Brand Independence - Main Section


	MICHAEL LEE, CEO Michael Lee is the company´s Envisioner. He has wide category experience ranging from having managed leadership brands like F&N, Coca Cola, Mercedes Benz, Guinness and Dutch Lady in the areas of Brand Marketing and Sales. He also plays the role of a dynamic and inspiring facilitator in helping our clientele discover their vision, mission and core values extending further into Brand Training. Because of his recent Regional Marketing Development role for Asia Pacific, he has also benefited from his company's investing into the latest in cutting edge marketing technology - an opportunity to complement his experience with new knowledge and skills in Marketing and Communications, with specific relevance to Regional Brand Building. Friesland Asia Pacific, Director, Regional Marketing Development Following direct request from the Head Office, Michael was seconded from the subsidiary, Dutch Lady Milk Industries in early 2003, to start up this a new position as the Director of Regional Marketing Development overseeing Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand, reporting to the International Marketing Director in Holland. Successfully completed Regional Brand & Market Convergence assignment within the pre-agreed road map. Main achievements include the following :- Initiating, Driving and Coordinating member in the Central Team (Commerical Directors Forum) entrusted with the Exploring, Developing and Executing of a road map for Brand Marketing convergence in Asia Pacific. This team comprises the International Marketing Director based in Holland, the 4 Commercial Directors of each of the 4 leading countries, other support from Head Office, as well as Censydiam of Belgium (Market Research),and The Value Engineers of UK (Process Managers).

	PHYLLIS, Managing Partner Phyllis´ career extends beyond consultancy. She has been a Marketing and Brand practitioner for Mercedes Benz, and at Leo Burnett Advertising both on a regional level as Regional Brand Director and as Client Service Director, Brand Management. In the latter position, as one of the founding member of the new Leo Burnett Management Board, Kuala Lumpur, she was part of the integral team that contributed to the growth of the Leo Burnett Brand in Malaysia . Phyllis have provided strategic counselling in building and managing brands across both multi-national and local brands. Over her 20 years career in branding, marketing and communications, she has gained wide category experience while managing an extensive portfolio on corporate, FMCGs and white goods. This includes crafting brand strategies for international brands, namely, Johnson & Johnson, JARING, Accenture, Standard Chartered Bank, BP, Procter & Gamble, Wyeth Nutritionals, Kelloggs, marshalling through the implementation and execution. Significantly, on local brands, she led both the YTL ‘s and Pharmaniaga’s consultancy team and developed its new brand positioning, and communication plans - on the former, she was involved in conceptualising the company’s new strategic corporate identity, together with YTL’s corporate re-imaging global brand campaign. This has successfully transformed YTL from a construction to turnkey operations, to global Brand player’s status.

	MOHAMMED FAROOQ, Director, Brand Training Farooq is Digilot´s focus into internal branding and people development. He specializes in brand transformation, culture,motivational, and strategy facilitation workshops. Clientele list includes Bank Bumiputra-Commerce, Ford Malaysia, Landmark, Alliance Bank, Pharmaniaga, and Maybank. Of significant mention, is his involvement in the bringing together of two brand cultures, namely, Bank Bumiputra and Bank of Commerce, in a series of workshops and the implementation of Pharmaniaga´s CRM & Branding . His experience prior to Malaysia was in the UK, his birthplace, where for over 15 years he worked in Consultant and brand practitioner in marketing training and sales management in wide category, namely, Elly Lilly, Meriueux, Lederly, and Smith-Kline Beecham.,Automotive, Retail Banking and technology brands. An exuberant and dynamic personality, Farooq has been invited to host several media programs, providing counsel in the area of his competencies.

	IVY DAVID, Director, Brand Research Ivy has over 25 years research experience. Her last appointment prior to Digilot, was at MBL (Market Behaviour Ltd) where she was responsible for starting the operations in Malaysia as a Director of the company. MBL later became NFO (National Family Opinion), a public listed company in the US.As a Director, Ivy was responsible for the entire marketing & management of the research Company & was promoted to MD in 1999. Started her market research career with Survey Research Malaysia (now AC Nielsen). Formed & headed the qualitative unit in SRM. Thereon she extended her research exposure in Research Pacific Ivy´s career involved a wide scope or research projects, including: motivational, concept/idea generation & testing; advertising pre & post testing; psychographics segmentation; brand research; new product development work, & many more. Her experience includes the acquisition of the latest in the use of projective technique in facilitation, idea generation and brainstorming work. Wide category experience in FMCG, auto, medical/pharmaceutical, agriculture, fast food, finance. FMCG clients include food & beverages, household products, alcoholic beverages, stationery, petrol & related products, tobacco, cosmetics, baby products, etc. Auto clients included: UMW Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Volvo, Tractors Malaysia She also championed the recruitment & training of new executives, in the various organizations that she was attached to. Ivy holds an Honours in Psychology from the UK.

	GARY TAY, Director, Brand System Integrator Gary has developed his own proprietary solution; Comet series CMS Gary has to his credit solid strategic counselling and brand management experience across both multi-national and local brands. With a diverse range of client portfolios – Johnson & Johnson, Malaysia Airports Berhad (MAB), Bumiputra Commerce Bank, (BCB),Standard Chartered Bank, Dutch Baby Milk Industries, Reebok, Carlsberg Malaysia, Sony Malaysia, RayBan, & Marlboro Classics . He was an integral team member in the core regional team involved in the re-branding exercise for Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), the outcome of which saw a revamp of all communications and a complete restructuring of its infrastructure i.e. branches and services. His branding expertise are focused in these core areas:- - Creation of brand knowledge software content - CRM process module development. - Multimedia & web-based strategic consultancy - Online media opportunities He has produced knowledge systems that has been recognized, winning accolades among his peers in the industry.