By Greg Hazley
Ketchum Europe CEO David Gallagher has been tapped to head the PR jury for the Cannes Lions awards festival.
Gallagher, a senior partner at the Omnicom firm, oversees Ketchum’s nine European firms and previously held top posts in its Washington, D.C., and healthcare operations.
"This festival offers a rise-and-shine moment on a global stage for the PR community, and I'm honored to take part in selecting the very best of our creative efforts from around the world,” he said.
While the Cannes competition marks its 60th year in 2013, the PR category was created in 2009 and PR firms have been bested by ad agencies for the top prize each year.
JWT San Juan and Banco Popular won last year’s PR Grand Prix, a year after Australian ad agency Clemenger BBDO Melbourne took the top PR honor for a campaign with National Australia Bank.
Weber Shandwick global vice chair Gail Heimann was 2012 PR jury president, while Fleishman-Hillard CEO Dave Senay led the 2011 jury.
The festival runs from June 16-22 in Cannes, France. |