MullenLowe’s Harendra awarded inaugural NextGen Leader scholarship to Cannes Lions

From left: Ranil de Silva congratulates Harendra Uyanage on being named the recipient of Metal Factor’s Next Generation Leader scholarship

At a special ceremony held in Colombo recently, MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka Senior Vice President and Executive Creative Director Harendra Uyanage was named as the first-ever recipient of the Next Generation Leader scholarship.

For the first time in ad industry history, Metal Factor, as the organising body, initiated a scholarship to honour the late ad stalwart Yong Lye Peng, to be extended to a next generation leader of the industry from any field in the business to attend the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2025.

The recipient of Metal Factor’s Next Generation Leader scholarship was selected through a careful adjudication process led by a distinguished panel comprising Metal Factor Founder Ranil de Silva, Sysco LABS Director Brand and Communications Gian de Rose, Group Capital Maharaja Group Director Chevaan Daniel, TBWA\Sri Lanka Managing Director Renuka Marshall and Singer Sri Lanka PLC Director Marketing Janmesh Paul Antony.

The primary purpose of this scholarship is to provide future industry leaders exposure to the global industry and to bring back the learning and play a leading role to drive the industry in Sri Lanka forward. The attendee will have full access to all activities, workshops and courtesies, mentoring programmes and other such learning initiatives.

“My heartfelt congratulations to Harendra of MullenLowe on being selected as the first-ever NextGen Leader to attend the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France. I trust Harendra will return inspired, ready to push boundaries and strive for a Golden Lion while contributing meaningfully to the growth of Sri Lanka’s creative industry. My sincere thanks to Douglas Khoo for establishing the fund that made this possible, in memory of his late wife and my dear friend, Yong Lye Peng,” said de Silva.

MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka Executive Chairman Thayalan Bartlett said, “Harendra is Sri Lanka’s most talented and one of the most awarded Creative Leaders of our time. He has contributed immensely to MullenLowe’s undisputed creative standing in the local industry and has been an inspiration to youngsters for his work ethic, creativity, professionalism and integrity, I am both delighted and excited for him for having been selected by Metal Factor’s – Next Generation Leader Programme as its first scholarship recipient.”