Two more join Cannes Lions Festival jury

Two more industry leaders are named as heads of jury by the organisers of the 57th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.

Paul Taaffe, Global Chairman and CEO, Hill & Knowlton, will be Public Relations Jury President and in the category of Promo & Activation Tina Manikas, Global Retail & Promotions Officer, Draftfcb will be the Jury President.

"As the world's most coveted awards in advertising and communications, it is essential that we appoint only the best global leaders to chair the juries. We are therefore privileged to have such distinguished and greatly admired professionals such as Paul and Tina at Cannes Lions to lead the way forward," says Philip Thomas, the event's CEO.

Taaffe started as CEO of Hill & Knowlton in the UK in 1992, was promoted as president of the company in Europe, Middle East and Africa in 1995 and became Global Chairman and CEO in 2002. He personally advises CEOs and companies on defending reputation and growing brands around the world.

"Last year, PR agencies were newbies. Therefore, two-thirds of PR Lions submissions worldwide were from advertising agencies. This year, the global PR industry has no excuse. Creative thinking is the key to great communications and I look forward to chairing an international PR jury in a year that I'm sure will raise the bar around the world," said Paul on his role as Jury Chair for the PR category, which was launched last year.

Manikas, an integrated marketing professional specialising in behaviour-driven promotional activation as well as retail branding and communication, oversees all promotion and retail marketing efforts for Draftfcb's global network, which spans 96 countries.

In 2008 and 2009, Tina drove Draftfcb to the number one position in Promo magazine's Promo 100 ranking. Under her leadership, the agency's promotional efforts have been recognised with more than 80 awards in recent years.

"I am more than excited to have been selected to be the President of the Promo Lions Jury in 2010," said Manikas. "The Lions honour truly outstanding creative ideas and executions, and our jury will be inspired by many, while others will become the subject of intense debate. In any case, I am sure we will all find the experience educational, enlightening and, from what I've been told, more than a little exhausting. I can't wait!"

The festival is one of the world's biggest celebrations of creativity in communications. As the most prestigious international annual advertising awards, more than 22,500 entries from all over the world are showcased and judged at the event. Winning companies receive the highly coveted Lion trophy honouring the most creative film, print, outdoor, interactive, radio, design, sales promotion & activation and integrated advertising, as well as the best media, direct marketing, PR and Titanium ideas.

More than 6,000 delegates from 90 countries will attend the seven days of exhibitions, screenings, as well as more than 50 high-profile seminars, 30 workshops and master classes by renowned worldwide industry leaders.

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