Latest news with #CCO
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ear and Now: Cannes Lions audio special
At the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, it's very easy to pick the Grand Prix winners and just celebrate that. At BE Extraordinary , a series about the winners at Cannes Lions in collaboration with Harsh Kapadia, CCO, Grey India, we peer outside the Grand Prix, and look at clutter breaking work that picked the silvers and the bronzes, but don't often get discussed. Nosotras: Me Feat. Me, DDB Chile A prominent menstrual hygiene brand in Chile, driven by its mission to empower and support all menstruating individuals regardless of gender, recently unveiled a truly remarkable campaign. This initiative centered around an artist who had recorded a song prior to their gender transition. The concept was simple yet profound: the artist performed a duet live on stage. What made it so captivating was the ingenious use of technology. Their past self, as recorded before the transition, was projected onto the stage, singing alongside their present female self. This created a powerful and moving harmony, a duet between two versions of the same individual – the current female self and the transitioning male self. The performance beautifully encapsulated the journey of transition, highlighting not only the harmony within an individual's evolving identity but also the societal tensions that can sometimes arise. On the surface, it was simply a stunning duet. Yet, once the audience understood the story behind it, the depth and emotional resonance of the performance became even more apparent. This campaign stood out for its innovative use of audio. While many brands support transgender individuals through visual storytelling, often focusing on the challenges and mental health aspects of transition, this project leveraged the power of sound. It showcased the changing voice as a testament to the journey, offering a refreshing and deeply impactful narrative. The brand, in collaboration with DDB Chile, harnessed the unique power of audio to tell a story of transformation, acceptance, and the beautiful, evolving harmony of self. Brahma Beer: From hurt to hit, Africa Creative, DDB This is the story of turning heartbreak into harmony. In Brazil, where alcohol advertising often navigates a "dark market" by associating brands with music and events, one particular beer brand, Brahma, found an incredibly innovative way to connect with its audience. Brahma had long been a prominent sponsor of sertanejo music, a popular Brazilian country genre known for its poignant lyrics about heartbreak and betrayal. While the brand also sponsored major events like soccer and Carnival, its connection to sertanejo ran deep. Traditionally, when celebrities faced personal hardships, they would often release songs detailing their struggles, turning their pain into profit. Brahma, however, envisioned something different. They wanted to shift the focus from famous stories to the everyday experiences of their fans. The brand launched a groundbreaking campaign that leveraged artificial intelligence. They invited individuals to share their own stories of heartbreak. These personal narratives were then transformed into unique songs using AI, and subsequently uploaded to Spotify. The remarkable aspect was that the individuals whose stories were used then earned royalties from these AI-generated tracks. This initiative marked a beautiful transition for Brahma. Instead of merely celebrating established musicians and famous narratives, the brand empowered every fan in the crowd to become an artist in their own right. Given that sertanejo music deeply resonates with themes of heartbreak, this campaign was particularly impactful. Brazilians, it turns out, often shy away from openly discussing their experiences with heartbreak or infidelity. Through this light-hearted yet deeply personal approach, Brahma facilitated a conversation that had long remained unspoken. They managed to turn personal hardship into a positive and engaging experience, all while making brilliant use of audio to transform individual pain into personal gain. Coors Brewing Company - Cold Activated Announcers, Alma Advertising Coors has always been synonymous with one thing: ice-cold beer. Their commitment to chill is so well-known that even their cans famously change color, signaling the perfect temperature for enjoyment. When it came time to record radio advertisements, the challenge was clear: how could they translate that signature "chill" into an auditory experience? Instead of relying on studio trickery or simulated cold environments, the brand opted for an immersive, and quite daring, approach. They wanted their voiceover artists to truly feel the cold, to infuse their voices with an authentic shiver. The solution? Ice plunges. The announcers were asked to step into tubs filled with icy water, transforming them into what the brand playfully called "cold-activated announcers." As anyone who's experienced an ice plunge knows, the extreme cold naturally alters your voice, introducing a subtle tremor, a shiver, and an undeniable sense of urgency. This unconventional method yielded remarkable results. The performances captured a genuine, visceral coldness that simply couldn't be faked. It elevated the radio spots beyond mere spoken words, adding a layer of raw, authentic emotion. This commitment to craft, pushing beyond typical recording techniques to embody the very essence of their brand, showcased a dedication to detail that resonated deeply. They could have used a freezing room or an outdoor setting, but by immersing the artists in 42-degree water and recording them directly from the tub, Coors truly made the chill palpable. Burger King - Burger to King, Happiness, a