Judges

The Panel

		Chairman - Simon Learman Joint Executive Creative Director, McCann’s London Simon turned his back on a sensible career as a pharmacist in favour of studying at St Martin’s School of Art. After graduating, he went on to spend the next 19 years as a copywriter at Saatchi & Saatchi, Ogilvy and (BMP) DDB. Together with his partner, Brian Fraser, he has created some of the best loved advertising campaigns for Guinness, Volkswagen, Sony, Budweiser, Vodafone, Philips, Spillers, UPS, Reuters and Heinz. He has won all the top industry awards, including Cannes, British Design & Art Direction, British Television Advertising Awards, One Show, The Creative Circle, Campaign Press, Poster and BIG awards. Simon and Brian were appointed Joint Executive Creative Directors of McCann London in January 2006, and have since driven the creative reputation of the agency to new heights. In 2009, McCann London was top of the new business league and was selected for Campaign magazine’s Agency of the Year. They have also led the agency to significant pitch wins, which include B&Q, Heinz, The Evening Standard, Premier Foods Genworth Financial, and Sony Ericsson. Simon now serves on the British D&AD Executive Committee and is a regular contributor in the media. His only downside is his unwavering support for Leeds United.

		Aidan Greene Managing Director, MediaVest Aidan has 22 years media experience and has worked in a number of agencies such as Ogilvy & Mather, Peter Owens Advertising and Carat. He joined MediaVest from the Dialogue Group, where he was Media Director and was a partner in their internet solutions company, Catseye. In 2005, Aidan launched the response-focused agency, Clear Blue Water. He has managed a team which has grown this new company to rapid success. In 2007, he was appointed Managing Director of MediaVest, one of Ireland’s largest media agencies and a part of Core Media Group. Aidan is Chairman of the Joint National Readership Survey Management Committee and sits on the Joint National Outdoor Research Technical Committee. He also maintains his commitment to the future generation of advertising professionals through his continued lecturing work with the Fitzwilliam Institute and DIT.

		Brian Swords President, IAPI Managing Director, Cawley Nea\TBWA Brian is the Managing Director of Cawley Nea\TBWA. Brian joined Cawley Nea\TBWA soon after it set up in 1992 and has risen through the ranks to be appointed to his current position as MD in 2004. Brian previously worked in Dimension Advertising Agency and in the Marketing Department of Cantrell and Cochrane. In his time at Cawley Nea\TBWA he has handled a number of significant brands in the Irish and international markets. Brian is one of Ireland’s most awarded Advertising Effectiveness winners, a member of the UK APG and US AAAA’s planning bodies. He is also an ex Chairman of The Marketing Society and the current President of IAPI. Cawley Nea\TBWA is one of Ireland’s leading creative agencies of the past ten years. The agency has over 60 employees, operating across the disciplines of Advertising, Direct Marketing and Digital.

		Catherine Donnelly Freelance Copywriter and Author Catherine Donnelly has been a writer in advertising for many years. She has worked on virtually every product and service including Ballygowan and Ryanair – winning for each of them at two NNI Awards thus affording those (at the time) fledgling companies a year’s free press advertising. She also worked on Barry’s Tea for many years creating several of their TV commercials and is flattered that many people think of her ‘Train Set’ radio commercial for Barry’s ‘as part of Christmas.’ Her first novel, The State of Grace, was published far too many years ago - she is currently struggling with two others! Meanwhile, she is delighted if someone phones her with an advertising gig! She was chairperson of The Rough Magic Theatre Company for 12 years and is still an associate member of that company. Catherine also serves on the Board of the Gaiety School of Acting.

		Diamantis Economou Marketing Director, Reckitt Benckiser Ireland Diamantis has over 15 years experience in advertising and marketing. His career has taken him across numerous markets across the globe. He has worked in diverse markets ranging from Canada, Czech & Slovak Republic, Vietnam, South Korea and London. In that time he has held a number of local, regional and global marketing and advertising roles. Before taking his current role as Marketing Director at Reckitt Benckiser Ireland, he was heading the global strategy and innovation for one of Reckitt’s powerbrands at its headquarters in London. Lemsip was the Grand Prix winner of the Outdoor Advertising Awards in 2007.

		James Barry President, Outdoor Media Association Managing Director, Bravo Outdoor James has twenty years experience in the outdoor advertising industry both in Ireland and throughout Europe with TDI, Viacom and Titan. Since the start of this year, he has been Chief Executive of Bravo Outdoor, Ireland’s newest outdoor advertising media owner, managing the CIE bus, rail and roadside contract along with an extensive Roadside and Shopping Mall portfolio. Over the years James has been directly responsible for the development from concept of a number of established outdoor formats in Ireland today, namely Adbox, Shopping Centres, Bus Media, City Impacts and latterly the roll out of digital with Transvision. After twenty years in the business, James’ passion for the outdoor medium remains undiminished. He is currently Chairman of the Outdoor Media Association.

		Stephen Lamb Media Director, Fire IMC Stephen is responsible for the production of all key clients’ media strategy & planning in Fire IMC. He has lectured both in Northern Ireland and in the USA on Marketing Communications; the last being at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. Stephen has a breadth of knowledge and experience on both private and public sectors. He is highly competent in accountable and targeted media delivery for all clients. He is currently formulating and controlling the media strategy for the SEI Advertising, Grafton PSNI, BCC Waste Campaigns, DETI - Action Renewables and Reconnect. He also previously planned and bought all media for NITB on an all Island basis. He is the only Media Director in Northern Ireland to have undertaken the strategy and execution for international campaigns in South East Asia, China, Australia & India on behalf of Grafton Recruitment & Logica.