Spikes Asia names first three jury presidents

Spikes Asia, the regional event for creative excellence in advertising and communications for Asia, has announced the first three jury presidents set to take the helm at the 2012 Festival.

Amir Kassaei (left), Chief Creative Officer, DDB Worldwide, will lead this year’s Film, Print, Outdoor & Radio and Integrated Jury. Kassaei has gained experience with agencies such as TBWA Worldwide, Barci & Partner and Springer & Jacoby before joining DDB as Chief Creative Officer and Associate Partner of DDB Germany in 2003. In 2011, he was appointed DDB Worldwide Chief Creative Officer. He and his team are recipients of more than 2,000 national and international awards including 40 Cannes Lions in the past five years.

Kassaei has made it his personal and professional mission to ignite a new creative revolution at DDB and for the industry as a whole. Amir is advancing innovative practices in the profession including The Power of Branded Networks and The Impact of Social Creativity that drive incredible performance for DDB clients.

Commenting on his appointment Kassaei said, “It is a great honour to be leading the jury this year. I am looking forward to a lot of innovative and inspiring ideas of international endurance. Asia is going to play a very important role – not only in terms of the economy, but also in creative terms – for our industry and for business overall.”

Heading up the Media Jury will be Dominic Proctor, President, GroupM Global.

Proctor oversees the management of the company’s global media agencies worldwide, which in addition to Mindshare, include Maxus, MEC and MediaCom. Prior to his role at GroupM, Proctor served for fifteen years as CEO of Mindshare Worldwide. He started his career at Everett’s in 1979 before moving to JWT where he quickly progressed through from Media Director to Managing Director until at 34 years of age he became the youngest Executive to be named CEO.

In 1997 Proctor launched Mindshare Worldwide which grew to become one of the world’s leading media agency networks, with 97 offices in 67 markets and in 2010 global billings of more than $27billion (RECMA).

“Running the world’s biggest Media Investment agency is a real privilege,” said Proctor. “Our agencies are all World Class. There is no doubt that this sector has gained hugely in importance as the media landscape has become much more difficult to navigate. One thing that reflects that importance is the quality of entries into the industry awards. Spikes is no exception.”

Tina Manikas, Global Retail & Promotions Officer, Draftfcb, will preside over the Direct and Promo & Activation Jury.

Specialising in brand-building and behaviour-driving activation in all its forms, Manikas’ 25+ year distinguished career has seen her become a recognised leader in the industry and seasoned presenter on trends and insights at retail and integrated forums. At Draftfcb she oversees retail marketing and activation efforts worldwide with an international account portfolio including Beiersdorf, Kraft, Motorola, Brown-Forman as well as U.S. based blue-chip clients MilkPEP, Taco Bell and Del Monte.

For several years, Manikas has led Draftfcb to be ranked number one in Promo Magazine’s Promo 100 and to the Hub’s Top Twelve Shopper Marketing Agencies list. Under her leadership the agency’s activation campaigns have earned over 80 honours.

“I am very honoured to be heading up the Direct and Promo & Activation jury at Spikes this year,” said Manikas. “I look forward to seeing all of the fabulous entries and I’m excited to help the region continue to set the bar for great work.”

Terry Savage, Chairman of Lions Festivals said “Year on year we’re seeing Spikes Asia grow in all directions, from entries to delegates to the level of content, meaning that the Festival is firmly established as the must-attend regional event for the industry. To ensure that it remains so, and that it stays as a true reflection of the industry and region, it’s crucial that we have the right people involved. All respected in their fields, Amir, Dominic and Tina have been chosen for their proven achievements and their clear ability to determine the best in creativity and set precedent within the region.”

Entries and Delegate registration for Spikes Asia are now open, with anyone registering before 1 August 2012 benefiting from the early bird rate. For further information on the Festival and how to register, click here.