FCB Alliance Burger King's AI commentary hack was a savvy play in Gaming sponsorships. Fast-food brands have long recognised the lucrative potential of the gaming world, a space where players spend hours immersed in virtual worlds, often with a craving for convenient meals. Burger King devised an incredibly clever strategy to infiltrate this market, especially in the context of soccer video games. They noticed a unique linguistic opportunity: the presence of players named "Burger" and "King" within the game itself. This simple observation sparked an ingenious idea. With the release of EA Sports FC 25, which boasts enhanced audio commentary powered by dynamic AI, the brand saw its chance. They launched a promotion encouraging gamers to strategically maneuver players named Berger and King so they would pass the ball to each other. When "Berger" passed to "King," the in-game commentator would inadvertently utter the brand's name: "Burger to King!" By encouraging this repetitive action, they effectively tricked the game's algorithm into having its commentators mention "Burger King" hundreds, even thousands, of times. This was a brilliant, no-cost sponsorship hack. While their main competitor, McDonald's, held the official sponsorship rights with FC 25, this challenger brand found a way to organically integrate itself into the game's audio landscape without paying a cent. It's a testament to how creativity can hack technology, even when AI is driving the experience. This innovative approach demonstrates how brands can work alongside, or even cleverly circumvent, technological advancements to achieve their marketing goals, offering a compelling example of how AI can evolve opportunities rather than diminish them for creative minds. Budweiser: One Second Ads, Africa Creative DDB The only Grand Prix winner to feature in this showcase. Budweiser, understanding their fans' deep connection to music, leveraged this passion for a truly innovative campaign. They recognized that true music lovers can identify a song within its very first beats. This insight led to a brilliant concept: an "unskippable" audio challenge. The brand launched a promotion where commercials would play just the opening second of a famous song and the commercial would immediately end. This entire campaign was built around the power of audio, featuring dozens of well-known songs. Instead of crafting lengthy, intricate advertisements or playing full tracks, Budweiser opted for an engaging, interactive approach. The result was phenomenal. People weren't just passively listening; they were actively guessing the songs and, more importantly, sharing their guesses on social media. What began as a pre-roll or audio campaign quickly transformed into a highly viral social phenomenon, driven by the sheer joy of musical recognition. If you think the audio category at this year's Cannes Lions featured any other outstanding work that could find its place here, do reach out to us on prasad.s@ with the subject line: ' Cannes Lions 2025 - BE Extraordinary'
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Big opposition to joint water CCO
A sample of submissions for a joint local government water initiative suggests officials may have a fight on their hands. The Clutha District Council meets in Balclutha today for hearings on its Southern Water Done Well proposals. Thirty-three groups and individuals are scheduled to speak to their submissions regarding the proposals, under which Clutha would join forces with the Waitaki, Central Otago and Gore District Councils to manage water services infrastructure and delivery. The council received 393 submissions during consultation, of which only the 33 from those speaking to their submissions have been made public. Of those, 29 (88%) opposed Clutha forming a jointly council-controlled organisation (CCO), the preferred option put forward by all four councils in the group. Only four favoured a joint or stand-alone CCO model, some with modifications. During consultation, Clutha District Mayor Bryan Cadogan described the joint CCO as the "least bad" solution to the latest central government push for water reform. Documents showed the four councils collectively accruing $598 million of water infrastructure debt by 2034, as they expected to spend $760m on providing improved water services in line with more stringent regulations. At the time, Mr Cadogan said the joint CCO could lead to modest efficiencies and savings for ratepayers. Other options included formation of a stand-alone CCO, or an in-house business unit. Mr Cadogan warned these options could consign Clutha to insolvency during the next decade, due to mounting infrastructure debt. Submissions against the joint council-controlled organisation cited "loss of local control" and "lack of transparency" as concerns. Submitter Alex de Boer, of Owaka, said centralisation had been demonstrated not to work. "The sums show very little advantage in rating by 2033-34. "Combining with other areas will cause loss of focus on our unique issues. "Centralisation did not work for the polytechs, hospital boards or the Auckland 'Super City'. Rates rose a lot." Council deputy chief executive Jules Witt said yesterday the council could not comment on the overall split of submissions until the hearings had been completed. "Council is still in the process of collating and analysing the submissions received. The submissions are part of the overall decision-making process of council," he said. The Waitaki, Central Otago and Gore District Councils are also seeking feedback on the proposals at present. The government will assess the council's resulting water services delivery plan and provide feedback from December. If approved, a jointly owned CCO would begin operation in July 2027.
