Cannes Lions gets it first ever marketer Jury President
Cannes Lions has announced the appointment of Wendy Clark, President of Sparkling Brands & Strategic Marketing, Coca-Cola North America as Jury President. This will be the first time that a jury will be headed by a client-side marketer rather than an agency head.
The Creative Effectiveness Lions was launched in 2011 and celebrates creativity with a proven business impact. Its entry process involves close collaboration between clients and agencies to showcase both.
Philip Thomas, CEO, Lions Festival said on Ms Clark’s appointment, “Wendy is a passionate and vocal believer in the power of creativity to drive commercial success and be a force for good, which gets to the heart of what Cannes Lions is about. She is uniquely qualified to undertake the role of Jury President.”
Commenting on her appointment, Ms Clark said, “I am delighted to be the President of the Creative Effectiveness Jury for Cannes 2015 and honoured to be the first client to lead the jury for this esteemed award. For clients, nothing could be more important than creativity that builds our brands and businesses, and the Creative Effectiveness Lion builds that bridge between creativity and effectiveness in a truly quantifiable way. In this sense, it should be considered the ultimate accolade in our business.”
Talking about what she and the jury would be looking for from this year’s entries, Clark replied, “Work that is emblematic of the role and importance that creativity plays in driving brands and businesses forward; in changing or cementing minds and perceptions; and in advancing and impacting our society and world.”
Changes to Eligibility Criteria
Now shortlisted and award winning work from the past three years of Cannes Lions is also eligible for entry in the Creative Effectiveness Lions, whereas previously only those entries from the preceding year’s awards were admissible. This was done in response to industry feedback. So shortlisted and winning entries produced between 1 March 2011 – 30 April 2014 may be entered in the 2015 awards.
Mr Thomas said, “The Creative Effectiveness Lion is an award that we hold very close to our hearts, because we know it represents what clients are really looking for – creativity that amplifies their message and increases the power of what they create. It recognises and champions the power of world-changing creativity.”
