Kuala Lumpur, YTL Group managing director, Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr) Francis Yeoh, CBE has been recognised as a branding giant. At the inaugural “The Brand Laureates” Awards night that was touted as “The Grammy Awards for Branding”, Tan Sri Yeoh was presented the Brand Personality 2006/2007 award.

The other personalities recognised as Brand Laureates were Public Bank Berhad Chairman, Tan Sri Dato' Sri Dr. Teh Hong Piow and Malaysia Design Technology Centre and Limkokwing University College of Creative Technology Founding President Tan Sri Dato’ Prof. Dr Lim Kok Wing.

Before presenting the awards, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dato’ Seri Mohamad Nazri bin Abdul Aziz, said, “Tonight we honour these great Malaysians – their brands and their companies that have done so much for our nation. They are our national heroes.”

He also congratulated the other Brand Laureates, adding, “The award is a testament to the success of your brand. All of you brand laureates are brand leaders in your respective categories, and I hope you will continue to develop and innovate your brand in order to stay relevant and provide customers with a wonderful experience when using your brand.

“Your contribution in enhancing and promoting Brand Malaysia in the organisation and industries that you represent have helped to position Malaysia as a nation that is progressive and respected globally, embodying the Malaysian ‘Can Do’ spirit,” Dato’ Seri Nazri said.

Tan Sri Francis Yeoh said, “This is indeed a rare honour accorded to me. I must thank my father who is the embodiment of the YTL brand. He does justice, loves mercy and walks humbly. He saw it fit to hand over the reins to me very early so that I can swim in the deep end.

“I must also thank my Father in heaven who also trusts us to be stewards of His wealth and left it to us to decide to stay the course of good despite pervasive evil temptations. This award to me is but a symbol and a form of moral and intellectual integrity, the real substance behind this award are all the wonderful people of YTL who continue to run this good race with me. I thank them with all my heart.”