IAS AR 2004 - Institute of Advertising Singapore

It is with great pleasure that IAS welcomes
Rod Pullen, CEO of Batey Group, who takes
over the reins of the Presidency of the Institute
of Advertising Singapore from outgoing IAS
President, James Yip, recently appointed
CEO, MediaCorp Radio, who has completed
a term of three years.
Another new face on the scene elected to
the post of Honorary Secretary of IAS is Palani
Pillai, winner of The Advertising Professional
of the Year 2003 at the Singapore Advertising
Hall of Fame Awards. Palani was also the
project co-ordinator and editor of the recently
published Ad Industry classic reference
handbook “Sharpen the Saw: The Advertising
Handbook of Singapore” launched at the
Singapore International Advertising Congress
in September 2003.
“I am hugely flattered I may say. . .I
undertake to discharge the responsibilities to the
very best of my abilities. My initial thinking
would be to help drive the IAS to become the
preeminent advertising body for the entire
‘advertising’ industry in Singapore. That is to
help build and strengthen the IAS brand, to be
on par with the world’s best. . .” responded Rod
Pullen on his newly elected presidency.
Palani Pillai graciously accepted his new
role, “Winning the honour of The Advertising
Professional of the Year Award was a huge
milestone in my career. To then be able to serve
as Honorary Secretary of the IAS is my small
contribution to its members who have worked
tremendously over the last five years to
significantly raise the Advertising Industry’s
profile”.
With the business at hand concluded,
everyone proceeded to enjoy a delicious pre-
Christmas buffet lunch and raised glasses to
toast and celebrate council member Renaud
Semerjdian’s birthday.
Address by Rod Pullen,
President Elect -Institute of Advertising Singapore
Mr. James Yip, Immediate Past President, all Executive Council members, Members of the IAS,
staff of the Advertising Executive Centre and all individuals who contribute so generously to the IAS
– a very good morning to you all.
Today I certainly feel it’s a wonderful day. I’m a very happy person…thanks to all of you. I may
say I was hugely flattered when your Honorary Executive Director Patrick Mowe came to see me, to
encourage me to stand for this very important position. And now that reality is beginning to sink in.
And I am delighted.
This is neither the time nor occasion for me to make long winded speeches. Nor to offer up
promises that may be impossible to keep. I will only say this….that I undertake to discharge the
responsibilities of the role, to the very best of my abilities – 110%.
I consider myself very fortunate to have enjoyed a wonderful career in this industry over the last
twenty-eight years. There have been many many ‘highs’ and yes, quite a few ‘lows’. I have made life
long friendships with colleagues, client partners and other professionals in the business. And I have
been lucky enough to work on so many of the world’s greatest brands. This is a great business. It’s truly
a business of imagination, ideas and inspiration. And twenty years of that time, has been spent here…
in Singapore. This country has been very kind, very generous and very good to me.
In this new role as President, I do have a personal ambition.
Our industry is experiencing tumultuous change. In some cases we face exciting new challenges.
In other instances there are tricky issues of adaptation or revision. Many of these are complex, demanding
and unfamiliar. They need careful analysis, consideration and genuine engagement with many different
parties.
With all that said ours is a business of talent. And apart from individual brand names, the only
asset this industry has is people. And young people look for guidance and leadership when they are
considering their career options. The IAS plays a critical role here.
My ambition would be to help drive and strengthen this Institute, to become the pre-eminent
body within the broad definition of the industry here in Singapore. To help build the brand IAS to be
the “lighthouse” for our industry and on par with the world’s best.
In closing I would like to read you the copy of an ad. It appeared in July 1981. It was just one of
many from a corporate advertising campaign by a large US multinational…so here goes. It’s titled…..
“Aim So High
You’ll Never Be Bored”
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your support today. I shall do my damnest to justify your
kind support & faith in me. Thank you.
Rod E. Pullen
Group CEO
Batey/red cell
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