Sixteen UAE jury members will collaborate closely with awarding jurors from across the globe to recognize and honor outstanding creative work at the 2025 Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity
Cannes Lions has unveiled the cohort of global experts selected to award the world’s finest creative and effective work, setting the standard for excellence this June at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. Among the distinguished jury members announced, this year will feature sixteen representatives from the United Arab Emirates, marking the nation’s strongest representation ever at the industry’s most celebrated awards.
The 72nd edition of Cannes Lions, running from June 16 to 20, 2025, will showcase the UAE’s growing influence on the global creative stage as these exceptional professionals prepare to set new benchmarks for excellence during the Festival.
Commenting on the Jury, Simon Cook, CEO of LIONS, said: “The Cannes Lions Awarding Jury plays a vital role in setting the global benchmark for creative excellence. This year’s line-up brings together some of the most highly respected and accomplished industry talent from around the world. Their expertise will help define the creative standards that continue to drive our industry forward and spotlight the power of creativity as a catalyst for meaningful business growth and transformation.“
Regarding the record UAE representation, Ian Fairservice, Managing Partner of Motivate Media Group, said, “Having our largest-ever UAE representation on the Cannes Lions awarding jury is a remarkable achievement for our creative community. I am sure their diverse expertise will make a significant contribution to the global creative dialogue. Their selection reflects the UAE’s growing influence and our commitment to excellence, and demonstrates the creative caliber and thought leadership emerging from this region on the international stage.”
Audio & Radio Lions:
Leila Katrib | Global Executive Creative Director, Incubeta, Global
Brand Experience & Activation Lions:
Natalie Shardan | Managing Partner, Serviceplan Middle East, UAE
Creative Business Transformation Lions:
Fabio Silveira | Managing Director, Havas, Middle East
Creative Data Lions:
Karim ElFiqi | SVP and Chief Marketing Officer, PepsiCo, Africa, Middle East, and South Asia
Creative Effectiveness Lions:
Dani Richa | Group Chairman, Impact BBDO, UAE
Design Lions:
Dida Atassi | Managing Director, Creative Account Lead for Design & Digital Products, Accenture Song, UAE
Digital Craft Lions:
Paulo Engler | Senior Creative Director and Head of Art, FP7 McCann, UAE
Direct Lions:
Aricio Fortes | Chief Creative Officer, VML, UAE
Film Lions:
Manasvi Gosalia | Executive Producer, Dejavu, UAE
Health & Wellness Lions:
João Camacho | Executive Creative Director, Saatchi Wellness ME, KSA and Turkey, MEA
Industry Craft Lions:
Lara Assouad | Executive Creative Director, Landor, Middle East
Innovation Lions:
Seyoan Vela | Chief Creative Officer, Livingroom/LRDXB, MENA
Media Lions:
Ramzy Abouchacra | Media Practice President, Dentsu, MENA
Pharma Lions:
Alok Gadkar | CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Tuesday, UAE
PR Lions:
Khaled AlShehhi | Executive Director of Marketing and Communication, UAE Government Media Office, UAE
Sustainable Development Goals Lions:
Vidya Manmohan | Founder and Chief Creative Officer, V4Good, Global
With shortlisting jury line-up to be announced soon, see the full list of Global Presidents and Awarding Juries here.
Further information on this year’s Festival and the Lions Awards can be found at visit www.canneslions.com
Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan are the official representatives of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the UAE.
Source: Cannes Press Release
Dubai Lynx, the leading platform for creative excellence and effectiveness in the MENA region, has announced its 2024 Jury lineup.
Following the initial introduction of the 11 industry experts as Jury Presidents, the latest announcement unveils 55 juries, collectively forming a global talent pool of 66 professionals from diverse disciplines. These experts, originating from 33 markets worldwide, are tasked with evaluating and judging the best work in the region.
Making their debut representation among agencies and networks are Brilliant & Million, Craft Worldwide, Doe-Anderson, Havas Health Plus, iProspect, and Track + Tribal. Additionally, notable brands and companies participating in the Juries for the first time include AB InBev, Believe, Novartis, Pitch Audio+Magic, and Prime Video India.
This year also marks the inaugural participation of markets such as Bangladesh, the Dominican Republic, Ivory Coast, and Slovakia on the Juries.
Philip Thomas, Chairman, Dubai Lynx, commented: “We are delighted to announce such an exceptional line-up of talent and experts who bring much commitment and expertise to the important task at hand. Our Jurors play a crucial role in setting the creative benchmark for the MENA region and upholding the integrity of the Awards. We wish them luck and look forward to seeing the body of work that will emerge following their discussions.”
