While attending a press function recently, I had the opportunity to sneak in a photo with Tony Fernandes (middle), CEO of AirAsia. In my opinion, Tony is without doubt the best marketer in Malaysia, and probably one of the best in the world.
I’ve been wanting to get a photo with him for so long. Finally my dream came true, thanks to some random good luck.
In a country where big businesses are politically linked, meticulously regulated and agonizingly boring, Tony pushed through the crap and made an impact in the lives of millions of people. Surely, you’ve flown AirAsia?
For an amazingly successful person, Tony is quite down to earth and in most photos (except this one) you’ll see him wearing an AirAsia cap or jacket, taking every opportunity to promote his airline. And why shouldn’t he? Any marketer like Tony surely understands that you cannot leave marketing to the marketing department.
Marketing does not start once the product is completed. Marketing should influence the product, the pricing, the culture and everything else. Tony is the anti-CEO, getting his hands dirty on all aspects of the business, something most CEOs avoid like a plague.
Don’t be fooled – it takes sheer determination and unusual insight to go against what everyone else is doing to produce something so radically different that people like you and me actually told our friends about it. The “Purple Cow” that Seth Godin popularized, the holy grail of all entrepreneurs. Who can forget the 1 million free AirAsia tickets, or the more recent cheeky AsiaAsia TV ad?
In my opinion, he is the best marketer in Malaysia for the past five years. He’s probably also the best Internet marketer for the last five years.
Second place hopefully goes to me 
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mr gobala..
u’re absolutely right about him..he’s down to earth person and i’ve respect him so much..what a great idols for newbies..
Wow… a picture with Dato’ Seri Tony Fernandes! Fantastic.. Of course he is the best marketer not only in Malaysia but also worldwide! Just imagine, he took a bankrupt carrier just only RM1 with RM40mil debt some more and relaunched it with just two planes flying out of Kuala Lumpur. Today, just see how busy the LCCT is. Awesome!
Totally agree on “Any marketer like Tony surely understands that you cannot leave marketing to the marketing department.”
EVERYONE in an organization are the marketer of the company.
Hi Gobala, how to be like Tony? or at least can follow his style of working, how to adapt in making money from home.
Thanks
No doubt that he is a top notch marketer with mega success!
When I read the book titled ‘Free’ by Chris Anderson (Author of The Long Tail)…I realized that he is one of the very first entrepreneur that manipulate this marketing concept/strategy in Malaysia… or Asia. I am totally amazed.
In terms of internet marketing, AirAsia is one of the earliest local corporate that realize the importance of internet marketing. Their website is one of the best example for a web2.0 website.
They never left behind with today’s most popular social networking website. They even have a landing page to capture your email if you aware of their long & gimmick domain name on the ad-board along the way to KLIA…
He is certainly the man to watch out. Same to you Gobala, you are inspiring to many Malaysian who want to start up internet business.
Thanks for the messages – any idea how to contact Mr Tony Fernandes ?
tel or e mail address please
You can contact Tony with this secret email address: support [at] airasia.com. You can call Tony anytime via his secret number: +603 2171 9333