The Star
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
AOB suspends Chengco, sanctions five auditors
The SC said AOB's findings were in fundamental and key audit areas. PETALING JAYA: The Securities Commission's (SC) Audit Oversight Board (AOB) has suspended the registration of audit firm Chengco PLT (CCO) for two years due to serious audit quality issues. In a statement, the SC said it had also imposed sanctions against five of CCO's audit partners who were the engagement partners and engagement quality control reviewers (ECQR) of three public interest entities (PIEs). This entailed the suspension of Hong Thuan Boon and Yap Peng Boon for two years. Further, Tan Wae Leng, Kong Tung Sam and Ng Kee Siang were also prohibited from accepting as clients and auditing any PIEs or scheduled funds for one year. 'The sanctions followed the AOB's findings of multiple breaches in relation to CCO's failure to comply with the relevant requirements of the International Standards on Auditing as adopted by the Malaysian Institute of Accountants when auditing the three PIEs,' the SC said. The SC added the findings were in fundamental and key audit areas. These include failures to obtain sufficient audit evidence in areas such as bank borrowings, opening balances and prior year adjustments, use of going concern assumption, other payables and accruals, revenue, cost of sales, redeemable convertible preference shares and goodwill. Also, recurring audit deficiencies were found in the areas of property development costs and fixed deposits. 'In addition, the EQCR failed to sufficiently review key audit documentation, particularly those relating to significant judgements and risk areas. This had an adverse effect on overall audit quality,' the SC said.
BusinessToday
12-06-2025
- Business
- BusinessToday
SC Suspends Audit Firm Chengco And Sanctions Auditors
The Securities Commission Malaysia's Audit Oversight Board (AOB) has suspended the registration of audit firm Chengco PLT for two years due to serious audit quality issues. This enforcement action, which took effect from June 12, 2025, follows the SC's dismissal of CCO's appeal, affirming the AOB's decision. In addition to the firm's suspension, the AOB also imposed sanctions on five of CCO's audit partners. These partners had served as engagement partners and engagement quality control reviewers (EQCR) for three public interest entities (PIEs). SC has also suspended Hong Thuan Boon and Yap Peng Boon for two years and separately, Tan Wae Leng, Kong Tung Sam, and Ng Kee Siang are prohibited from accepting as clients and auditing any PIEs or scheduled funds for one year. The suspensions and prohibitions for these partners were effective concurrently from April 30, 2025, as they did not appeal the AOB's enforcement action. The sanctions stem from the AOB's findings of multiple breaches related to CCO's failure to comply with the International Standards on Auditing (ISA), as adopted by the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA), during their audits of the three PIEs. The AOB highlighted that these findings were in fundamental and key audit areas. Furthermore, the AOB identified recurring audit deficiencies in areas such as property development costs and fixed deposits. A significant concern raised was the EQCR's failure to sufficiently review key audit documentation, particularly those related to significant judgements and risk areas, which adversely impacted overall audit quality. These deficiencies were found to be prevalent across multiple audit engagements inspected and some were recurring issues from a past AOB inspection on CCO in 2019. Despite being previously sanctioned in 2019, CCO failed to demonstrate any significant improvement in its overall audit quality. It was also noted that Hong Thuan Boon and Yap Peng Boon had also been previously sanctioned by the AOB in 2019. Related
The Star
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
AOB suspends Chengco for two years over audit breaches
The Securities Commission of Malaysia building in Kuala Lumpur is a 2001 Asean Energy Award winner where it saves RM2.5mil per annum alone on electricity bills. PETALING JAYA: The Securities Commission's Audit Oversight Board (AOB) has suspended the registration of audit firm Chengco PLT (CCO) for two years due to serious audit quality issues. In a statement, the Securities Commission (SC) said it has also imposed sanctions against five of CCO's audit partners who were the engagement partners and engagement quality control reviewers (ECQR) of three public interest entities (PIEs). This entailed the suspension of Hong Thuan Boon and Yap Peng Boon for two years. Further, Tan Wae Leng, Kong Tung Sam and Ng Kee Siang were also prohibited from accepting as clients and auditing any PIEs or scheduled funds for one year. 'The sanctions followed the AOB's findings of multiple breaches in relation to CCO's failure to comply with the relevant requirements of the International Standards on Auditing as adopted by the Malaysian Institute of Accountants when auditing the three PIEs,' the SC said. The SC added the findings were in fundamental and key audit areas. These include failures to obtain sufficient audit evidence in areas such as bank borrowings, opening balances and prior year adjustments, use of going concern assumption, other payables and accruals, revenue, cost of sales, redeemable convertible preference shares and goodwill. Also, recurring audit deficiencies were found in the areas of property development costs and fixed deposits. 'In addition, the EQCR failed to sufficiently review key audit documentation, particularly those relating to significant judgements and risk areas. This had an adverse effect on overall audit quality,' the SC said. It was also noted that these findings were prevalent across the audit engagements inspected and some were recurring from the AOB's past inspection on CCO. The SC stated that despite being previously sanctioned by the AOB in 2019, CCO had failed to demonstrate an improvement in overall audit quality. Hong Thuan Boon and Yap Peng Boon were also previously sanctioned by the AOB in 2019. While CCO appealed to the SC against the AOB's enforcement action, the SC had dismissed the appeal and affirmed the AOB's decision. The suspension took effect from June 12, 2025. Meanwhile, the affected partners did not appeal the AOB's enforcement action. Their suspensions and prohibitions were effective concurrently from April 30, 2025.
