Leo Burnett’s Murtaza becomes first Lankan to win IAA Champion Award
Murtaza A. Tajbhoy, Chief Strategy Officer of Leo Burnett Sri Lanka was awarded the IAA Champion Award.
He is the first Sri Lankan to win this accolade. The International Advertising Association (IAA) selected Murtaza as one of five global leaders in the marketing communications industry to receive this honour.
Murtaza received the IAA Champion Award recently at IAA’S 2017 Global Conference held in Bucharest, Romania where more than 600 delegates from the international advertising and marketing communications industries were gathered to celebrate the future of the industry and to celebrate individuals who have made a difference to the industry. The IAA Champion Award, introduced last year as part of IAA’S 2017 Inspire Awards, honours notable leaders for their lifetime achievements, vision and their contribution to the global marketing communications industry.
“I am proud that Murtaza was honoured by the International Advertising Association with its firstever Champion Award,” says Arosha Perera – Chief Executive Officer, Leo Burnett Sri Lanka. “Murtaza has transformed the strategic approach to marketing communications in our industry and is a torch bearer not only for us at Leo Burnett, but also for the local advertising industry. His insights, initiatives and perspective have blazed a new trail for the Sri Lankan advertising industry. His insights into people and their behaviour and his desire to understand social norms and cultural fuel has helped us transform brands under his stewardship.”
Murtaza joins luminaries from the global advertising industry as one of only five recipients of the first IAA Champion award – his fellow champions include Brendan Ripp - Executive Vice President of the Fox Networks Group and Akira Kagani of Japan’s Drill Inc.
In a statement to congratulate all IAA Inspire Award winners, Felix Tataru - World President and Chairman of IAA said, “The IAA Inspire Awards have been initiated to pay tribute to our members for their many achievements and contributions of Leadership, Vision, Commitment and Service to make a difference in the worldwide arena of marketing communications. They have contributed their professional expertise and inspired the marketing communications community locally, regionally and globally.”
“I am honoured to receive the IAA Champion Award,” says Tajbhoy. “Insightdriven, analytical thinking is changing the marketing communications landscape around the world. To be recognized for the value I have added to this industry is a very satisfying reward.
“This recognition is a reward for my team and I would like to share this honour with my mentors and the diverse people who have guided and inspired me. This IAA Champion award is not an accolade for me, it’s a reward for Sri Lanka’s marketing communications industry.”
Murtaza led some initiatives at Leo Burnett, including the first-ever National Celebrity Study to uncover the “real” power of celebrities in advertising and a ground-breaking research into the middle income sector of Sri Lanka, providing vital insights into the evolving mindset of this segment and their lifestyle. He regularly shares these insights and learnings with the wider industry, through his time as a mentor and guest lecturer at the University of Moratuwa’s Design Faculty and through training programme organised by the industry.