The Dubai Lynx 2024 Juries have been named as:
Brand Experience & Activation and Creative Commerce Jury:
Rafael Rizuto, Chief Creative Officer, Dentsu Creative, US and Hispanic LATAM (Jury President)
Christopher Lee, Executive Creative Director, Publicis Groupe, Hong Kong
Joseph Dubruque, Creative Director, McCann Worldgroup, France
Marco Bezerra, Executive Creative Director, VML, UK
Noelia Merejo , Core Brands Manager, AB InBev, Dominican Republic
Tessa Conrad, Head of Innovation, TBWA\Asia, Singapore
Creative Effectiveness and Creative Strategy Jury:
Bertille Toledano, President, BETC Paris, France (Jury President)
Babs Faseesin, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Starcom Worldwide, USA
Golda Roldan, CEO, VML, the Philippines
IIma Afzal, Strategy Director, Jack Morton Worldwide, Singapore
Juan Carlos Chaves, Creative Vice President, DDB, Colombia
Martin Woska, Chief Creative and Strategy Officer, TRIAD, Slovakia
Oriane A. Canfrin, Head of Marketing and Communications, Ecobank, Ivory Coast
Design and Industry Craft Jury:
Rajdeepak Das, Chairman, Leo Burnett, South Asia, and Chief Creative Officer, Publicis Groupe, South Asia (Jury President)
Alexandre Vilela, Vice President Creative Director, BETC HAVAS, Brazil
Becci Salmon, Design Director, FCB London, UK
Luis Aboyte, Creative Director, Landor, Mexico
Michael Wilk, Global Head of Art, Serviceplan Group, Germany
Simone Rossum, Executive Creative Director, SHIFT, South Africa
Tiffanni Spann, Executive Creative Director, Freelance, USA
Digital and Social & Influencer Jury:
Anna Qvennerstedt, Global Chief Creative Officer, Forsman & Bodenfors, Global (Jury President)
Haydn Kerr, Executive Creative Director, Track + Tribal, New Zealand
Lucas Feltes, CEO, WT.AG, Brazil
Phindile Phiri, Senior Director, The Coca-Cola Company, South Africa
Sophie van der Schaft, Founder, &MediaGroup, The Netherlands
Thiago Cruz, Chief Creative Officer, NY, Grey, USA
Titipun Tubthong, Head of Creative, Brilliant & Million, Thailand
Direct and Outdoor Jury:
Nkgabiseng Motau, Co-Founder / Chief Creative Officer, Think Creative Africa, Africa (Jury President)
Juan Carlos Chaves, Creative Vice President, DDB, Colombia
Leyla Touma Dailey, President, Chief Creative Officer, Doe-Anderson, USA
Maria Todorova, CEO / Chief Creative Officer, NEXT-DC, Bulgaria
Michelle Walsh, Creative Director, Leo Burnett, Australia
Muhammad Jawad Saleem, Studio Lead, Deloitte Digital, Germany
Entertainment Jury:
Ana Balarin, Chief Creative Officer, Wieden+Kennedy, UK (Jury President)
Ayesha Huda, Head, Content Marketing, Prime Video, India
Matheus Gugelmim, Head of Projects, Vox Haus, Brazil
Perry Fair, Chief Creative Officer of Entertainment, McCann Worldgroup, USA
Sibu Mabena, CEO, Duma Collective (Pty) Ltd, South Africa
Tomas Almuna, Head of Creative for Netflix, Media.Monks, Mexico
Film Craft Jury:
Pierre Nelwan, Managing Director, Media.Monks, the Netherlands (Jury President)
Brenda Morrison Fell, Head of Production, DAVID, USA
Cristóbal Pérez-Gazitúa S., CEO / Founder, Believe, Chile
Paloma Adrien Iranzo, Chief Production Officer Craft Spain & Print Paris, Craft Worldwide – McCann, Spain
Rebekah ‘Bex’ Kelly, Executive Producer, FINCH, New Zealand
Yoshiki Ishii, CEO / Executive Producer, kirameki inc., Japan
Film, Print & Publishing, Radio & Audio Juries:
Gabriel Schmitt, Global Chief Creative Officer, Grey, Global (Jury President)
Doni Aldine, CEO, Culturs Global Multicultural Lifestyle Media, USA
Kimberly Chin, Founder / Creative / Composer, Pitch Audio+Magic, Malaysia
Lisandro Ramos, CEO & Executive Producer, Mama Hungara, Argentina
Paul Shearer, Chief Creative Officer, Great Guns, UK
Riccardo Fregoso, Chief Creative Officer, Dentsu Creative, Italy
Healthcare Jury:
Rohini Miglani, Vice President, Procter & Gamble International Operational SA SG, Asia/India/MEA(Jury President)
Allison Ceraso, President, Chief Creative Officer, Havas Health Plus, USA
Daniela Varela, Creative Director, TBWA\Health Collective, USA
Joao Camacho, Global Creative Director, Novartis, Global
Rodrigo Raices, Creative Director, VML Argentina, Argentina
Sven Hartmann, Creative Director, Mensch Kreativagentur, Germany
Media Jury:
Enyi Nwosu, Chief Strategy Officer, UM London, UK (Jury President)
Facundo Paglia, Chief Creative Officer, Lopito Ileana & Howie, Puerto Rico
Laurien Lee, CEO, iProspect, China
Sandrine Nzedieu, Digital Director, Havas Media, France
Tusnuva Ahmed Tina, Managing Partner, Mindshare, Bangladesh
PR Jury:
Anthony Chelvanathan, Chief Creative Officer, Edelman, Canada (Jury President)
Rachel Rix, Deputy Managing Director, Ketchum, UK
Radwan Atwi, Creative Director, Hill & Knowlton, Germany
Sebastian Stępak, CEO, MSL, Central and Eastern Europe
Ian Fairservice, Vice-Chairman, Dubai Lynx, said: “We have an incredible line-up of global creative experts, including four new markets: Bangladesh, the Dominican Republic, Ivory Coast and Slovakia. We are delighted to see representation from a broad range of agencies, brands and companies – including many for the first time – allowing a diverse range of voices in the Jury rooms. We’re grateful to all of our 2024 Juries for devoting their time and knowledge, and we can’t wait to see our Jurors in action in Dubai later this year.”
Festival Registration, including Press Accreditation and the Awards Ceremony & Dinner, is now open.
Click here for further information on the Festival and Jury line-up.
