Cannes Lions Names First Creative Effectiveness Jury President

Jean-Marie Dru to preside over the inaugural Creative Effectiveness Lions Jury at the 2011 Cannes Lions Festival.

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | January 27, 2011

The International Festival of Creativity has announced that Jean-Marie Dru, Chairman of TBWA Worldwide, will preside over the inaugural Creative Effectiveness Lions Jury at the 2011 Cannes Lions Festival.

For Creative Effectiveness category, only entries that were either shortlisted or Lions winners, across all categories at Cannes Lions 2010 are eligible to enter. The data of all entries will be checked by external auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers before being judged by Jean-Marie Dru and his jury in Cannes.

"We believe that the new Cannes Creative Effectiveness category, which will ascertain a direct connection between creativity and effectiveness, will become one of the most important awards to win in the industry, especially in the eyes of the client. In Jean-Marie we have a hugely respected individual, and I can think of no better person to take the helm of the inaugural jury and doubtless set the standard for future years," said Philip Thomas, CEO of Cannes Lions.

Author of four books on advertising and marketing, 'How Disruption Brought Order', 'Beyond Disruption', 'Disruption' and 'Le Saut Créatif', Jean-Marie has twice chaired at Cannes Lions, first in 1982 (Film jury) and again in 1998 (Film and Press & Outdoor juries). He is a member of the European Advertising Association, is a professor at the Paris Institute of Political Studies and in 2008, Jean-Marie was awarded the French Légion d'Honneur for his long-lasting contribution to the advertising industry and to the business world.

His legendary concept of 'Disruption' is integral to TBWA's work produced across its 274 agencies in 100 different countries, driving strategic development for their clients and a common understanding across the network.

Commenting on his appointment Jean-Marie said, "A brand-changing idea is only as big as the success it creates. Historically the biggest creative ideas have also been the hardest working and by nature effective. I am pleased to preside over the inaugural Creative Effectiveness Lions Jury at Cannes. We've always known the connection between effectiveness and creativity and we now have the opportunity to show the world the work we create has tangible impact on our clients business."

With a career in advertising spanning 40 years, Jean-Marie Dru started out in 1971 with Dupuy Compton (now Saatchi & Saatchi) as an account executive on Procter & Gamble and quickly rose to the position of Executive Creative Director the following year. In 1977, he joined Young & Rubicam in Paris as Managing Director, before becoming the agency's Chief Executive Officer in 1979. In 1984, he co-founded the BDDP Group, and occupied the position of Chairman. Within seven years, BDDP established its international presence in 26 countries and was ranked 15th amongst global agencies. After the merger of BDDP with TBWA in 1998, Jean-Marie became President International of TBWA Worldwide. In early 2001, he was appointed President and CEO Worldwide, a position that he held until January 2008, when he moved to the role of Chairman.

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