LIA appoints first ever Jury President from Philippines: BBDO Guerrero’ David Guerrero to lead 2013 Print/Poster and Billboard Jury

David Guerrero, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer of BBDO Guerrero/Proximity Philippines, will lead the London International Awards 2013 Print, Poster & Billboard jury. Guerrero (left) becomes the first Philippines-based creative director to be selected by LIA for the prestigious Jury President role.

2012 was a busy year for Guerrero’s agency. In January they launched the most far-reaching tourism campaign in the country’s history. It has since picked up a number of accolades – including being named one of the world’s top 25 social media campaigns by Entrepreneur magazine. In March, they topped their local awards. In Cannes they led the country: with Lions across four categories. In August they picked up the Grand Prix at the global Adstars awards. And at the Spikes Asia festival in September they were ranked in the top three across the entire region. Finally at the London International Awards in November they picked up yet more metal with a Gold, two Silvers and a Bronze.

The office started from the back of a car in 1998. And has been named ‘Agency of the Year’ a dozen times by everyone from the 4A’s to Campaign Brief Asia. Previously he worked in Hong Kong; and before that in England (where he was born and went to school). He was Cannes Jury President for Radio in 2007 (the first from South East Asia). And has headed a number of juries across the Asia Pacific region. He has a long list of awards to his credit – from all the major shows – but is proudest of winning the accolade of the country’s leading copywriter, which he did this year.

“David has been on our radar for some time now and with Asia consistently performing creatively across a global level playing field, it was not a difficult decision to make in selecting him to chair the Print/Poster and Billboard Jury. We are truly honoured that he has agreed to join the prestigious 2013 Jury and proud to have the Philippines represented on our International panel,” remarked Barbara Levy, LIA President.

Guerrero said he was honoured to lead the Print, Poster & Billboard jury: “What first comes to mind is that LIA is a special show for me because I won my first international Grand Prix there. The ad was done together with Piyush Pandey when I was still at Ogilvy. (It was for Pepsi and featured the line: “No to Coke” as part of a public service message.) So it has been great to see the show evolve into one of the toughest in the world. It is also a show that works really hard to make the entire jury experience conducive to discussion, sharing and, crucially, good decisions. The “Creative Conversations” educational initiative launched last year is another key attraction for me. It is a truly international award in a world-famous venue. It’s got a unique perspective and plenty to offer the industry. I’m very much looking forward to playing a part in rewarding the best work.”

28th London International Awards judging takes place at the Encore Hotel in Las Vegas from 4th – 12th October 2013.

About LIA: Receiving over 15,000 entries from 76 countries in 2012 LIA has established itself as a revolutionary global leader celebrating creativity, the power of ideas, and new technology in all forms of Advertising and Design. Defining its 28-year history, Barbara Levy, Founder and President of LIA, continues her innovative leadership meeting the demands of our ever-changing industry. Launched in 1986 with the purpose to be different, LIA was the first truly international award, accepting entries in Television, Print and Radio media from around the world, and judging them equally. LIA now accepts entries into ten unique media types.

LIA Educational Initiative: In 2012, LIA announced the launch of its ‘Creative Conversations’ program targeted to Young Creatives from around the globe. As a way to give back to the very industry that has made LIA a trailblazer across the awards landscape, LIA coordinated a week of seminars, ‘conversations’, lunches and dinners that were both educational and stimulated discussions around the future of Advertising.

In 2013, ‘Creative Conversations’ will once again take place at Encore/Wynn Las Vegas during the week of the October 2013 LIA Judging Sessions. The entire initiative, including travel, meals and hotel expenses, is fully funded by LIA.

Only seventy attendees from around the globe will be invited to this intimate, invitation-only event. LIA has communicated word of the ‘Creative Conversations’ to various global agency networks, independent agencies, production companies, associations and media outlets. The managers of these companies and associations will chose individuals for the exclusive opportunity to experience LIA’s educational initiative.

The leaders of the ‘Creative Conversations’ in 2012 included: Ted Royer, Susan Credle, Israel Diaz, Sonal Dabral, Tony Calcao, Jeremy Craigen, Faris Yakob, Neil French, Phil Growick, Doerte Spengler-Ahrens, Bob Garfield, Jonathon Ker, Ralph van Dijk and Scott Elias.