Who’s The Cat?

 

Name: Vinod Divakaran

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

DOB: 23^rd 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.