About Us
AUSTEN ZECHA
FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN/CEO
Austen Zecha has been a pioneer and a major presence in the local and regional advertising scene for nearly a half-century. He has helped bring literally millions to these shores with the creation of one of the international tourism industry’s most famous and recognisable slogans: 'Malaysia, Truly Asia'. That thematic line is now nearly a quarter century-old... but it's still going strong!
A Malaysian Permanent Resident born in Indonesia of Dutch, Indonesian, Czech and Chinese ancestry, schooled in elite secondary and tertiary schools in the United States, and launching his earlier journalistic and speechwriting careers for the AP and Robert F. Kennedy, Austen’s worldview is both broad and deep. He is a marketing maven, maverick and - with a little bit of Mad Men thrown in - has founded and helmed 11 advertising, design and public relations entities which formed part of, or were later sold to, leading multinational agencies' entering the Asia-Pacific region.
Innovation, combined with a dynamic, nimble, and robust approach have distinguished Austen’s leadership style. Not just staying ahead, but thinking beyond. And the international president of TBWA\Worldwide, the worldwide agency he sold his last agency to, even referred to him as a "unique...charismatic leader" within that leading worldwide network.
He is one of the first to adopt an integrated, multi-disciplinary communications strategy for his clients. He also recognised early on the transformative nature of separate, independent media companies as well as digital and social media entities. And today he regards the trending decline of large global agencies replaced by smaller, lean-and-mean management consultancies including management and financial consultancies' buying creative agency networks as a welcome long overdue “disruptor".
All of which he has incorporated into his latest, and perhaps most personally gratifying, undertaking - ISCI. It’s all there in the name: Integrated. Strategic. Communications. Innovative and international too. To which Austen adds copious portions of love, enthusiasm, passion and an incredible Southeast Asian network for the marketing communicative business.
And be warned: - around him, all this is so contagious.
DATUK ZULKIFLI BIN ISHAK
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Datuk Zulkifli Ishak, or affectionately known as Zul, has recently returned to ISCI as its Deputy Chairperson and, also again, as a shareholder following a 10-year absence engaged in some of his other varied entrepreneurial pursuits in the automotive, hospitality-travel as well as entertainment and sports industries.
His re-joining ISCI is timed to capitalize on the return of relative "normalcy" to international business as well as for ISCI's growing need for his entrepreneurial development, planning and networking assistance. He is a native of Johor, but educated at the St. John's Institution School in Kuala Lumpur -- and for which he was its Alumni or Old Boys' Association President from 2008 to 2014 -- and is a MARA University Business graduate as well as of the UK's Chartered Institute of Transport.
Furthermore, his outstanding personal and professional extra-curricular activities include being an active Member of the One Belt One Road's Malaysia-China Association; the current Alumni President of MARA University's Business & Management Faculty; founding Chairman of the National Creative Industry Trust Foundation; former president of the Malaysian Bands Association; board member of the National Defence University of Malaysia and of the National Film Board Corporation (or FINAS); organizer of the Islamic World Film Festival; and a council member of the Federal Territory Sports Council, Kedah State Sports Council and National Associations in Fencing and Taekwondo, among others.
Also, he received his early career work experience from multinationals such as Zuellig Pharma and Nestle before embarking on his own varied entrepreneurial enterprises ranging from auto dealerships to an events/PR agency and a travel agency, And his more than three illustrious decades of corporate and business experience are topped by his two honorific Datuk titles from the King of Malaysia and also from the Sultan of Pahang.
Alvin Ng
Strategic Planner
An experienced, award-winning copywriter turned planner, Alvin (as ISCI’s mascot “chipmunk”) is a team leader in brainstorming laymen solutions. Also a connoisseur of respectable wines.
Thomas Blum
Creative Director & Producer
Raised and educated in California but a lover of Hawaii. Veteran of many LA, Honolulu and – since the mid-1990s – Kuala Lumpur agencies as a true word-smith with an eye for reliable Production houses.
Alia Zecha
Operations Manager
Born in Malaysia, educated in the US, and trained with ISCI’s Honolulu JV for several years before returning to Kuala Lumpur in 2012. Alia is a triple-threat as Operations Manager handling Admin, HR, Finance and some key client operations.
Loke Chew Ling
Client Services Lead
Chew Ling’s considerable experience in“Power Brand Solutions” with TBWA and Hakuhodo agencies means she offers effective and through-the-line solutions to clients. Her current interest in digital space has made her more than keep up with the industry.