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Six creative leaders from Asia including Masako Okamura, Eugene Cheong, and Sonal Dabral appointed to International Board of Directors for The One Club for Creativity

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NEW YORK — Six top creative leaders from agencies in Asia are among nine new appointees announced by The One Club for Creativity to the organization’s prestigious International Board of Directors.

The new International Board members from Asia are:

  • Eugene Cheong, chief creative officer, Ogilvy & Mather Asia Pacific and Singapore;
  • Sonal Dabral, group chief creative officer and vice chair at Ogilvy India in Mumbai;
  • Leong Wai Foong, chairman and chief creative officer, BBDO Greater China in Shanghai;
  • Masako Okamura, executive creative officer, ASPAC, Dentsu Aegis Network in Manila; 
  • Juliana Paracencio, regional CD, Memac Ogilvy & Mather, Dubai, UAE;
  • Yasuharu Sasaki, executive creative director at Dentsu Tokyo.

“One reason The One Club is so prestigious is because of its exceptional Board, an impressive group of the most prominent creative professionals from around the world,” said Kevin Swanepoel, CEO, The One Club for Creativity.  “We are thrilled to have these five global creative leaders join the International Board, and look forward to them playing a key role in furthering our mission to support and celebrate the success of the global creative community, and solidifying the relevance of our mission in Asia.”

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“I won my first Pencil in 1988,” said Ogilvy & Mather’s Cheong, who is the first member to represent Singapore on the International Board.  “It occurred to me back then that you didn’t have to be British, American, Dan Wieden or David Abbott to win a Pencil.  You just had to be good.  The One Show was, and still is, the fairest of them all.  For me and the rest of us who live at the peripheral of Adland out in Asia, that says everything.”

“It’s a huge honour and privilege to be selected on the International board of The One Club, a non-profit organisation that passionately believes in creativity and a vibrant global creative community,” said Ogilvy India’s Dabral.  “India is one of the fastest growing and most important markets in the world today.  I’m happy to represent my country on this very important board and contribute to the great work the One Club is doing.”  

Dabral replaces Prasoon Joshi, executive chairman, CEO, McCann Worldgroup India and president. South Asia, McCann Erickson Mumbai, India, whose three-year term has ended.

“The Greater China region is flooded with all kinds of award shows, and some of them have turned into meaningless events,” said BBDO Greater China’s Leong.  “I would like to help elevate The One Show and ADC Annual Awards to industry people here to remind them of the ONE stage they should fight to be on.”  He replaces Dean Sciole, director of marketing, Cadillac China, who completed his three-year term representing China.

“It’s truly an honor to be a member of International Board of Directors,” said Dentsu Tokyo’s Sasaki.  “In Japan, we have a lot of talented creatives in digital and design, especially in younger generations.  I would like to help inspire them by connecting with great creativity through The One Club, and introduce them to the world.”  He replaces  Naoki Ito, CEO, creative director and founder, Party, Tokyo, whose three-year term has ended.

Dentsu Aegis Network’s Masako Okamura is the first creative leader to represent the Philippines on the International Board.  Memac Ogilvy & Mather’s Juliana Paracencio is the first represent United Arab Emirates.

In other changes at the organization, FCB global CCO Susan Credle, based in New York, has been named chairwoman of the National Board of Directors.  She replaces JosĂ© Molla, founder and CCO, The Community, Miami, whose term as chairman has ended.  He will officially hand over the reins to Credle at The One Show on Friday evening, May 11, during Creative Week in New York.

Three industry leaders have been added to The One Club National Board of Directors: Keith Cartwright, ECD, 72andSunny, Los Angeles, Chloe Gottlieb, EVP, CCO US, R/GA, New York, and Fernando Machado, global chief marketing officer, Burger King, Miami.

Other new members of The One Club International Board of Directors are Pat Baron, CCO, Australia and Chairman, McCann APAC Creative Leadership Council, McCann Melbourne, Australia; MĂłnica Moro, CCO, McCann Spain, Madrid, Spain; Juliana Paracencio, regional CD, Memac Ogilvy & Mather, Dubai, UAE; and Luiz Sanches, CCO, AlmapBBDO, SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil, who replaces Nizan Guanaes, chairman, Grupo ABC, SĂŁo Paulo.

Board members, who serve three-year terms, are selected based on three criteria: they must be prominent international creatives, be respected leaders in their given fields, and exert influence in their respective regions.

Responsibilities of Board members include providing input and feedback on the club’s two dozen annual education, professional development, inclusion & diversity and gender equality programs, elevating The One Show and ADC Annual Awards in rankings in their regions, connecting the club with advertising and design universities and schools, and recommending outstanding candidates for awards judges.

The new Board members join a group of global creative leaders who serve as ambassadors for and advisors to the non-profit organization.  The complete list of current National Board members is at http://www.oneclub.org/directors/, International Board is at http://www.oneclub.org/intldirectors/

Swanepoel made special note of José Molla’s term as Board chairman, praising his strong dedication and strategic vision for successfully growing the club’s initiatives, reputation and influence on a global level.

“JosĂ© has been a terrific leader and partner, and played a significant role in the club becoming the creative industry’s global leader in education, professional development, inclusion & diversity and gender equality programming,” he said.  “We thank him for his many important contributions to making The One Club an organization that nurtures a more vibrant and inspired global creative community.”

Past One Club Board members include industry legends such as Bob BarrieLee ClowLee GarfinkelJeff GoodbySir John HegartyEd McCabeDan Wieden and others.  

The announcement was made in lead up to The One Club’s Creative Week, May 7-11, 2018 in New York (http://www.oneclub.org/creativeweek/).  The preeminent festival showcasing the intersection of advertising, innovation and creative thinking, Creative Week includes The One Show over two nights, ADC 97th Annual Awards, the dynamic Young Ones Education Festival, inspiring sessions with some of the biggest names in the industry at the Creative Summit and the exclusive Executive Creative Summit, open to a limited number of top-level leaders (founders, CCOs and managing partners).

The One Club for Creativity (http://www.oneclub.org), producer of the prestigious One Show, ADC Annual Awards, Creative Week and Portfolio Night, is the world’s foremost non-profit organization recognizing creative excellence in advertising and design.  The ADC Annual Awards honors the best work across all disciplines, including Advertising, Interactive, Design and Motion. Creative Week takes place in New York City every May and is the preeminent festival celebrating the intersection of advertising and the arts.

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