Sir Anthony O’Reilly, Chief Executive of the international media and communications group, Independent News & Media PLC (INM), will be honoured with the Media Person of the Year Award at the 55th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.
The award, which pays tribute to a prominent personality from the worldwide media industry, is given in recognition of Sir Anthony’s leadership, since the early 1970’s, of the fast-growing international media and communications group Independent News & Media PLC, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. With interests worldwide, Sir Anthony has built a geographically unique and diverse portfolio of market-leading brands spanning 4 continents, 10 major markets and 22 individual countries. The company owns and publishes over 200 newspaper and magazine titles delivering a combined weekly circulation of over 32 million copies with a weekly audience of over 100 million consumers, with market-leading newspaper positions in Australia (regional), India, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa. Titles include the UK national daily newspaper The Independent and the world’s largest read newspaper, Dainik Jagran in India. INM is the largest radio operator in Australasia with more than 130 radio stations; over 100 editorial and commercial websites and is the largest outdoor advertising operator in Australasia and Africa, with leading positions in Hong Kong, Malaysia, India and Indonesia.
"The prestigious Media Person of the Year Award is being presented this year to one of the world’s top media leaders. We are delighted to honour Sir Anthony, a formidable personality with a diverse career, in recognition of his business proficiency and leadership skills of a top international media organisation,” said Terry Savage, Chairman of the Festival.
On receiving the award, Sir Anthony said: “I am extremely honoured to join such an extraordinary group of people who have made an enormous contribution to the world of media.”
The trophy will be presented to Sir Anthony O’Reilly during the Press, Cyber and Design Lions Awards Ceremony on the evening of Wednesday 18 June, in the Palais des Festivals, Cannes.
