaya Hotels and Resorts director corporate marketing and communications William Tan, RHB Bank group chief marketing officer Abdul Sani Abdul Murad and 4As council member Jasmin Omar Jayaseelan.
(From left) Cadbury and Chipsmore senior marketing manager Rahul Mathur, LG general manager marketing Teo Yong Hung, Daikin product and marketing department head Chan Hon Leong, Shopee head of marketing campaigns Kenneth Soh and Malaysia 4As Council’s Parames Dorai.
Guests arriving for the Putra Brand Awards 2021 held at The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur last Friday.
The Putra Brand Awards 2021 held at The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur celebrated various industry players for their branding efforts which left a mark among consumers.
Farm Fresh Bhd founder and managing director Loi Tuan Ee (right) received the Putra Enterprising Brand of the Year award from Putra Brand Awards 2021 organising chairman Datuk Johnny Mun (left) and 4As president Andrew Lee.
(From left) 4As council member Ryusuke Oda with Star Media Group’s Lydia Wang presenting the Platinum Award for Communi-cations Networks to Maxis brand and enterprise marketing head Wong Tse San.
Heineken Malaysia Berhad managing director Roland Bala (left) and his team with their Putra Brand Awards 2021 trophies.
Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia managing director Stefano Clini (right) received the platinum award for the ‘Beverage - Alcoholic’ category from 4As president Andrew Lee (second from right) and 4As vice-president Nizwani Shahar (second from left).
