Sompat Trisadikun, the celebrated creative leader who helped bring Thai advertising to global stages, has died. He was the chief creative officer at Grey Thailand, a role he had held since mid-2023, and had just led the agency to a string of wins at Cannes Lions 2025, including gold in Creative Commerce, silver in Direct, bronze in Design, and three shortlists. Earlier this year, he was selected as a jury member for the 2025 4A Creative Awards in Taiwan.
Trisadikun's career spanned more than two decades at the highest levels of Thailand’s ad industry. Before joining Grey, he spent over 20 years at Publicis, leading creative across Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, Digitas, and other group agencies. His tenure there was marked by award-winning campaigns, an emphasis on mentoring, and a leadership style colleagues often described as calm, generous and exacting in craft.
In its statement, Grey Thailand called him “a kind force… always positive, never losing his temper or cool,” recalling the “infectious smile” he wore when presenting ideas, “as if saying: ‘I know what I am proposing is bending your brain, but isn’t it brilliant?’”
As Liz Taylor, global chief creative officer at Ogilvy, remembered a “world-class leader” whose humour and ideas “would get standing ovations, belly laughs and ‘what the hell did we just watch?’ reactions—so brilliantly Thai in humour and sharp as hell. And that Cheshire Cat grin.”
She shared with Campaign Asia-Pacific:
" Sompat was all light. The warmth and resplendence of his character and his creative mind. I remember when I joined Leo Burnett as Global CCO, he was among the very first to not just welcome me, but to make me feel welcome. That’s a feeling he imparted everywhere he went, with everyone he met and worked with. In an industry that can be fiercely competitive and relentless, Sompat matched that energy with kindness, collaboration, and pure enthusiasm. He put the magic in what we do.
"To be back in his orbit when he moved to Grey Thailand was a highlight of my year. Sompat was a friend first, no matter what agency or network you were in. To witness the next step in his storied career—one that made him not just a titan of Thai advertising, but a true champion of APAC creativity—was a privilege. Thinking of him now, I see his generous smile and the glimmer of goodness in his eyes. Sompat was, and will always be, a gift to everyone who knew him, and an inspiration to all who call our industry home.”
Thailand-based AdFest described him as “a true advertising legend and a dear friend to so many. He was not only a titan of the industry but also a mentor, a collaborator, and an inspiration to generations of creatives. We will always remember him for his generosity, his sharp wit, and his infectious smile.”
Angel Guerrero, founder and editor-in-chief of Adobo Magazine, called him “a legendary advertising creative who mentored and paved the way for many,” recalling time spent together at Cannes Lions this June and at other festivals over the years. “A generous, kind, and caring person. His voice was soothing, his smile endearing. His sudden passing due to a heart attack left us all in shock.”
Publicis Groupe Thailand, where Sompat Trisadikun spent much of his career, bid farewell to “the true Don of us.” The agency posted on LinkedIn, "More than a global creative talent, he led with warmth and kindness, inspiring generations to believe in the power of creativity. He was a mentor, a guide, and a friend deeply loved by all who worked with him. His legacy shines on in the industry he shaped and the people he inspired."
Trisadikun's sudden death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the region - friends and colleagues who remember his creative, leadership and personal impact.
