Dentsu Utama ECD Chow Kok Keong exits
The executive creative director of Dentsu Utama is moving on.
Chow Kok Keong, who joined the Malaysian ad agency as creative director just over two years ago from TBWA\Kuala Lumpur, and was promoted to ECD last January, has resigned, Dentsu Aegis Network has informed Mumbrella.
Over a career having won awards at D&AD, Cannes, One Show, Clio, AdFest, Spikes and Effies, Chow has worked at McCann, Publicis, Euro RSCG (now Havas Worldwide), J. Walter Thompson and Y&R. He spent five years as creative group head at Naga DDB, and moved to Dentsu Utama in 2013.
His departure comes two months after Dentsu Utama had a number of trophies withdrawn by Malaysia’s top ad awards show following allegations of plagiarism. A British design student claimed the agency had copied his design and used it in an award-winning print ad for WWF Indonesia. The charity was unaware the work had been entered.
The agency said that there had been no pressure on Chow to resign, he had repeatedly tendered his resignation until it was accepted. Chow could not be reached for comment.
To be expected and not a moment too soon. However, it still begs the question of what happens next?
ReplyRepeatedly resigned?
ReplyThey’ll look for the next person to call an ‘ECD’ and pretend to have a grand vision in place.
ReplyI feel this guy is but a scapegoat for following what is basically the CCO’s orders to win awards relentlessly….justice will not have been done unless Ted Lim is held accountable. He has shamelessly kept mum this entire time.
This won’t go away that easy Teddy.
ReplyThis child should have been fired by the agency. Why protect him when his career of cheating has finally caught up with him and the brass around him? DAN wanted him out because he was such an embarrassment. Just like Ronald at BBDO Singapore. You sign off on the award entries, you’re accountable. You get caught cheating you’re out in any other industry. Yet our industry has tolerated this shit to a point of no return. Sad, but it affects the business. He is out, DAN is better for it.
Replylesson for this firm in how to communicate – if someone resigns and you want it to be low key, just wish them well and move on. Saying he repeatedly resigned leads to more questions – why did you repeatedly refuse? And what changed that made you decide to eventually accept?
Can this firm do anything right?
ReplyI agree with @Last Call to some extent, but think the responsibility rests higher up.
Pressure to win awards and acceptance of cutting corners to get there goes to the tone set by executives. That doesn’t just end with creative directors.
ReplyIt’s Friday … Another departure from this beleaguered network. Mumbrella needs to set up a tab at top of page – Latest Dentsu-Aegis Departures
ReplySo about a year has passed. Kok Keong has found a place at Hakuhodo Indonesia. But damn do old habits die hard! Gosh Kok Keong… can you please just go open some hipster cafe instead? http://www.citrapariwara.org/penghargaan/out_of_home
ReplyHave your say