Naga DDB Malaysia ECD Ted Lim resigns after two decades at the agency – Alvin Teoh to take joint ECD role with as yet un-named partner
Ted Lim, executive creative director of Naga DDB, Kuala Lumpur has decided to take on new challenges after two decades with the agency.
Lim’s protégé, Alvin Teoh will be taking over his responsibilities jointly with another executive creative director who will be appointed soon.
An English Literature graduate, Lim helped the agency win and grow over 50 accounts including DiGi, Perodua, Panasonic, Astro, Nippon Paint, Tourism Malaysia, Carlsberg, Mamee, BMW, Malaysia Airlines, Hong Leong Bank and most recently, Prudential Assurance.
The bread-and-award winner led Naga DDB to three Agency of the Year titles on the back of Malaysia’s first D&AD Yellow Pencil, 5 Cannes Lions, 4 Clio Awards, 2 One Show Pencils, the country’s only Asia-Pacific Effie, numerous AdFest and Spikes trophies. Naga DDB is Malaysia’s most consistently awarded ad agency in the last decade.
One of the most respected executive creative directors in the Asia-Pacific region, Lim has chaired and judged prestigious advertising award shows in New York, London, Sydney, Tokyo and Istanbul.
He sat with the DDB Worldwide Creative Leadership Council in New York, headed the Malaysian Chapter of AWARD School and lectured at DDB University. Copywriters and art directors who worked with him are now creative directors in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.
“After two decades of putting the agency before myself, I’ve decided to take on new challenges. Social media has opened up even more opportunities and I’m taking time off for a digital stint in London,” said Lim.
“I’m not leaving the business. My son is studying medicine in the UK and someone has to pay the tuition fees. I’ll be back – hopefully, fresher and smarter – to explore my options and do bigger, better things. To quote one of my favourite writers, ‘All endings are also beginnings.’ I’d like to thank Datuk Vincent Lee, Bob Scarpelli and the many talented people I’ve had the good fortune to work with and learn from over the years.”
9 Comments
A great gentleman who has trained some excellent talent here.
Good luck Ted for your future.
The Jedi Master leaves the scene.
All the best Ted! Thank you for all the opportunities you had given me. You’ve been a wonderful friend!
When were Naga DDB agency of the Year?
According to what?
Kancils or Campaign Brief?
Here’s the results published by Kancils. Malaysia’s advertising awards competition.
2010 – McCann
2009 – Leo Burnett
2008 – Saatchi & Saatchi
2007 – Saatchi – again
2006 – McCann
2005 – Naga DDB
Anyone have the Campaign Brief Rankings the last 6 Years?
I’m sure Saatchi, Lowe and BBDO we tops those years.
Naga DDB is Malaysia’s most consistently awarded ad agency in the last decade.
What awards did they pick up this year?
HAHAHA. it’s funny when creatives include Effie wins in their resume.
Naga DDB definitely won at least 2 agency of the years from Campaign Brief. Definitely 2005 and maybe 2006.
Good luck with your next stage Ted.
A huge loss to Naga. Ted was a rare breed. A gentleman to his toes, He married a sharp,disciplined mind with creative intuition, that unlike many at that top end of the league – he layered concepts with a long view and explored a depth of applications that gave his better campaigns the true test of greatness- scalable campaignability and its ability to have legs.
A strategic creative that stood apart for his authenticity from fly by night divas and the egocentricity that comes with the turf,he has a deep commitment to the brands he built.He was also a good leader of men. He has built many of that next generation of talent , and in many cases has had the grace to let those that needed the space to grow their own distinctive style to blossom with their own defining idiosyncracies and god given talent. He showed them the light if needed , but celebrated the fact that there are many ways to creative enlightenment and that he had no exclusive preserve to its many insights.
I have no doubt he will find new fields to explore and excell in.
Good Luck Ted. I have learnt so much much from you, as have many of us at Naga and in the industry.
July 29, 2011 1:23 PM
Keep it up Ted! All the best! Respect!