BBDO/Proximity Malaysia won more ad awards at Malaysia’s 30th Kancil Award Festival on Friday than any other agency. BBDO ECD Ronald Ng was the chairman of the prize jury. Already, some have asked whether the two events were related. Marketing magazine’s blog, “A+M Bootleg,” noted:
After the event Bootleg asked the tough question of jury head, BBDO’s Ronald Ng … there were indeed a few spotted shaking their heads at [BBDO's] 12 Gold, 4 Silver, 11 Bronze and 15 Merit mentions. Naturally, suspicion would arise from across the board as Ng also happens to be the executive creative director for the agency. Almost immediately, he said: “The chief judge does not vote, you know?”
The event is a perfect example of how the mere appearance of a conflict of interest can be difficult to manage. Here’s another Malaysian ad blogger’s reaction:
BBDO won so many awards. Their Lego Trophy was stacking up at their table. Bloody hell.. Some of us said, they won because the jury chairman is from BBDO. Not a suprise I must say.
Here’s the full panel of judges, which featured another BBDO exec. Festival judges were asked to keep a lookout for “scam” entrants whose ads never actually ran on behalf of clients.
