- photo courtesy of Marketing Magazine
PETALING JAYA: The Media Specialists Association’s (MSA) first president and founder Margaret Lim has passed away.
She was the grand dame and key catalyst for the growth of the media industry in Malaysia.
She began her career in Ogilvy, when media was still an integral part of an advertising agency. Lim went on to work on key accounts like Nestle as a media planner and rose rapidly, becoming a media manager in one year.
She started Media Base and eventually went on to head the agency that was taken over by Aegis in Malaysia in 1998 and rebranded as Carat.
She founded the MSA in 2003 and was its first president.
Sheila Shanmugam, chief executive officer (CEO) of Mindshare Group and president of the MSA, said: “We mourn the loss of one of the industry’s brightest lights.
“Lim was a legend, who helped shape the space the media industry enjoys today. Many of today’s industry leaders have worked with her and she leaves behind a rich legacy.”
Vanitha Selva, who is the vice-president of MSA, as well as partner, head of Carat, said she had the privilege of working under Lim’s leadership during her time at Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN).
“She was deeply passionate about the future of the media industry and spearheaded numerous corporate social responsibility initiatives at DAN, which supported various non-government organisations.
“Her dedication and vision were truly inspiring.”
Bala Pomaleh, CEO of IPG Mediabrands Malaysia, said his journey into advertising started at 19 when Lim hired him.
“We reconnected 16 years later when I joined Carat. Whilst she was a media craft expert, that is not what she taught me. She honed my leadership skills, particularly my soft skills, as I took on more senior positions.“I am forever grateful and indebted to her for the opportunities and can say she is a great part of my development and success,” Bala noted.
Meanwhile, Sivanathan Krishnan, chairman and co-founder of Trapper Group, described Lim as his mentor.
“I was totally green when I joined Media Base in 1991. She found a way to be all things to everyone. She knew our touch points and honed those skill sets by helping us find our own way by lighting a spark and yet maintaining media excellence.
“She wasn’t just our mentor, but a source of inspiration and you wanted to do your utmost for her and the teams,” he said.
Darren Yuen, CEO of Initiative Media, said Lim had an “indescribable impact” and would have a lasting impression on everyone, moving forward.
“It is our responsibility to ensure the values she possessed and so willingly shared and reminded us of, continue to live on in generations of not just media and advertising practitioners, but to the human spirit of everyone.”
Fan Chen Yip, ex-Zenith, Dentsu and IPG, said Lim was much more than an icon and giant of the media and advertising industry.
“She was also a great friend, mentor and mother figure to a lot of us in the industry.
“I definitely count myself as one of those who benefitted from her wisdom and guidance on how to be a better person.
“Her legacy will live on, as we will do our best to pass on what she has taught us, to those who need it. Lim would have wanted us to do that.”
