DIA Brands' managing director Sutapa Bhattacharya steps down

DIA Brands Malaysia's managing director Sutapa Bhattacharya (pictured) has departed from her role, after spending three years at the consultancy.

When reached out to by A+M, DIA Brands confirmed that Bhattacharya left in August. 

At DIA Brands, she led several notable branding projects, including work for Malakoff. "We completed a rebranding of the company from a coal-based independent power producer to a sustainable energy company, with a strong brand narrative focusing on the formation of three brand entities and a brand new logo and identity," Bhattacharya told A+M.

Another project she looks back on proudly was the creation of the Pacific Senior Living brand, where her team developed a strategy that embraced a positive view of the growing senior citizen segment, promising "Joyous living" for this next chapter of life. She also oversaw IJM Corporation Malaysia’s badge of distinction and the launch of SA Sentral in Shah Alam.

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As the marketing landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with AI, data, and behavioural science taking center stage, the outgoing MD shared with A+M that she had begun integrating these strategies into the consultancy’s work. "I aimed to evolve campaigns and strategic communications based on my experience at TNB and Leo Burnett," she added.

When asked about her next steps, Bhattacharya said: "For now, I am taking a pause and considering different roles and options before me, but also dabbling in a few projects of my interest."

Bhattacharya joined DIA Brands from Tenaga Nasional, where she was the GM, strategic communication and branding. She was with TNB since 2017, where she was responsible for overseeing some memorable festive ads, including "Raya macam cara" ("Raya in various ways"), "Deklarasi anak Malaysia" ("Declaration of a child of Malaysia"), and "Reality not virtual". 

Prior to her four-year tenure at TNB, Bhattacharya led strategy and branding at Leo Burnett for over 13 years. She was also a planning director at JWT from 1998 to 2003. During her tenure, she also secured gold for Brand Consultancy of the Year at A+M's AOTY awards for four years consecutively while at Leo Burnett. 

Before Bhattacharya’s tenure as MD for DIA Brands, Razaleigh Zainal, who previously worked at PNB, MDEC, and Sime Darby Property, took the helm in 2022 following the departure of Tania Tai, who had been MD for 15 years. After leaving DIA, Tai is now the managing director for Deloitte Malaysia.

A+M has reached out to DIA Brands for further information. 

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