GLOBAL – London International Awards (LIA) have named Matt Eastwood, Worldwide Chief Creative Officer of JWT, and John Mescall, Global Executive Creative Director of McCann Worldwide, as 2015 Jury Presidents. Eastwood will preside over the Print, Poster and Billboard jury while Mescall will head up the jury for the TV/Cinema/Online Film category.
“LIA is honored to have both Matt and John presiding over these two juries. An Award Show is only as good as its juries. Having John and Matt is about as good as it gets,” said Barbara Levy, President of LIA.
Eastwood joined JWT as Worldwide Chief Creative Officer in July 2014. Described by Britain’s Campaign magazine as a “unicorn” in the communications industry, Matt has overseen some of the most innovative and recognizable creative projects in advertising today. His career has spanned numerous agencies, specialties and countries, including Australia, the UK and US.
During his career, Eastwood has won numerous accolades and honors, including Campaign Brief Agency of the Year, Creativity’s Agency to Watch, B&T Agency of the Year, Spikes Network of the Year and Campaign Magazine Network of the Year.
“After a re-injection of energy some years ago, LIA fast became one of the industry’s most important shows. The caliber of jurors is always beyond compare, so it’s a thrill to preside over the Print, Poster and Billboard jury. I look forward to helping curate a show that both records the best work, and inspires more of the same.”
John Mescall, on the other hand, was Executive Creative Director of McCann Melbourne before moving to New York to fulfill his current position in 2014.
Under Mescall’s leadership, McCann Melbourne became the world’s most awarded agency in 2013. Honors included The Gunn Report Agency of the Year, LIA Agency of the Year, D&AD Agency of the Year, Cannes Agency of the Year (Runner Up), and Campaign Brief Agency of the Year.
In 2013, Mescall was named as one of the Creativity 50, AdWeek’s annual listing of the world’s 50 most influential creative thinkers and doers, and was also ranked 8th most creative person in worldwide advertising by Business Insider.
“It’s a huge honor to chair the LIA TV/Cinema/Online Film jury. This is a show that not only upholds the very highest standards, but it leads the way in its efforts to bring the next generation of creative leaders into the jury room. That makes LIA a very special show to be a part of. And despite all the brilliant innovation and subversive qualities of the best work in the newer categories, there will always be a purity and artistry about Film that makes it wonderful to judge. Most great campaigns, no matter how integrated, still have a wonderful piece of film at their very core. So TV/Cinema/Online Film as a category is as vital and as current as it’s ever been. Maybe even more so. I can’t wait,” commented Mescall.
The LIA 2015 Entry System is now accepting entries. Judging will take place from 1st October to 10th October. The shortlists will be announced as each judging session concludes, with winners being announced 2nd November.
