TBWA Singapore sweeps people achievement awards at Singapore Hall of Fame

TBWA\Singapore’s leadership team received the highest of recognition at the recent Hall of Fame Awards organised by the Institute Advertising Singapore (IAS).

Gary Steele (pictured left) regional creative director TBWA\Singapore was named Creative Director of the Year, after leading consistently innovative and effective work for brands such as; Standard Chartered Bank ‘Here For’, and Airbnb’s ‘Welcome to Airbnb’ and ‘A Different Paris’. Gary has picked up metal at international award shows including Cannes Lions, Spikes Asia, D&AD, Effies and AdFest.

Joining TBWA\Singapore in 2008, from TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris & Tequila Johannesburg, Steele works across the agency’s portfolio of brands across Southeast Asia.

Tuomas Peltoniemi, president TBWA\Digital Arts Network (DAN) Asia Pacific, was awarded Digital Specialist of the Year. Toumas is responsible for driving innovation, technology, and digital capabilities for the network across Asia.

Peltoniemi worked with MasterCard’s marketing leadership to develop the ‘Digital and E-Commerce Engine’, which ran across eight markets in Asia. This innovative marketing model has driven impressive results for MasterCard including two APAC Effies and a WARC Prize for Asian Strategy.

Natalie Gruis (pictured right), planning director TBWA\Singapore was awarded Planner of the Year. Natalie heads strategic planning for the agency group across all marketing communications specialisms and mentors a team of 10. Gruis is responsible for the strategic planning and insight development across multiple markets for key clients and contributing to the global strategy for Singapore Airlines and Standard Chartered.

Gruis also leads all strategic thinking in the agency as the regional hub for Asia developing the TBWA\Group’s creative approach to strategy in Singapore with Disruption, and bringing consumer insights and strategic rigor to creative output.

Lena Paik (pictured left), copywriter at TBWA\Singapore was named Young Talent of the Year (Creative), working across a portfolio of clients including, Airbnb, Standard Chartered Bank, and Singapore Airlines. Paik has picked up international awards, including Silver at Spikes Asia for Airbnb’s ‘Bookable Books’.

Said Ara Hampartsoumian (pictured below), “IAS has been a catalyst for driving talent development in Singapore for 25 years. We are extremely honoured, as an agency, to receive such high recognition at the Hall of Fame Awards.

“We’ve remained focused on strengthening our digital and strategic capabilities with Disruption® at the core, being recognised by IAS in this way is a validation of our success.”

TBWA\Singapore continues to be recognised as one of Singapore’s leading agencies, holding Disruption® at its core. The agency clinched the largest overall number of People Award category wins at the Hall of Fame Award, held at Gardens By The Bay, Flower Field Hall.

Photo captions: Top: Jack Lim, Chief Commercial Officer, Mediacorp presenting – Creative Director of the Year – Gary Steele

Bottom: Ara Hampartsoumian, Managing Director, TBWA Singapore presenting Young Talent of the Year (Account Service) – Lynette Chua