AdFest Collective stamps its mark for 2013

AdFest 2013 is building up to its launch date with added energy as the newly-formed AdFest Collective starts to make its presence felt and planning gets underway for the event, to be held from 17-19 March 2013 at PEACH (Pattaya Exhibition and Conference Hall), The Royal Cliff Hotels Group, Pattaya, Thailand.

Says Jimmy Lam, President of AdFest, “AdFest is a well-respected and well-attended event in the creative calendar. It is a strong voice that passionately represents the ideas and innovation that originate from Asia and as such, it must always reflect the demands and needs of its peers. By inviting industry members of the AdFest Collective to come together and contribute to our agenda every year, we ensure that the event will always remain fresh, relevant and in demand.”

AdFest Collective has already started to make positive changes by reviewing and overhauling the judging categories for AdFest 2013. Details will be announced at a later date.

The AdFest Collective currently comprises of five executive members: Ravi Deshpande, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer of Contract India in Mumbai; David Guerrero, Chairman and CCO of BBDO Guerrero/Proximity Philippines in Manila; Akira Kagami, former Executive Advisor & Global Executive Creative Advisor of Dentsu Inc. and now Founder & President of Dentsu New School as well as Executive Advisor of Drill Inc. in Tokyo; Ted Lim, Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett Singapore and George Mackenzie, Managing Director of Robber’s Dog Production Company in Auckland.

 “The geographical area that AdFest covers is huge and culturally, it couldn’t be more diverse. AdFest provides a real focus point for creative communities throughout the region,” says George Mackenzie, Managing Director of Robber’s Dog Production Company in Auckland.

Ted Lim, Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett Singapore added, “AdFest inspires and recognises the creative revolution that this region is bringing to the world. Award shows have gone the way of the machine – cold, calculative and commercial. I hope AdFest will retain the creative soul that has defined and differentiated it.”

As part of its remit, the AdFest Collective will use the wealth of experience and expertise from its members to help the event evolve in a changing landscape.

Ravi Deshpande, Chairman & chief creative officer of Contract India in Mumbai explains, “The idea is to look to the future and provide guidance to bring in freshness and relevance in the way award shows are delivered. I would like to see AdFest reflect industry changes and offer a clear direction for the future.”

David Guerrero, Chairman and CCO of BBDO Guerrero/Proximity Philippines in Manila expands, “I think of the AdFest Collective as a focus group, shaping the festival to the needs of the leading communications professionals in the region.”

Akira Kagami, former Executive Advisor & Global Executive Creative Advisor of Dentsu Inc. and now Founder & President of Dentsu New School as well as Executive Advisor of Drill Inc. in Tokyo believes that AdFest is the perfect forum to discuss the development of the industry. He explains, “Using AdFest to host a creative summit would allow creatives from across the region and specialists from outside the industry to contribute their ideas about our future.”

The AdFest Collective meets regularly to contribute to the planning for the 16th Asia Pacific Advertising Festival, which will take place at PEACH (Pattaya Exhibition and Conference Hall), The Royal Cliff Hotels Group, Pattaya, Thailand from 17-19 March 2013.

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