TBWA Vietnam’s Patrick Tom receives bursary to join the Cannes Creative Leaders Programme

Patrick Tom, the Executive Creative Director of TBWA\Vietnam, has won a place at this year’s Cannes Creative Leaders Programme. Tom (pictured left) is one of three executives to receive bursaries to take part in the programme.

Bursaries for the Cannes Creative Leaders Programme are awarded to professionals working in the industry based in one of the 158 countries that have never previously won a Cannes Gold Lion. Joining Tom will be executives from agencies in Ecuador and Nigeria. Selected from more than 30 applicants, the three will enjoy a complimentary place on the 2nd Cannes Creative Leaders Programme joining fellow participants on the two-week module taking place in Berlin and Cannes in June 2011.

“Our first-ever Cannes Creative Leaders Program in 2010 was not only a success in Berlin and Cannes for those who came, it was a success afterwards for the participants too,” says Clark Parsons, Managing Director of the Berlin School.

“One participant used the strategy he developed in the program to merge three companies and form Africa’s largest digital agency. Another used his improved leadership skills to head a team that won a huge new global account for his agency. And another is now a member of a Cannes Lions jury just one year later. We’re excited about partnering with Cannes Lions for another year of this special program that helps develop leadership skills and strategies, and we look forward to two weeks of high-impact insights and inspiration.”

During the first week, participants will be based at the Berlin School, Germany, one of the world’s leading creative training institutions, which has built a global reputation with its innovative Executive MBA programme to help creative industry executives lead for excellence in their organisations. There they will engage in six days of intensive training from Berlin School professors, studying real-world aspects of current advertising and other industry leadership and organisational practice through lectures, interactive case discussions, and small group exercises.

In the second week, participants will relocate to Cannes, France, as Festival delegates where the course continues with bespoke sessions, group projects, exclusive lectures as well as the use of the Cannes Lions incredible array of workshops, master-classes and seminars. All facilities of the full week in Cannes will be available to the participants, including all Festival content, exhibitions, screenings, award shows and galas.

“Building on the successful launch of the Cannes Creative Leadership Programme last year, we are delighted to see an equally great response to both the programme and bursaries on offer this year. The successful three candidates will benefit from the unique and incredible opportunity that this two-week programme offers in taking their creative leadership skills to greater heights,” comments Philip Thomas, Cannes Lions CEO.

Tom joined TBWA\Vietnam as Executive Creative Director in September 2009, moving from TBWA\Hong Kong where he served as group Creative Director, digital Creative Director and Head of Art. Prior to joining TBWA, he was with Eight Partnership in Hong Kong as ECD.

There are a few spaces left for this year’s Cannes Creatives Leaders Programme which costs €7950, and includes all tuition fees over the two weeks, a Cannes Lions full week delegate registration and lunches. Flights, accommodation, incidentals and other meals are not included. Class size is circa 30 places. For more information click here. Interested parties wishing to join the 2011 Cannes Creative Leaders Programme need to apply to cannesleaders@berlin-school.com. A brief written submission will be required.