…Leo Burnett MENA Agency to Watch
The 6th Dubai Lynx International Advertising Festival is gradually moving to a close as the grand finale holds tomorrow, Wednesday at the Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE.
The Total number of entries this year was 2,037 pieces of work…a 1.5% drop from 2011’s total of 2,068. It is still a respectable figure, considering that political unrest continues to rage in some quarters of the MENA region.
Again, the 2012 Dubai Lynx witnesses the inclusion of 2 new categories, which are PR and Mobile. Not surprisingly, the UAE leads in terms of volume of work entered in for the awards show, with 1,211 entries. Lebanon follows with 284, Egypt with 198 and Saudi Arabia with 138 entries. Further breaking this down into categories, Print leads with 305 entries, Media is next with 296, followed in joint third by Film and outdoor which both number 237 entries.
Though virtually all the big agency networks are submitting campaigns for consideration, as is the trend over the last few years, the prevailing expectation is for Leo Burnett MENA to be the agency to watch out for this year. Its CEO, Raja Trad also got named ‘Advertising person of the Year’ by Dubai Lynx, in addition to the Agency cleaning out at the recent MENA Cristal Advertising Festival in Beirut, Lebanon.
Another thing that’s been evident this year is the fact that the Lynx organisers are aiming high regarding the quality and range of judges sitting on the jury….Cannes winning creatives, global network heads and veterans of previous Cannes Lions juries including Ted Royer, partner & ECD of Droga5 New York, and John Pallant, regional executive creative director EMEA at Saatchi & Saatchi, based in London, to name but a few.
Nassib Boueri, Chief Executive Officer at Y & R and Wunderman believes that the quality of the entries as well as the entire festival has dramatically improved over the past few years, with the Dubai Lynx also being highly instrumental, in his opinion, to the fact that ‘better’ work is being seen from agencies, particularly during this time of the year. Boueri also opines that the introduction of Mobile and PR are very welcome and important developments.
THE YOUNG MARKETERS SCHOOL
The inaugural Wunderman/Y & R Young Marketer’s School commenced on Sunday 4th March 2012, with the participants being welcomed by Nassib Boureri, CEO at Y & R/Wunderman. In his words, “As part of a region booming with Talent, we are all really excited about what’s yet to come in the world of advertising and marketing. Our three day workshop will include presentations and seminars that feature some of the biggest names in the industry, and will provide insights into where we are headed”.
The YMS programme includes seminars with industry heavyweights such as Patrick Collister, world renowned creative director and Executive Creative Director of Ogilvy London for seven years, also later Executive Creative Director of EHS Brann,
Also, Erik Saelens, leading authority on brand development and legal aspects of branding and the CEO of Brandhome would be speaking at the Young marketers’ School.
The young marketers would also be privileged to enjoy a session with Michael Wall, the Global CEO of Lowe + Partners Worldwide, themed ‘Creativity is the best bet you’ll ever make- and why?’.
The programme concluded with a graduation ceremony to be presided over by Nassib Boueri, CEO at Y & R/ Wunderman and Philip Thomas, CEO, Cannes Lions
Nigeria’s Tomi Ogunlesi is one of the participants at the inaugural 2012 edition of the Young Marketers School at Dubai Lynx. The Dubai Lynx Grand Finale, which is the grand awards event and dinner takes place tomorrow, Wednesday, 7th March 2012{jcomments on}
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