Anthony Kang of Dentsu elected as New CAAAA Chairman

The Confederation of Asian Advertising Agencies Association (CAAAA) at its Annual General Meeting held in Jogyakarta, Indonesia, on 24 March 2012, has elected Mr. Anthony Kang, President & CEO of Dentsu Singapore, as its new Chairman. Kang, representing the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents (4As) Singapore in CAAAA, took over the leadership position from Mr. Srinivasan Swamy, Chairman and Managing Director of R K SWAMY BBDO Pvt Ltd and representative of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), who stepped down after completing his two-year term. As the 3^rd elected Chairman, Kang is a Founding Member of CAAAA along with Immediate Past Chairman Mr, Srinivasan Swamy of India and 1^st Chairman, the late Mr. Yutaka Narita of Japan.

Kang said that the CAAAA was conceived and established more than five years ago to protect and guard the interests of advertising practitioners as well as to uphold the professional standing and respectability of advertising consultants which has seen many specializations taking root in the fast-changing business eco-system. 

Added Kang, “The unbundling of media services from the full service ad agencies about 20 years ago coupled with the advent of digital technologies creating a myriad of never ending consumer touch points have created a whole new ballgame for the industry and this has invariably forced changes to industry practices and the agency income model”. 

The other elected members in the new Executive Committee of CAAAA are:

Vice Chairman: Mr. Tateo Mataki (JAAA – Japan)

Secretary: Mr. Tony Savarimuthu (4As – Malaysia)

Treasurer: Mr. Nagesh Alai (AAAI – India)

Other Exco Members:

Mr. Harris Thajeb (PPPI – Indonesia)

Mr Yang Jun (CAA – China)

Mr. Romie Chen (4As – Chinese Taipei)

Ms. Angela Ng (4As – Hong Kong)

Mr. Ahn Kun-Hee (KAAA – Korea)

About the CAAAA - the driving force of Asian Advertising

CAAAA is a unique institution. It is an amalgam of interest of only one interest group – advertising companies or advertising agencies as is commonly referred to by many in the industry and media. It is founded on the principle that advertising agencies have a specific business interest, which is distinct from that of advertisers and media owners. While, advertisers, media and agencies together constitute the advertising industry, advertising companies/agencies are many a time under pressure from advertisers to reduce their compensation; and media owners look to directly dealing with advertisers, bypassing the advertising agencies. The issues facing the agencies are therefore peculiar which needs to be collectively addressed by them. CAAAA has taken on itself the role of shaping the future of the Asian agencies and through them be a catalyst to grow the advertising business itself.

For more information contact:

Bernard Chan, CEO

Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Singapore

Tel: 6836 0600  · Fax: 6836 0700 · Email: bernard@4as.com.org  · www.4as.org.sg