Santharuban Thurai Sundaram Chief Executive Officer, Etika Group

Santharuban Thurai Sundaram was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Etika Group of Companies for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei on 1 April 2022 where he is responsible for Etika’s overall operations and driving profitability including expansions, leading long-term and short-term high-level strategies and growing Etika’s footprint in both Malaysia and Singapore. Santharuban brings over 18 years of marketing experience across the FMCG industry, with roots in the media and advertising industry holding several leadership roles. He served 14 years in Etika where he started his career as a Brand Manager before quickly transitioning to head the entire brand and trade marketing teams, where he successfully spearheaded multiple successful brand launches including WONDA, Calpis, Goodday, Dairy Champ and Mountain Dew, all of which not only saw these brands register substantial market share and sales growth but also earned various industry recognitions such as a Gold Effie, the coveted Advertiser of the Year at the MSA awards as well as thrice Marketer of the Year award at the AMEA Awards to name a few. Prior to his appointment, Santharuban was Senior Vice President of Marketing & Alternate Business of Etika Sdn Bhd, directly overseeing brand marketing, events & sponsorship, public relations, trade marketing, insights and new product development. His contribution towards growing the Etika business has led to his appointment as the Chief Executive Officer of Advend Group of Companies in July 2020, where he expanded the Advend business and continued contributing towards the overall growth of the Etika Group. Santharuban has been instrumental in growing Etika Group and is passionate to bring the company forward-thinking in a constantly evolving realm and is passionate to bring Etika to greater heights in his current role as Chief Executive Officer of Etika Group of Companies for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. He has also had 3 stints with Media Prima Berhad where he worked as an A&P Executive with WOW FM, Trade Publicity Executive and eventually Brand Manager with ntv7 and also Senior Manager, Marketing with The New Straits Times Press. He also had a one year stint with Celcom Axiata as the Head of Communications for the Digital Services Department.

Day 3 - March 8, 2024 (Friday)

Time Session
14:20
16:40
RE/CODING DIVERSITY AS BUSINESS ENABLER (Part II)
  • The Silent Pandemic: Prioritise Mental Health for a Better World, Better Life.
    The silent pandemic of mental health is a crisis that affects us all. It is a pandemic that knows no boundaries and leaves no community untouched. It has been gradually advancing, frequently eclipsed by more conspicuous dangers.This pertains to the concerning increase in mental health disorders, impacting people from various age groups, backgrounds, and lifestyles. As we contend with the opportunities and challenges of rapid technological advancements like AI in Industry 4.0, it is crucial to acknowledge the importance of mental health and confront it with the necessary compassion and immediacy.
    Synthia Surin Panellist Regional Director, ICCHP Asiahttps://storage.unitedwebnetwork.com/files/184/d65862a2202793a78b21bd906c29063f.jpg
    Santharuban Thurai Sundaram Panellist Chief Executive Officer, Etika Grouphttps://storage.unitedwebnetwork.com/files/184/e222113fef628963fc4ecc6cafae0e95.jpg
    Ismail Baba Panellist Professor, School of Social Sciences, University Sains Malaysia (USM)https://storage.unitedwebnetwork.com/files/184/8ddcef7802ee4e7a70d4eefced4aa505.jpg
    Richard Kong Panellist Adjunct Professor, Research Centre for Oceans and Human Health, Shenzhen Research Institutehttps://storage.unitedwebnetwork.com/files/184/6f01659fa621167e6ea8664de1c88ca1.jpg
  • Recoding Associations for Future Relevance
    Business associations have been around for more than a millennium and have become an integral part of the global business community and economy. These associations protected the interests of its members and contributed towards their business growth. They have survived, thrived and operated in an environment that could be predicted and controlled in terms of regulations and operational limitations. This panel discussion will bring out the strategies these associations need to adopt to stay relevant in the current borderless world where opportunities and challenges are unpredictable.
    Dagmara Szulce Panellist Managing Director, International Advertising Associationhttps://storage.unitedwebnetwork.com/files/184/618f4451043b0897b73ae53f00f4fbae.jpeg
    Eileen Ooi Panellist President Malaysia Digital Association, CEO Omnicom Media Group Malaysiahttps://storage.unitedwebnetwork.com/files/1061/fa1980d3968a8c960b19e89c12f8bf4f.jpg
    S.Mareshvaran A/L S.Starling Panellist Group Chief Executive Officer, Redberry Sdn. Bhd. President of Outdoor Advertising Association Malaysia (OAAM)https://storage.unitedwebnetwork.com/files/184/bb308b576faaa5b891c9d79f640483bd.jpg
    Winnie Chen-Head Panellist Partner - Head of iProspect Malaysia, Media Specialist Association (MSA) Malaysia Council Memberhttps://storage.unitedwebnetwork.com/files/1061/46c892f66ed4d34cc18c5a5fc2cb71ea.jpg
  • Empowering Women Beyond Business: The Impact of Women in Social Sphere
    This panel aims to explore the significant contributions of women in the field of social work and their role in creating positive change in communities. It will delve into the intersectionality of women's experiences, leadership, and the transformative power of social work beyond traditional business settings. Panelists will share insights, experiences, and success stories, highlighting the unique ways women are making a difference in addressing social issues, advocating for justice, and fostering community well-being. The discussion will also touch upon challenges faced by women in social work and strategies for fostering inclusivity and equality within the profession. Overall, the panel aims to inspire and celebrate the incredible impact of women in social work, recognizing their vital role in shaping a more compassionate and equitable society leading to better world, better life for all.
    Datin Dr. Hasnorliza Abu Hassan Panellist Director, Adla Group Sdn Bhdhttps://storage.unitedwebnetwork.com/files/1061/d096444ba7c3ae8e5b2051323e6f802c.jpeg
    Bavani Periasamy Panellist Professional Keynote Speaker, Coach & Facilitatorhttps://storage.unitedwebnetwork.com/files/184/b2c6c840ec820ed1c6c98c7d9f13a1cd.png
    Datin. Dr. (h.c) Hartini binti Osman Panellist Director, President & Group Managing Director, Prihatin Ehsan Holdings Sdn Bhdhttps://storage.unitedwebnetwork.com/files/184/d4d4f7c46a3e9fd0b7a5b3378c3397f8.png
    Dato' Ong Bee Leng Panellist Chief Executive Officer, PWDChttps://storage.unitedwebnetwork.com/files/184/52a6e783de3a13e2264e9c69e3c5a7c7.png
    Jennifer Ong Panellist Founder, HAPA® Grouphttps://storage.unitedwebnetwork.com/files/184/d82f1b1fbb9d7f342d026da3ff91fa68.jpg
  • 2024 DigiAsia Taipei Roadshow
    With the aim of creating the Asia
    Gary Chi Speaker President, IAA Chinese Taipei Chapterhttps://storage.unitedwebnetwork.com/files/184/14e5c164bf66acd64741376e0053f1d6.jpg
    Robin Lu Speaker Chairman, Taipei Association of Advertising Agencies; CEO, Dentsu Media Taiwan, dentsu X Taiwanhttps://storage.unitedwebnetwork.com/files/184/4d9371addca226a420881cf6b93ec27a.jpg
Ballroom 1 & 2