Cover Brahmal Vasudevan was honoured with the first-ever Tatler Impact award for Business at the Tatler Ball 2024 (Photo: Creador)
Brahmal Vasudevan was honoured with the first-ever Tatler Impact award for Business at the Tatler Ball 2024 (Photo: Creador)
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The Tatler Ball 2024 celebrated visionary leaders, with Brahmal Vasudevan earning the Impact Award for Business for his groundbreaking contributions to private equity and philanthropy
Amid the splendour of the Tatler Ball 2024—a night dedicated to celebrating excellence, transformative influence and impact—luminary investor Brahmal Vasudevan was honoured with the first-ever Tatler Impact award for Business. The award recognises Brahmal’s extraordinary contributions to private equity and his broader social impact, emphasising his singular success in the synergy between business and philanthropy.
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“Thank you, Tatler, for this Impact Award for Business, which is a great honour. It's one of our first awards in Malaysia, and it really is a great acknowledgement of the people that we have in the firm and what we've achieved over the last decade or so,” shared Brahmal in his acceptance speech.
Above Brahmal Vasudevan with wife, Shanthi Kandiah, established the Alaka and Creador Foundations to support education, healthcare, and the arts (Photo: Alaka Foundation)
Brahmal Vasudevan with wife, Shanthi Kandiah, established the Alaka and Creador Foundations to support education, healthcare, and the arts (Photo: Alaka Foundation)
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For over a decade, Brahmal has been at the helm of Creador, the private equity firm he founded in 2011. Where traditional financial powerhouses dominated, Creador has since propelled and elevated businesses like Mr. DIY, Big Pharmacy, and Eco Shop. “When we think about finance or private equity, you usually think about cities like New York, London, and in this region, Singapore,” he explained.
Our goal was to see if we could build a leading world-class private equity firm out of Malaysia that served Southeast Asia, as well as India.
That was a target we set ourselves in 2011, and I feel after a decade or so, we have actually created and made a significant mark in this area.
“The next step, and I think one of the most important things, is to see how we can work with Malaysian companies and other regional companies to create world-class businesses that serve the region as well as independent markets,” he added, outlining a vision for collaboration and growth that transcends geographical boundaries.
Above Alaka Foundation, established by Brahmal and Shanthi, has contributed to transformative healthcare by funding life-changing cataract surgeries in Sri Lanka (Photo: Alaka Foundation)
Alaka Foundation, established by Brahmal and Shanthi, has contributed to transformative healthcare by funding life-changing cataract surgeries in Sri Lanka (Photo: Alaka Foundation)
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Equally impressive is Brahmal’s commitment to philanthropy. Influenced by his time in the US, he and his wife, Shanthi Kandiah, established the Alaka and Creador Foundations to support education, healthcare, and the arts. “Almost 300 billion of giving happens every year in the US, and that led to the creation of both the Alaka and Creador Foundations,” Brahmal shared. “We hope our contributions in this area not only make an impact in the various organisations that we support but also encourage and stimulate others to contribute.”
Through these foundations, Brahmal and Shanti have made significant strides in empowering underserved communities. From providing scholarships and improving healthcare access to nurturing artistic talent, their efforts embody the ethos of giving back.
“The first thing, of course, one has to achieve is really build a sustainable business that makes profit and delivers value to investors over time,” he said. “As we have had that success, Shanthi and I have always been influenced by the time we spent in the U.S., where we saw how philanthropy really permeates the day-to-day life.”
“We hope our contributions will not only make an impact but also encourage others to give back,”
The Tatler Ball 2024 unfolded in the grandeur of St. Regis Kuala Lumpur, hosting over 400 guests comprising Malaysia’s visionaries, influential leaders, and changemakers. The introduction of the Tatler Impact Awards added a significant new dimension to the evening. These awards, presented across four categories—Business, Innovation, Humanity, and Culture—honour individuals from Tatler Asia’s Most Influential list who have made remarkable contributions within the past two years.
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Above Brahmal and Shanthi’s generosity have enabled a remarkable 39,000 free surgeries in Sri Lanka (Photo: Alaka Foundation)
Brahmal and Shanthi’s generosity have enabled a remarkable 39,000 free surgeries in Sri Lanka (Photo: Alaka Foundation)
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While Brahmal’s accolade was a highlight, the Tatler Ball also celebrated other trailblazing figures. Joe Sidek, a cultural icon, received the Impact Award for Culture, lauded for his contributions to the arts and fostering cultural appreciation. Puan Sri Siew Yong Gnanalingam was honoured with the Impact Award for Humanity for her tireless work in public service and philanthropy. Lastly, Prof Datin Paduka Dr Teo Soo Huang took home the Innovation Award for her groundbreaking advancements in medical research. The four winners of the Tatler Impact awards received custom-designed Artelia trophies, premium wellness passes from ĀMANÏ Biohacking worth RM10,000 credits, and an elegant gift from Armani Prive.
One of the most important things, is to see how we can work with Malaysian companies and other regional companies to create world-class businesses
In 2025, Brahmal’s influence in both business and philanthropy continued to accelerate. Under his leadership, Creador closed its sixth fund at an oversubscribed US$930 million in January 2025, lifting the firm’s total capital raised since inception to over US$3 billion and cementing its position as one of Asia’s foremost private equity players.
The firm was also named Best Asia Private Equity Manager of the Year at the prestigious SuperReturn Asia 2025 awards in September 2025, a recognition of its value-creation ethos and ability to back transformative businesses across Southeast Asia and India.
Landmark deals over the past year include the acquisition of a controlling stake in Indonesia’s MG Group, a leading B2B hospitality marketplace primed for global expansion, alongside strategic investments in fast-growing enterprises such as Long Châu Pharmacy in Vietnam.
Parallel to these achievements, Brahmal and his wife, Shanti Kandiah, deepened their philanthropic impact through the Creador Foundation, launching schola.org.my, a free digital career exploration platform for Malaysian secondary school students in April 2025.
Since its beta launch in August 2024, Schola has grown to over 190,000 users nationwide, amassed 4.7 million organic views across social media and secured the support of 2,300 teachers across Malaysia. These accomplishments collectively underscore Brahmal’s rare ability to build sustainable businesses while simultaneously championing causes that create lasting social value.
Tatler Ball 2024 is proudly sponsored by Cartier, Volvo, The St Regis Kuala Lumpur, The Exchange TRX, Valiram, Armani Beauty, Moët Hennessy Diageo Malaysia, Amani Wellness and Artelia.
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Lynette loves travelling and dancing to Latin music almost as much as she enjoys period films and pastry desserts. She is constantly in search of the perfect nude lipstick and finds her best ideas through walks in nature.
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As the Editor-in-Chief of Tatler Malaysia, Lynette leads the content teams for print, digital and social media platforms of the brand. She has over 20 years experience in media, having been editorial director and editor-in-chief for lifestyle titles such as Cleo, ELLE, Esquire, Men’s Health, and Women’s Health.
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