JWT CEO to receive top global award

JWT”s Sri Lanka CEO Thayalan Bartlett is to be awarded WPP’s prestigious Atticus award for Advertising. The Atticus award is open to all WPP operating companies worldwide for original thinking in marketing communications.

Thayalan Barlett’s thoughts on overcoming turbulent times in markets globally and locally won high commendation from this year’s judges who awarded him the Atticus in the Advertising Category.

The merit award in this category went to Graham Page from Milward Brown- Warwick for his paper on- The value of biological and cognitive copy testing methods.

The judges were Jim Stengel -Global Marketing Officer: Proctor and Gamble, David Kirkpatrick - Senior Editor: Fortune Magazine and Judie Lannon - The Editor: Market Leader. Thayalan is the first Sri Lankan to win this prestigious award.

From its global network, JWT had one other winner Mr Jitender Dabas-JWT Delhi under the category Branding and Identity. Thomas Doctroff CEO of JWT Shanghai received a commendation for his paper under the category Market Research and Insights titled -From big bang to steady evolution.

On winning the award Thayalan says: “I am naturally excited by the honour and to receive this accolade from WPP. However I consider JWT and its people very much a part of this award as it has been an inspiration and education working with an organisation where knowledge is ahead of its time. JWT is recognised as a university world over.

It is a university that you never pass out from, as it constantly resets the benchmark when you think you have got to your goal and I am still learning. I am delighted to acknowledge this award on behalf of JWT and Sri Lanka.

The WPP group is one of the world’s most comprehensive marketing communications group with an estimated group turnover of Sterling Pounds 31.7 billion. WPP comprises of leading companies in disciplines such as Advertising, Media Investment management, Information, Insight and consultancy, Public relations and public affairs, branding and identity, healthcare communications, direct, digital, promotion and relationship marketing and specialist communications.