DIARY: All you need to know about ... the "IT" creatives of Asia

<p>Who is Asia's "it" creative person, the spark who lights up the </p><p>regional campaigns? Apparently the wannabe list is inches long. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Singapore </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Quite a toss-up in this town. There's Matt Cullen and Gary Tranter, soon </p><p>to be ex-Batey Ads. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Since they're bound for Hong Kong in June, it will take the pair out of </p><p>the running and leave the field open to FCB's Eric Yeo or Sion Scott </p><p>Wilson, a newcomer at Saatchi & Saatchi, who's no doubt expected to fill </p><p>the large shoesleft by David Droga. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Ho Chi Minh City </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Richard Irvine and K.C. Arriwong, former CDs at Leo Burnett Vietnam, and </p><p>Mike Sands, ex-Saatchi & Saatchi, are the names being tossed about. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Why? They've apparently had the most influence on pumping up creativity </p><p>in this town. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Tokyo </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Yoshimitsu Sawamoto of Dentsu who scooped up the 2000 Creative Director </p><p>of the Year by JAAA (Japan Advertising Agencies Association) and was </p><p>also selected its "2000 Creator or the Year". Nothing like an award to </p><p>cement one's credentials. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Taipei </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The vote goes to Albert Huang, who nurtured his creative spark at JWT </p><p>and O&M before starting his own business - Simply Ads. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Huang's public service campaign for a hospital in Taiwan reportedly drew </p><p>plenty of public attention. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Manila </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Melvin Mangada, who recently jumped ship to add his name to Santiago & </p><p>Puno after 14 years at his first company Ace-Saatchi, is a clear </p><p>favourite in this town. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>He's relatively young, has plenty of awards and is entrepreneurial to </p><p>boot. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Hong Kong </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>A very limited selection here. Paul Chan of BBDO came up tops. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>