Who’s The Cat?
Name: Vinod Divakaran
Add: 30, Denison Road, Ealing, W5 1NU, London, U.K.
DOB: 23rd April 1972
Work Experience
2016 – present: English Teacher & Freelance Copywriter, London/Kuala Lumpur.
Job Description: Having decided to explore new horizons, I became an English teacher in 2016, teaching IGCSEs at an International school in Malaysia. Relocating to London with my family in 2019, I’m currently employed as an English Language teacher in Camden. During this time, I have also done some freelance work on a variety of FMCG client accounts in the South East Asian region such as Wings Indonesia, Mayora, Maggi and Baba’s.
2013 – 2016: Havas Worldwide & Wizard’s Room, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Position: Senior Copywriter
Job Description: Further expanding my range of accounts to cover broadcasting (Astro), FMCGs and pharmaceuticals, I helped the team come up with many memorable campaigns including winning the Digi Telecommunications (one of the top telco companies in Malaysia) account, where we upstaged all the top agencies in the country.
2010 – 2013: Dentsu Utama Sdn Bhd, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Position: Head of Copy
Job Description: I led the copywriting team on a variety of (mainly Japanese) accounts including Honda cars and motorcycles, Panasonic, The World Wildlife Fund and Mamypoko baby products. I also took the lead on creative presentations to our clients while working closely with the team from Dentsu Tokyo on major campaigns. This position gave me a lot of international exposure which included working on our campaigns in the USA and Japan.
2008 – 2010: Milk & Co (formerly DDB International), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Position: Senior Copywriter
Job Description: I wrote and conceptualized for a range of accounts including Volkswagen, F&N beverages, Malaysia Airlines, Tourism Development Board of Malaysia, ExxonMobil and Isuzu vehicles. During this time I was fortunate to be working under two of the top ECDs in the country at that time, from whom I learnt a lot.
2006 – 2008 : DraftFCB, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Position: Copywriter
Job Description: I mainly worked on the Celcom (another one of the top telcos in Malaysia) telecommunications account involving a high volume of ATL & BTL thematic and tactical campaigns where I was the main writer for their prepaid products and services. I also worked on Isuzu vehicles, S.C Johnson, CIMB Bank, and Telekom Malaysia.
2005 – 2006: Editions Didier Millet, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Position: Editor
Job Description: After spending a year in London, I decided to try my hand at editing at this publishing house that produced beautifully illustrated general and reference books with focus on South East Asia. I primarily worked on the Encyclopedia of Malaysia – a 16-volume series which featured over 400 authors, the largest Malaysian collaboration in the history of reference publishing.
2002 – 2004: CD Advertising, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Position: Copywriter
Job Description: My first copywriting job involved working on government and corporate accounts including The Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development, Telekom Malaysia, The National Heart Institute and Tenaga Nasional (The National Electric/Power company). An eye-opening first step into the advertising industry for me.
2000 – 2002: Sun Media Corporation, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Position: News Journalist
Job Description: As a News-desk reporter at The Sun daily, I covered political and social issues nationwide. I also regularly contributed music and travel reviews to their weekly magazine. I also managed to win several editorial awards for my investigative writing.
Awards
One Show 2008 – Shortlist
Entry: Cargo Space (Collateral/P.O.P)
Client: Isuzu Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Adfest 2008 – Finalist
Entry: One Breath Wonder (Radio)
Client: Isuzu Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Kancil Awards 2008 – Merit
Entry: Max Reflection (Ambient)
Client: S.C Johnson Sdn Bhd
Kancil Awards 2007 – Merit
Entry: One Breath Wonder (Radio)
Client: Isuzu Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Education
2015 – British Council, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA)
2005 – London Metropolitan University, London, U.K.
Advanced Certificate in Advertising
1995 – University of Sheffield, Sheffield, U.K.
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Hobbies
Playing tennis & the guitar and exploring the world of music. I’m also currently learning Spanish.
References
Lakshmi Mohan – Creative Consultant, Intermail Copenhagen (Ex-ECD at DraftFCB Malaysia).
Tel: +60 13 339 9980 email: Lakshmi.mohan9@gmail.com
Khor Kok Yang – Executive Creative Director, Tomoro Creative (Ex-ECD at Havas Worldwide, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).
Tel: +60 16 361 0151 email: yang@tomorocreative.com