KLM in the 1990s
With reference to the KLM saga in Sri Lanka as described by D L Sirimanne in the Business Times on October 9 and elaborated upon by Roger Thiedeman in the same section on October 16 I would like to add the following: During KLM’s 20 years or more in our Emerald Isle, their advertising and promotion was handled exclusively from 1966 to 1993 by Ishan Bahar. Although the account moved, (until KLM pulled out in 1996), to many agencies, during this period the ad representative remained unchanged. Ishan was that intimately involved with the airline in Colombo. It was when he was Art Director at Soma Ahangama Associates (now Saatchi & Saatchi) that KLM said this about the singer, stage presence, advertising guru Ishan; and I quote from the advertisement taken out by the airline on the occasion of his completion of being their ad man for 20 years in the country:
“Since 1966 one person has provided us with the service and attention KLM seeks worldwide. Looking after our interests in the area of Advertising & Promotion, Ishan Bahar the Art Director of Soma Ahangama Associates, Colombo has been part of our dedicated team for the last 25 years. KLM says ‘Congratulations and Thank You, Ishan’,” the advertisement said, a unique gesture indeed in the world of advertising. In August 1991 in appreciation of Ishan’s contribution to the airline’s success in Sri Lanka, KLM gave Ishan and his wife Dawn an all-expenses paid trip to Europe including KLM’s offices in Holland. Soma Ahangama Associates also achieved another first in being the only non-Holland based agency to be permitted to prepare and publish the advertising material for KLM. Ishan, now very much retired from active participation in the field of advertising still continues to be guide and mentor to his son Mario who runs Gracewinds, the family business in advertising and promotions. I heard down the grapevine recently, that Ishan has revived his old band ‘The Esquire Set’ and that they will be seen and heard once more during the ‘season’ this year. Good luck to the old timers!
Baba Junnur Haji
Colombo,
Kadawatha