October 2011 Bates today executed a simultaneous region-wide re-launch of its corporate identity to reflect an enhanced strategic approach to brand communications. The new logo and branding features colourful speech balloons to depict the brand conversations that marketers and communicators must drive if they are to truly engage their audiences with their brands. Together with a new description of the Agency as “the changengage people”, Bates underscores the requirement to go beyond broadcasting advertising messages to focus on generating brand conversations in the marketplace, and is showing its clients how to engage effectively with their consumers using new strategies and new media.

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September 2011 CEO Nimal, COO Sheron and CD Harendra joined the network at the Regional Conference in Kuala Lumpur to discuss future directions for the Agency with its up-coming relaunch. Bates will unveil its new branding and philosophy complete with a simplified Creative Brief format. The conference was led by the Asia Pacific Chairman Tim Isaac and the regional team including Regional ECD Sonal Dabral, Regional Planning Head Dheeraj Sinha, Regional Talent Head David Meredith and Regional Marketing Head Desiree Lim and Bates people from 11 countries.

September 2011 Dinesh Perera, erstwhile and on-going Associate Creative Director at Bates, has been appointed Business Head and Creative Director of our new digital communications arm. Dinesh is building a team that will develop innovative solutions to our clients in this emerging medium, and has already embarked on some lead projects for several clients. Ask Dinesh to show you what he can do for your brands.

September 2011 Rezani Aziz returns to the Agency as Chief Operating Officer of our Burson-Marsteller affiliated PR arm. Rezani’s long experience, contacts and capability in PR with our Agency (not to mention her high profile in cocktail photo & fashion pages!) will ensure that we maintain our industry leadership and carry through most effectively the work we do for our clients.

Bates celebrated its 18^th Anniversary and the local New Year with a Mod-Tradi Party at the Agency. Clients, Media and Business Partners participated and enjoyed the fun “mod-tradi” theme games, music and food.

Representing the Sri Lankan ad industry in the 2010 Young Spikes Media Contest to be held in Singapore between 19-21September are a duo from our media and digital specialization units Mediaedge and 141D, R. Gopi Krishna and UdaraHettiarchchi.

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Announcing the launch of “Bates Bazaar” – our blog for Bates alumni in far-flung places across the globe, Agency team members, our associates from the Bates Asia, Burson-Marsteller and Mediaedge networks, and not least, our clients! The launch comes with an invitation to all to share experiences, and insights, ideas, initiatives, and research or even random musings! Go to http://www.batesstrategicalliance.com/bazaar/

Bates Strategic Alliance celebrates its 17th Anniversary today. Due to the general election, celebrations were held in advance on the 6th with an Avurudhu Uthsvaya (New Year Festival) and Peduru Party (sing-along seated on mats with local music/eastern band). Nimal is seen here cutting the Bibikkan (local coconut cake) with 17 oil lamps placed on Bulath Kola (betel leaves). Clients, media people and staff who attended all had a jolly time and enjoyed the Game Kema (village food – manioc, gram, wade, hoppers, roti, sambol, curry & arrack), the sarpina band music, and the fun and games – Thitha Thebima (finding the belly button), Suupuven Beema (drinking through the nipple), Bunis Kema (eating swinging buns), Kotta Pora (pillow fight). Media Head Namalie, in her Blue Kandyan saree, was chosen the Avurudhu Kumari (New Year Princess) and Studio Manager Sene, in his Bates yellow sarong ensemble, was the Avurudhu Kumaraya.

Nimal cutting the Bibikkan with 17 pahan

The agency launched its Facebook Page to connect with its alumni & associates across the world as well as clients and fans in Sri Lanka. The Bates Bazaar Blog which is to serve as a ideas & insights exchange between staff, alumni, clients & associates will be launched shortly.

The reactivated Bates Club with its enthusiastic new President Vinoth Thevamani and his dynamic team (Sene, Razma, Dinushi, Anjali, Gopi, Riyal, Anandi, Dilumi, Vino, Sharnez, Hashari, Udara, Saman & Gayantha) are planning a smashing Avurudhu Uthsavaya on 6th April. Avurudhu games and a peduru party are in the offing! Watch out for those redda-hatte clad gals and sarong tucked guys.

February 2010
Valentine’s Day was celebrated with a karaoke party which went into the night. The winners were Anandi  (“Yesterday once more”)and Sene (“Ganga Addara”).

December 2009
“Rockers” was the theme of our staff Christmas party this year, and did we rock! “Silent Night” was only for the carols sung by candlelight. Photos of the rockers went into our 2010 greetings calendar.

March 2009
The Agency created history by appointing an all female panel of COOs to manage our advertising, media & PR businesses.  Sheron Jayasundera heads Bates 141, Rezani Aziz heads the Burson-Marsteller affiliated PR business, and Namalie Herath head the GroupM affiliated Mediaedge:cia media specialization. See them in this photo with a tough bunch of creative bodyguards. Where’s Charlie?

March 2009

We moved to our white-walled, white-floored new office dubbed the ‘White House’, which retains the “cool” character that had been hallmark of our previous workplaces as well. With a rooftop with a view for entertainment, a conference room with a view of a large tree, a garden with a mini-pool, and a tailor-made room for every department, the new office was a lucky find and a perfect place for our creativity. A christening party was held in April for clients. (More photos on our FaceBook Page.)

Bates 141 Strategic Alliance’s media arm is being developed as a media specialist with a new affiliation to Group M’s Mediaedege:cia aka MEC Global. Namalie Herath heads the operation.

(New Delhi, April 17, 2008) - Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations and communications firm, today announced formation of a ‘Burson-Marsteller South Asia Network (BMSAN)’ with the signing of strategic alliances with independent public relations companies across Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Read more

Today, we celebrate our 15th Anniversary. We have come a long way and established our standing as an agency to reckon with in strategic thinking, creativity and PR leadership. We have several clients who have been with us for many years and who have continued to strengthen us with additional business, which we greatly appreciate and which will enable us to to sustain our strengths and talent to serve you strongly in the future, furthering these solid and mutually satisfying relationships. New exciting brands and clients have also come to us in recent years as they discover our capabilities, enthusiasm, dedication and partnership. We thank you most sincerely for being a strength to us. Read more

On Saturday night at the Chillies, Bates 141 Strategic Alliance won 11 Metals including the coveted Campaign of the Year to confirm that it is a key player to reckon with on a level playing field where the rules of the game are not subverted through scam ads. Winning both the Print & TV campaigns in the services category in addition to 4 individual ads for Hutch, Bates 141 topped it by winning the Campaign of the Year for their “Where it matters to me” campaign for the brand. Read more

{Blues Christmas Video}

This is Nimal and the Bates 141 team, wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas and more good times ahead.

Cheers, guys !