At the recent 2024 Star Academy National Finals, Heineken® Malaysia crowned Jason Dennis D’cruz from Te Amo, representing the KL/Selangor region, as this year’s National Champion.
The remarkable victory has secured him the top spot to represent Malaysia at the Global Bartender Finals in the Home of Heineken® – Amsterdam. There, he will compete for the ultimate title: Heineken®’s World’s Best Bartender.
This year marks the seventh edition of the Star Academy programme, which is committed to raising the bar in the services sector nationwide by training and enhancing the skills of local bartenders.
Martijn van Keulen, Managing Director of Heineken Malaysia, said, “We are proud to announce that Star Academy has trained over 10,000 bartenders since its inception! Through these efforts, we’re not only helping local talents shine — we’re also elevating our food and beverage sector, boosting tourism, and supporting local businesses. This is how we raise the bar for the industry and build a culture of excellence among our local bars and bartenders.”
Jimmy Ding, Sales Director of Heineken Malaysia, remarked, “2024 is a record-breaking year for participation. We saw over 1,300 talented bartenders from across the nation stepping up and showing off their incredible skills and passion for the craft. At Heineken Malaysia, we believe that serving the best beers to our customers goes beyond the brewery, and that starts with us working hand-in-hand with our trade partners and bartenders.”
The 2024 Star Academy National Finals brought together fierce competition, with finalists hailing from Sabah, Sarawak, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, and Johor.
The competition also featured a distinguished panel of judges, including Cian Hulm, Commercial Quality Manager, and Wayne Wong, Commercial Quality Lead of Heineken Malaysia, as well as two special guest judges – Gerard Anselm, Star Academy Trainer from Heineken Malaysia and Joyce Lim, Marketing Manager of the Heineken® brand in Malaysia.
The National Champion, Jason Dennis D’cruz, said, “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity Heineken Malaysia’s Star Academy 2024 has given me. A big thank you to everyone who supported me along the way. I can’t wait to compete in Amsterdam and represent the spirit of our region on the global stage.”
For more information on Heineken Malaysia’s Star Academy, visit https://star-academy.heinekenmalaysia.com/. Heineken Malaysia’s beers, stout, cider, and all related promotions and activities are strictly for non-Muslims aged 21 and above only.
