Amir Kassaei, CCO of DDB Worldwide, Returns To Chair the LIA Integration Jury

NEW YORK, April 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Amir Kassaei, Chief Creative Officer of DDB Worldwide, will lead the newly defined Integration Jury for LIA in 2013.

Amir is one of the most lauded creatives in the world. He likes to say, "Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion." He firmly believes that if one has passion, will and courage, one can change the world for the better. Of our business, he says, "It has never been just about advertising. Our business is marketing products, companies and relevant services – and one of our vehicles is advertising."

Born in Iran, raised in Austria, and educated in France, Amir settled in Germany in 1997, gaining experience early in his career in a variety of roles ranging from Account Manager to Strategic Planner to Art Director and Designer at agencies such as TBWA, Barci & Partner and Springer & Jacoby. At Springer & Jacoby, Amir advanced from Copywriter to Creative Director and finally to Executive Creative Director on the global Mercedes-Benz and smart accounts. In 2003, Amir joined DDB as Chief Creative Officer and Associate Partner of DDB Germany, where he quickly helped reshape the agency. After joining the agency as the youngest DDB Chief Creative Officer in Europe, he quickly transformed it into one of the most creative and successful agencies in Germany. Under Amir's leadership, DDB Germany has also been ranked the most awarded German agency in the Gunn Report.

In February 2011, Amir was appointed DDB Worldwide Chief Creative Officer. Amir has worked on behalf of an impressive range of the world's major brands, including Allianz, Apple, Adidas, Bosch, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Nike, Reebok and Volkswagen.

"What we once called Integrated Campaign, which was defined as creatively communicating a message through multiple media platforms, is now redefined and renamed. Amir championed this change and it is appropriate that he steers the judging process at this metamorphic stage, said Barbara Levy, President of LIA. As Amir stated when he chaired in 2012, "Integration is no longer about having the craftsmanship to adapt an idea for different platforms, but about creatively integrating ideas into society on a multi-dimensional level."

Of his appointment Amir said, "The London International Awards prove every year to be one of the most outstanding award shows in the industry; a very professional team and a great jury which produces great results and gives a great outlook of where the industry is heading and where the bar is."

28^th London International Awards: October 4-12 2013, Las Vegas

LIA has established itself as a revolutionary global competition, celebrating creativity, the power of ideas and new technology in all forms of Advertising, Digital and Design. Defining its 28-year history, Barbara Levy, Founder and President of LIA, continues her innovative leadership, meeting the demands of our ever-changing industry. Launched in 1986 with a mission to be different, LIA was the first truly international award, accepting entries in Television, Print and Radio media from around the world. LIA now accepts entries into thirteen unique media types.

LIA Educational Initiative: In 2012, LIA launched the Junior 'Creative Conversations' program targeted to Young Creative's from around the globe. As a way to give back to the industry, LIA coordinated a week of seminars, conversations, lunches and dinners that were educational and stimulated discussions around the future of Advertising. The entire initiative, including travel, meals and hotel expenses, was fully funded by LIA.

The 2012 'Creative Conversations' speakers included: Ted Royer, Susan Credle, Israel Diaz, Sonal Dabral, Tony Calcao, Jeremy Craigen, Faris Yakob, Neil French, Doerte Spengler-Ahrens, Bob Garfield, Jonathon Ker, Ralph van Dijk, Scott Elias and Phil Growick.

In 2013, 'Creative Conversations' will once again take place at Wynn/Encore, Las Vegas during the week of the LIA Judging Sessions. Seventy carefully selected Junior Creative's from around the globe will attend this intimate, invitation-only event.

LIA will open their Entry System in May with a final deadline at the end of July.

For further information please visit www.liaawards.com.  

About DDB

DDB Worldwide (www.ddb.com) is one of the world's largest and most awarded advertising and marketing networks. In 2012, DDB was named Advertising Network of the Year by Campaign, as well as Agency of the Year and Digital Agency of the Year by Strategy magazine. At the prestigious 2012 Cannes International Festival of Creativity, DDB won 82 Lions, the most ever for the network. In addition, The Gunn Report has listed DDB as one of the Top 3 Global Networks for the last 12 years. The agency's clients include Volkswagen, Reebok, McDonald's, Unilever, Mars, Johnson & Johnson, and Exxon Mobil, among others.

Founded in 1949, DDB is part of the Omnicom Group (NYSE) and consists of more than 200 offices in over 90 countries with its flagship office in New York, NY.

About Omnicom Group Inc.

Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE-OMC) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

For further information on Omnicom and its brands, please visit www.omnicomgroup.com

Contact:

Christie Giera

Director of Corporate Communications and North American Public Relations, DDB

Phone: +1 212 415 2186
Email: [email protected] 

Rebecca Morgan

Head of PR and Marketing
 London International Awards


Phone: +44 20 8426 1670

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE DDB Worldwide