CAANZ announces Charlie Robertson as international guest judge to head panel for Effies

CAANZ has announced the confirmation of international guest judge Charlie Robertson to head this year’s executive judging panel for the 2012 Effie Awards in association with TVNZ.

Once introduced by a client as ‘an engineer from Glasgow brought in to sort the brand’, Robertson is one the world’s most experienced and highly regarded strategic planners. He started his life in planning at Boase Massimi Pollitt and went on to become head of planning at Bartle Bogle Hegarty in the 80’s. Since 1994 Robertson has been the strategic evangelist at Red Spider, the independent brand consultancy firm he founded in 1994, advising companies such as Qantas, Foxtel, NAB and MLC.

Says David Thomason, Effie Awards chair: “We’re thrilled to have someone with Charlie’s credentials casting an expert, independent eye over the Effie judging process. We also look forward to catching some inspiring words of wisdom while he’s here.”

After many late nights of drafts, re-drafts and checking of facts, a tremendous response of 169 Effie entries are in and ready to be judged. Preliminary judging starts in Wellington today and concludes in Auckland tomorrow. Finalists will be announced on Thursday.

Convener of judges Lew Bentley believes the large number of judges (160) lined up to judge the preliminary rounds reflect the positive, industry-wide reputation that the Effies have for excellence in the craft of advertising. 

Robertson, who has been convener of judges at the Effie Awards in Australia, will lead the executive judging panel who will decide the winner of the Grand Effie and a handful of other judge’s awards. 

Category judging is scheduled for Wednesday 29th August and executive judging on Monday 3rd September.

Robertson’s words of wisdom can be heard at the Effectiveness Function on Tuesday 4th September. Tickets and more details will be available through the CAANZ & ANZA websites shortly.