PATTAYA, THAILAND — ADFEST 2023, slated from March 23 to 25, has revealed the next set of creative executives joining its Jury Presidents line-up.
Sweetshop’s Laura Geagea heads the Film Craft Lotus & New Director Lotus
Laura Geagea, Regional Managing Director, Sweetshop China, Asia and MENA has accepted the invitation to become Jury President of Film Craft Lotus and New Director Lotus at ADFEST 2023.
Laura began working with Sweetshop Asia in 2015 as a freelance producer and was soon brought into the fold as Executive Producer Asia & MENA. She opened Sweetshop’s office in Shanghai in 2017 and today Sweetshop China is the fastest-growing office in a network of seven, while Sweetshop Asia is the second. Under her leadership, Sweetshop Shanghai became the fastest-growing office in a network of eight, with the office’s revenue increasing by 47% in 2021.
A Lebanese native, Laura was born in Canada and spent much of her childhood between Beirut and Halifax, before moving to Asia in her early twenties. She speaks six languages, which has helped to develop as a genuinely international creative female leader working to elevate the advertising industry in Greater China and Asia-Pacific. She has cultivated a roster of local talented directors in Shanghai, Bangkok, and Singapore, as well as production solutions with Sweetshop’s global director roster.
She has led the Sweetshop team to produce commercials for major brands such as Lux, P&G, OnePlus, Budweiser, Michelin, Vivo, and Vidal Sassoon, and helped win business in Asia for brands such as Olay, Agoda, Spotify, and Tiger Beer.
“I’m honored to have been invited by ADFEST to lead the Film Craft Lotus and New Director Lotus Juries for 2023,” said Laura. “I love nothing more than watching good work and am very excited that this year we are finally back to all being able to attend the festival in person. After years of stop-start work due to Covid, it will be fantastic to get back to focusing on the craft, the creative talent, and the work. I cannot wait!”
Laura was named in Campaign’s Women to Watch Greater China 2022.
Rahul Mathew of DDB Mudra Group presides over Film Lotus, Outdoor Lotus, Press Lotus, and Radio & Audio Lotus
Rahul Mathew, Chief Creative Officer, DDB Mudra Group, has been appointed Jury President of Film Lotus, Outdoor Lotus, Press Lotus, and Radio & Audio Lotus for ADFEST 2023.
Although Rahul’s dream of becoming a professional sportsperson was never realized, its values have shaped his advertising career. He is proud to say that he is “fiercely competitive, a big believer in teamwork, a relentless dreamer and gloats just right about his wins and hurts just enough from his losses”.
Rahul has contributed to DDB Group being ranked No.1 in Asia and No.12 in the world by WARC. DDB Mudra Group is one of India’s most awarded creative companies with back-to-back wins at Cannes Lions 2018, 19 & 21, No.2 at Effie India 2020, winner of Grand Prix at Spikes 2019 & 21, and golds at WARC & WARC Prize for Asian Strategy. Rahul joined DDB Mudra at the beginning of 2014 as Creative Group Head – West from McCann Erickson Mumbai, where he had been Executive Creative Director. He became the national creative director of DDB Mudra Group in 2017 and was promoted again to Chief Creative Officer in 2021.
Under his leadership, the Group has been awarded the inaugural D&AD Impact prize fund and won an impressive collection of awards and honors at Cannes Lions, Spikes Asia, One Show, and D&AD Impact, and was recognized as one of the Top 20 Most effective and creative agencies in the world by Effie Index 2020.
“ADFEST isn’t just a celebration of creativity, it also sets a standard for the region to hold up and for the young to learn from and aspire for,” said Rahul.
Rahul’s previous stints include Y&R Kuala Lumpur, where the network won its first-ever Grand Prix at ADFEST during his tenure. While he was at McCann Mumbai, the office won close to 100 metals and honors at local and international shows, including a Grand Prix at Spikes Asia, multiple pencils at One Show, and Lions at Cannes. Rahul has ranked 3rd among India’s & 19th among Asia’s Most Awarded Creative Leaders by Campaign Brief Asia Creative Rankings 2021 and among the top 10 copywriters in India on multiple occasions.
TBWA\Hakuhodo & TBWA\Asia’s Kazoo Sato leads the Design Lotus and Print & Outdoor Craft Lotus
Kazoo Sato, Chief Creative Sustainability Officer, TBWA\Hakuhodo and TBWA\Asia, will preside over the Design Lotus and Print & Outdoor Craft Lotus as Jury President.
Kazoo began his professional career at Sony Music Entertainment as a music producer in 1997. After three years, he moved agency-side, joining Leo Burnett Tokyo as executive creative director for its global brands. In 2009, Kazoo joined TBWA\HAKUHODO and after four years as executive creative director, he was appointed Chief Creative Officer.
Since joining TBWA\HAKUHODO in 2009, Kazoo has helped the agency secure awards across all major international award shows. These include Gold Cannes Lions, Clio Grands Prix, D&AD Yellow Pencils, and an ADC Grand Prix. He has also led the agency to win seven consecutive Creative Agency of the Year titles from Campaign Asia, more than any other creative agency in Japan.
In 2022, Kazoo became the first Chief Creative Sustainability Officer of TBWA\HAKUHODO and TBWA\Asia and is currently furthering his expertise in the field as a Graduate Student at Sophia University with a focus in Global Environmental Studies to elevate the scale of his creative work beyond the boundaries of advertising.
In 2021, he was one of a handful of top creatives invited to respond to a project brief set by Japan’s largest public-sector charitable group, the Nippon Foundation, to reimagine public toilets in Japan. His voice-activated hemispherical Hi Toilet became one of the project’s highlights. Kazoo worked on the design with members of the TBWA\HAKUHODO Disruption Lab, which develops innovative ideas that involve brands in cultural projects, and it was established in the heart of the Shibuya financial district.
“I am delighted to be appointed as the Jury president of Design Lotus and Print & Outdoor Craft Lotus at ADFEST 2023. We expect brands to be living their purpose. We expect them to have an impact and behave responsibly. Now we’re looking for brands that are going beyond this,” said Kazoo. “It’s not about superficial gestures. It’s about being authentic and genuine. Making an impact where you actually can. Pushing boundaries, breaking conventions, utilizing new tech and amazing craft– but doing so because it’s right for the brand, not because you’re chasing the latest new thing or even award metals. Can’t wait to meet everyone in person.”
adobo Magazine is an official media partner of ADFEST 2023.
