Who’s The Cat?

Name: Vinod Divakaran

Add: 30, Denison Road, Ealing, W5 1NU, London, U.K.

DOB: 23^rd April 1972

Work Experience

English / EFL Teacher | London, UK & Malaysia | 2015 – present

• I have been teaching all levels of English as a foreign language to adults and young learners at English Path and Top-Up Learning in London and online, delivering comprehensive language instruction tailored to diverse learning needs including IELTS exam preparation.

• Taught IGCSE English and Drama to secondary school students at Oxburgh International School in Malaysia for 4 years where I also liaised with various stakeholders such as parents and other departments to address and resolve student issues.

Senior Copywriter / Head of Copy | Dentsu (Utama), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 2011 – 2015

• Strategized and produced content for 360° Honda automobile and motorcycle campaigns during which Honda attained the position of market leader in automobile sales in Malaysia. I was also the Social Media Content Producer for Honda which involved managing and resolving customer issues and problems.

• Directed content creation for the World Wildlife Fund, Panasonic, DIGI telecommunications, ASTRO broadcasting, GSK pharmaceuticals and Unilever FMCGs ensuring high-quality content and cohesive campaign execution.

Copywriter | DraftFCB, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 2008 – 2011

• Lead writer for the CELCOM and TELEKOM telecommunication accounts, producing high-volume multilingual deliverables for ATL & BTL campaigns and created Celcom’s successful Got X prepaid brand.

• Produced content for other corporate accounts including Isuzu vehicles, Volkwagen, S.C. Johnson, ExxonMobil, Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Airlines

Editor | Editions Didier Millet, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 2005 – 2008

• Co-edited the Encyclopaedia of Malaysia, a 16-volume series featuring over 400 authors, the largest Malaysian collaboration in reference publishing history.

• Conducted extensive research, interviewed authors and worked closely with illustrators, photographers and experts in respective sports fields to generate informative content.

Copywriter |CD Advertising, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 2002 – 2004

• Produced content for advertisements and annual reports for government-linked clients such as the Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development, Telekom Malaysia, National Heart Institute, and Tenaga Nasional (the national energy provider).

Journalist | Sun Media Corporation, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 2000 – 2002

• Reported on political and social issues nationwide as a news-desk reporter at The Sun national daily where I regularly interviewed prominent figures while also doing investigative journalism for which I won editorial awards. I also contributed travel and music/concert reviews to the paper’s weekly magazine.

• Co-authored ‘The World Cup In The Last Millennium’ a comprehensive reference book on the football World Cup which involved extensive research, compiling and fact checking.

Tennis Director | Peter Burwash International, Texas, USA | 1998 – 2000

• Managed and coached at the tennis club at a 5-star luxury resort in Singapore while actively marketing the Peter Burwash brand to acquire new clientele.

Mechanical Engineer | Sabah Shipyard & Matsushita Audio Visual, Johor, Malaysia | 1995 – 1998

 • As a power generation engineer at Sabah Shipyard, I was responsible for the design, fabrication and  delivery of custom made power barges and oil & gas platforms while as a production engineer at  Matsushita, I was responsible in overseeing technicians and production line workers and incorporating more efficient production techniques.

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