Icons of advertising in Jamaica

Scenes from recent media awards when 94-year-old Mrs Joyce Lindo, founder of LIndo FCB was presented with the AAAJ Lifetime Award. 

By Jean Lowrie-Chin

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 20 August 2018

At the Advertising Agencies Association of Jamaica (AAAJ) event last Thursday, we saw a spritely 94-year-old Joyce Lindo, founder of Lindo FCB, mount the stage to receive the AAAJ Lifetime Award. For a woman to step out in this field at a time when we were being told that our place was in the home, fills us, her fellow women in advertising, with gratitude. Advertising guru Adrian Robinson was likewise honoured, and we cannot forget his stroke of genius in giving that great resort chain the name which resonates on cable worldwide: “Sandals”. Arnold ‘Junior’ Foote was presented with this award several years ago.

Agency owners who had served the industry for over 20 years also received Stalwart Awards:  Beverly Hirst, Terri Williams, Gurney Beckford, Robert MacMillan, Oral McCook, Anthony Gambrill and yours truly.

Agency representatives selected the following media for top recognition: overall winner Mello; Print – Jamaica Observer; Radio – Mello; Non-Traditional – Trend; Outdoor – Caledonia; Printer – Lithographic; Magazine – Buzzz. Big thanks to AAAJ President Kingsley Morris, Media Awards Chair Stephanie McGibbon and Stalwarts Chair Wayne Stewart, all volunteers, for pulling off an excellent event.

We in the advertising industry are proud of the brands we have built, contributing significantly to the development of our economy. Our code of ethics keeps us grounded, even as the galloping technology challenges us to move with the times. We work with production houses, copywriters, artists, photographers, brand ambassadors and musicians to create stand-out messages in a super-competitive environment. Before we start the work, we know we must do some serious listening to the most important people in the whole scheme of things: you the customer.