Ketchum Sponsors 2012 Cannes Young Lions Marketers Competition

NEW YORK, June 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ketchum, one of the world's leading public relations agencies and PRWeek's Agency of the Year, will serve as the exclusive sponsor of the Young Lions Marketers Competition during the 59th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, which takes place June 17 to 23 in Cannes, France. This is the second year Ketchum has sponsored the competition.

Established in 2010, the Young Lions Marketers Competition is designed to recognize young talented "in-house" marketers working for client companies, age 30 or under, from around the world and give them the opportunity to showcase their ideas in front of industry leaders, including chief marketing officers from top global companies, attending the Cannes Lions Festival.

"Cannes has quickly become a must-attend event for public relations executives seeking new approaches for creative ideation, and Ketchum is proud to be there to support our clients, serve on the awards juries and sponsor the Young Lions Marketers Competition," said Raymond L. Kotcher, senior partner and CEO of Ketchum. "The Young Lions Marketers Competition reflects the importance of ensuring that the brightest new talent in advertising, digital communications, marketing and PR are raising the bar for integrated communications, and we are committed to helping the Cannes Lions Festival reach that goal."

Prior to the start of the festival, local competitions will be held to identify two Young Lions Marketers contestants from each of the 19 participating countries. Once at Cannes, the teams are given two days to produce a creative brief – one of the most important tools which guides the client and agency relationship – on a product or service, the topic of which is not revealed until competition day. The contest will be judged by leading communications strategists and creatives, and Gold medals will be presented to the winners at an awards ceremony on Saturday, June 23. Gold medal winners also receive free registration and accommodations to the 60th Cannes Lions Festival in 2013. 

"Cannes Lions recognizes the importance of investing in future marketing leaders. We're pleased to once again work with a public relations industry leader like Ketchum for the Young Lions Marketers Competition," said Festival CEO Philip Thomas. "As a global firm, Ketchum understands the importance of recognizing young talent to unleash great work around the world."

Ketchum has been invested in the Cannes Lions Festival since 2009, the first year public relations was included in the competition. Each year, a Ketchum executive has served on the PR Lions jury, and this year Ketchum partner Gustavo Averbuj, CEO of Ketchum Argentina and regional director of Ketchum Latin America, will represent the agency. In 2009, Ketchum won one of the first-ever Cannes PR Lions for its "Haagen-Dazs Loves Honey Bees" campaign, and in 2011, Philips and OneVoice, a consortium of Omnicom public relations agencies led by Ketchum and Fleishman-Hillard, were honored with a Silver PR Lion for its "Parallel Lines" campaign.

About the Young Lions Marketers Competition 
Ketchum is the exclusive global sponsor of the Young Lions Marketers Competition at the 59th Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, June 17 to 23 in Cannes, France. The competition is designed to celebrate creativity and recognize young talented "in-house" marketers, 30 years-old or under, from around the world. The 19 participating countries are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sri Lanka and Turkey.

About Ketchum 
Ketchum is a leading global communications firm with operations in more than 70 countries across six continents. Named 2012 Agency of the Year (PRWeek) and the winner of an unprecedented three consecutive PRWeek Campaign of the Year Awards, Ketchum partners with clients to deliver strategic programming, game-changing creative and measurable results that build brands and reputations. For more information on Ketchum, a part of Diversified Agency Services, a division of Omnicom Group Inc., visit www.ketchum.com.

About Diversified Agency Services 
Diversified Agency Services (DAS), a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), manages Omnicom's holdings in a variety of marketing communications disciplines. DAS includes over 200 companies, which operate through a combination of networks and regional organizations, serving international and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.

About Omnicom Group Inc. 
Omnicom Group Inc. (www.omnicomgroup.com) 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.

SOURCE Ketchum