Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced the final names of the 2019 jury members, representing a diverse mix of disciplines from across the global industry. One of the persons chosen was Steve Babaeko, a media executive from Nigeria, who is the owner of X2M Ideas Limited.
In 2019, 48% of jury members are female, up from 46% in 2018, 43% in 2017 and 40% in 2016. The Cannes Lions juries will be represented by world class specialists from over 50 countries, with first-time jury members hailing from Jordan and Morocco this year.
In 2019, the juries are represented by the highest calibre of worldwide industry expertise. There are three OBE honoured jury members and a broad spread of specialisms from across the entire industry landscape.
Agency representatives sit alongside innovative brands and technology companies, including: Samsung, LEGO, Amazon and Alibaba; and Consultancies, such as: Deloitte, IBM iX and McKinsey, as well as a truly global spread of independent agencies, from Åkestam Holst and Innocean, to Wieden+Kennedy, Cheil and M&C Saatchi. A wealth of entertainment companies are also represented on the juries this year, such as Netflix and Marvel Entertainment.
Across the 27 specialist Lions, which reflect the breadth of disciplines across the creative marketing and communications industry, two new categories are launched this year, further diversifying the jury member demographic.
The Creative Strategy Lions, aimed at strategists from a mix of companies and agency planners, celebrate how strategic planning can redefine a brand, reinvent its business and influence consumers. The Entertainment Lions for Sport honours creativity that taps into fan culture and leverages the power of sports and eSports in connecting people to brands.
Simon Cook, Cannes Lions, Managing Director, said, “As the shape of the work and the industry evolves, so do our juries. 2019 is our most diverse cohort yet, representing a wide range of countries, backgrounds and specialist expertise from all corners of the industry.
“Our juries play a crucial role in ensuring that we maintain the global benchmark and keep world-class creativity, in all its forms, at the heart of the Festival. I’d like to extend our thanks to each and every jury member.”
The final Jury line-ups announced are: Experience Track: Brand Experience & Activation Lions and Creative eCommerce Lions; Impact Track: Creative Effectiveness; Craft Track: Digital Craft; Reach Track: Media, PR, Direct, Social & Influencer; Entertainment Track: Entertainment; Communication Track: Film, Titanium; Good: Sustainable Development Goals; and Health: Pharma.
