TBWA’s Jean-Marie Dru leads first creative effectiveness jury at Cannes Lions 2011

“We believe that the new Cannes CreativeEffectiveness category, which will ascertain a direct connectionbetween creativity and effectiveness, will become one of the mostimportant awards to win in the industry, especially in the eyes of theclient,” said Philip Thomas, CEO of Cannes Lions.

“InJean-Marie we have a hugely respected individual, and I can think of nobetter person to take the helm of the inaugural jury and doubtless setthe standard for future years.”

Author of four books on advertising and marketing, ‘How DisruptionBrought Order’, ‘Beyond Disruption’, ‘Disruption’ and ‘Le SautCréatif’, Dru has twice chaired at Cannes Lions, first in 1982 (Filmjury) and again in 1998 (Film and Press & Outdoor juries).

Heis a member of the European Advertising Association, is a professor atthe Paris Institute of Political Studies and in 2008, was awarded theFrench Légion d’Honneur for his long-lasting contribution to theadvertising industry and to the business world.  

His legendary concept of ‘Disruption’ is integral to TBWA’s workproduced across its 274 agencies in 100 different countries, drivingstrategic development for their clients and a common understandingacross the network.

Dru said, “A brand-changing idea is onlyas big as the success it creates. Historically the biggest creativeideas have also been the hardest working and by nature effective. I ampleased to preside over the inaugural Creative Effectiveness Lions Juryat Cannes. We’ve always known the connection between effectiveness andcreativity and we now have the opportunity to show the world the workwe create has tangible impact on our clients business.” 

Drustarted out in advertising in 1971 with Dupuy Compton (now Saatchi& Saatchi) as an account executive on Procter & Gamble andquickly rose to the position of ECD the following year. In 1977, hejoined Young & Rubicam in Paris as MD, before becoming the agency’sCEO in 1979. In 1984, he co-founded the BDDP Group, and occupied theposition of chairman.

Within seven years, BDDP established itsinternational presence in 26 countries and was ranked 15th amongstglobal agencies. After the merger of BDDP with TBWA in 1998, Dru becamepresident International of TBWA Worldwide. In early 2001, he wasappointed president and CEO Worldwide, a position that he held untilJanuary 2008, when he moved to the role of chairman. 

Onlyentries that were either shortlisted or Lions winners, across allcategories at Cannes Lions 2010 are eligible to enter. Submissions mustbe made before the 11 March 2011 deadline. The data of all entries willbe checked by external auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers before beingjudged by Jean-Marie Dru and his jury in Cannes.