First place winner Jason Dennis Dcruz will represent Malaysia in the Global Bartender Finals in Amsterdam.
At the 2024 Star Academy National Finals, Heineken Malaysia Berhad (HEINEKEN Malaysia) crowned Jason Dennis Dcruz from the bar Te Amo in Changkat Bukit Bintang, representing the KL/Selangor region, as this year’s National Champion. His impressive performance earned him the honour of representing Malaysia at the Global Bartender Finals in Amsterdam, the home of Heineken, where he will compete for the prestigious title of Heineken’s World’s Best Bartender.
Now in its seventh edition, the Star Academy programme is dedicated to enhancing the skillset of local bartenders, elevating the service standards of the industry across Malaysia. Since its inception, the programme has trained over 10,000 bartenders, showcasing the company’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s food and beverage sector.
Martijn van Keulen, Managing Director of HEINEKEN Malaysia, highlighted the programme’s broad-reaching impact, stating, “Star Academy is more than just a competition – it’s about raising the bar for the industry, supporting local businesses, and boosting tourism. By empowering local talents, we’re contributing to a culture of excellence.”
The 2024 competition saw a record-breaking number of participants, with over 1,300 bartenders showcasing their talent and passion for their craft. According to HEINEKEN Malaysia’s Sales Director, Jimmy Ding, this record participation underscores the programme’s value and the company’s dedication to ensuring that serving the best beers goes beyond brewing. “It starts with collaboration between us, our trade partners, and the bartenders,” Ding remarked.
Bartenders from all over Malaysia, including Sabah, Sarawak, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, and Johor, came together for the National Finals, showcasing the best of the nation’s talent. The competition was judged by a distinguished panel of experts, including HEINEKEN Malaysia’s Commercial Quality Manager, Cian Hulm, Commercial Quality Lead, Wayne Wong, and guest judges Gerard Anselm, Star Academy Trainer, and Joyce Lim, Marketing Manager for the Heineken brand in Malaysia.
Jason Dennis Dcruz expressed his gratitude after being named National Champion, saying, “I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity that HEINEKEN Malaysia’s Star Academy has given me. A huge thank you to everyone who supported me. I look forward to representing the spirit of our region on the global stage in Amsterdam.”
Feature Photo
(Standing, L to R) Jimmy Ding, Sales Director of HEINEKEN Malaysia; Martijn van Keulen, Managing Director of HEINEKEN Malaysia; Wilson Lim, Head of Trade Marketing of HEINEKEN Malaysia; Jason Dennis Dcruz, from Te Amo, KL/Selangor region; Cian Hulm Commercial Quality Manager; Wayne Wong, Commercial Quality Lead of HEINEKEN Malaysia; (Kneeling, L to R) Lim Tee Hong, from La Primuer, from Johor region; Wendy Hamsy Anak Jack Suji, from Culture City, Sarawak region
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