A Touch of Cannes Magic in KL: IAA Malaysia’s “Creative Intelligence” Event
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A Touch of Cannes Magic in KL: IAA Malaysia’s “Creative Intelligence” Event Draws a Full House and Fresh Buzz for AI-Powered Creativity
Kuala Lumpur, August 7, 2025 — A little bit of Cannes magic lit up Kuala Lumpur this week, as the International Advertising Association Malaysia (IAAM) hosted its blockbuster education series, Creative Intelligence: Learnings from the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2025 and the Power of AI for Growth, on Tuesday, August 5.
Originally planned as an intimate session, the event saw registrations surge past 250, drawing marketers, creatives, media leaders, tech innovators, and a vibrant new wave of Young Professionals—who made up to 75% of the audience.
“You could feel the spark in the room,” said John D. Chacko, President of IAA Malaysia and Global VP of Education. “That kind of energy happens when you bring together future-forward minds—people who are eager to learn, connect, and reimagine the role of creativity in an AI-powered world.”
Held just months after the globally acclaimed 45th IAA World Congress in Penang—which hosted over 1,000 delegates from 35 countries and marked 30 years of IAA Malaysia—the event was a bold next step in IAAM’s ongoing mission to fuel transformation through creativity, innovation, sustainability, and human insight.
Global Insights, Local Relevance
From the Croisette to KL, the event brought Cannes ‘IAA Learnings from Cannes’ to Malaysian shores. The speaker line-up blended global inspiration with local strategy:
- Ed Pank, SVP of LIONS APAC, unpacked the creative trends and award-winning work from Cannes Lions 2025
- Dr. Milan Agnihotri, Head of Growth & Strategy at Dentsu Malaysia, explored what Cannes’ insights mean for Malaysian brands
- Piyush Tiwari, CEO of iDelta360 APAC, examined how decision intelligence and AI are elevating the creative process
- Sandeep Joseph, CEO of Ampersand Advisory, explored the line between “Truth or Trickery” in AI-fueled marketing
A Stage for Local Talent, Global Perspective
The event wrapped with a powerful panel session moderated by Ed Pank, featuring Cannes Lions Jurors and winners Su Ling Chan (MBCS) Awarding Jury for Cannes Lions 2025, Joyce Lim (Heineken Malaysia) Cannes Lions winner 2024, Jiro Murayama (Dentsu Inc.) Cannes Lions winner 2025, and Salim Mohamed (Dentsu Malaysia) Shortlist Jury 2025, who shared fresh perspectives on creativity, culture, and convergence in the AI era.
A heartfelt thank you goes to Ampersand Advisory as the lead sponsor, and to the Dentsu Group, a valued long-term partner of IAAM’s education initiatives.
New Leadership, New Energy
This event also marked the first major initiative of IAAM’s newly elected Executive Committee:
- John Chacko (President)
- Dr. Milan Agnihotri (Vice President)
- Amy Chia (Secretary)
- Sailendra Kanagasundram (Events)
- Gary Tay (Digital)
- Yee Hui Tsin (Corporate Relations & Branding)
- Sandeep Joseph (Awards)
- Timothy Chan (Education)
- Hamimda Agil (Finance)
- Omar Shaari (Senior Advisor)
“At IAA Malaysia, it’s never about being the biggest—it’s about making the biggest difference. In how we think. In how we create. In how we show up—for our industry, our community, and each other,” said Chacko in closing.
What’s Next?
The next IAA Learnings from Cannes Lions 2026 is already in the works—and will move to a larger venue to meet growing demand. Meanwhile, a new IAAM gathering is scheduled before year-end, promising more inspiration, learning, and yes—more fun.
Until then, IAAM remains a catalyst for change in Malaysia’s Marcom landscape—empowering the next generation, connecting global insights to local relevance, and keeping creativity human in an increasingly AI-powered world.
