A celebratory night at The Brandlaureate Brand of the Year Awards 2025-2026
As the calendar turns to a new year, The BrandLaureate has officially hosted its Brand of the Year Awards 2025–2026. Held at The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur on 28th January 2026, the gala served as a significant platform to honor brands and leaders who have demonstrated resilience and clarity. Guided by the theme “Your Brand, Your Award — Celebrating, Championing, Commemorating the Best of Your Brand,” the evening recognized those setting benchmarks across various industries and communities.
Prof. Dr. KK Johan marks new literary milestone
A major highlight of the evening was the official soft launch of “I Am the Brand,” a new book by Prof. Dr. KK Johan, World President of The BrandLaureate. The book explores the philosophy that branding is a fundamental force available to every individual, rather than just corporations.
The author’s core message— “If you are not a brand, you are nobody. Be seen, be heard, be remembered,” — served as a central pillar for the night’s celebrations, emphasizing the power of consciously crafted identity.
Artistry and leadership converge in the Year of the Horse
In a nod to 2026 being the Year of the Horse, the awards featured a special presentation by contemporary artist Lim Ah Cheng. His artwork, “Born to Lead the Wild《天生领袖》,” was showcased to represent leadership through the lens of abstract expressionism. The piece, characterized by bold brushstrokes and raw energy, complemented the event’s focus on instinctive and purposeful movement.
“Tonight marks the beginning of a new chapter for The BrandLaureate. As we step into 2026, the future belongs to brands that are tough, bold, and loyal; brands that lead with purpose and move forward with clarity and conviction,” said The Honorable President Emeritus Prof. Dr. KK Johan, World President of The BrandLaureate.
Honoring icons and industry leaders
The gala presented several prestigious accolades to individuals and organizations that have transformed ambition into enduring value.
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Brand ICON Leadership Awards: Recipients included His Majesty Sovereign Emperor Kutai Mulawarman (Nation Building), South Korean footballer Lee Dong-Gook (Sports), artist Lim Ah Cheng (Art & Culture), and Stormy Wellington (Business).
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BestBrands Category: Large organizations recognized for market leadership included Generali Life Insurance Malaysia, Melaka International Trade Centre, Pheim Asset Management, and several leading educational and healthcare institutions.
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DigiTech BestBrands: Awards were presented to tech-driven entities such as BDO Technology Solutions and HeiTech Padu Berhad for their roles in digital transformation.
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Sustainability & Growth: Agility and responsible scaling were celebrated with awards for Village Park Restaurant and IIUM Schools, among others.
Cinematic collaboration and future outlook
The World Brands Foundation (TWBF) also announced a strategic collaboration with Dream Film Sdn Bhd. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Ms. Hilary Ng, General Manager of The BrandLaureate, and Captain Denil Choong to develop a film project focused on the essence of branding excellence.
For latest news on The BrandLaureate Awards, visit www.thebrandlaureate.com or our social media – Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Spotify | Whatsapp Channel for updates and all of the evening’s major highlight moments.
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