London, 20 April 2012

The winner of a unique scheme designed to match the most innovative new media companies to the most senior decision-makers in global marketing and media was announced this week in Montreux, Switzerland at the Gala Dinner for the Festival of Media Global.

Launched just over a year ago, the video intelligence suite, VideoHub, claimed the award for the most innovative new company, as well as the sought after title of 'Hot Company of the Year'.

VideoHub monitors video content and matches it to adverts, content and viewers' interests in order to maximize brand impact. Importantly, the suite also allows publishers, advertisers and marketers to evaluate an advert's effectiveness rather than focusing on pre-set delivery goals. The company's unique depth of insight and evaluation of brand health made the entry from VideoHub stand out for all the right reasons.

An international screening panel formed of leading entrepreneurs, investors, advisors and strategists in media across the world assessed and scored each entry and helped to decide on the 'Hot Company' accolade. The six finalists were all given the chance to present an elevator pitch on the final day of the Festival of Media to hundreds of the media industry's most senior professionals.  The Festival of Media's powerful delegation makes M.A.P. a one-of-a-kind award, and ultimately the self-service platform proved the most popular of six finalists with the voting audience on the final day of the Festival.

Commenting on the winning entry, Wenda Millard President & COO, MediaLink LLC and member of the M.A.P. screening panel said:

"Brand advertising in the digital world has - unfortunately - taken a back seat to performance or direct advertising all these years, but now it's having its long-awaited day. 

"There's more reason than ever before to focus on how to measure brand impact online, in mobile, on tablets and in connected TV.  Video in the digital space couldn't be higher on the demand curve than it is right now, and a company that is dedicated to and excels in measuring what's important to brand advertisers - with transparency and authenticity - is clearly going to be front and centre in the brand discussion now.  VideoHub certainly looks like it's set to be the company that leads the way."

Jason Krebs, Chief Media Officer, Tremor Video creators of Videohub said:

"Meeting the most successful marketers in the world at the Festival of Media was an incredible experience. And, having those same leaders name VideoHub as "Hot Company of the Year" was a spectacular recognition of our entire team that will resonate throughout the media world."

Launched at last year's Festival of Media Global, the unique nature of the M.A.P. award not only allows companies to pitch to VCs but also links capitalised and developing companies to actual trial - leading to client awareness, interest, adoption, long-term relationships and importantly, vital early stage revenues.

The six finalists for this year's MAP award included:

• Videohub, the video intelligence suite designed to match video content to adverts; winners of M.A.P. 2012
• Unified, the world's first Social Operating Platform for marketers to manage campaigns across social networks
• Evidon, the first and largest dedicated provider of privacy and compliance solutions for digital media
• StrikeAd, the world's first dedicated mobile Demand-Side-Platform
• Collective, the provider of comprehensive display advertising solutions for advertisers and publishers
• Rocketfuel, the real-time digital marketing company that combines all data-driven ad targeting techniques, from behavioural to contextual, into one comprehensive solution

- ENDS -

For full entry criteria please visit www.festivalofmedia.com/global/map

For further press information on M.A.P or the Festival of Media please contact Elizabeth Jones or Jessie Winston at WITH PR on + 44 20 7249 7769 or firstname.surname@withpr.co.uk

Full judges list:

Ian Armstrong, Global Comms Director, Jaguar
Rothin Bhattacharyya, CEO, HCL Security
Chris Burggraeve, CMO, AB-InBev; president WFA
Jeff Bussgang, General Partner, Flybridge Capital Partners
Bernhard Glock, president & CEO, Media Leadership Company LLC
Alain Heureux, CEO, IAB Europe
Ryan Jamberotz, Co-founder, Videology
Stephen Messer,,Founder, Collective(i) and LinkShare; Chairman CAA
Wenda Millard, President and COO, MediaLink LLC
Roger Parry, Chairman, MSQ Partners
John Piccone, SVP Sales, Simulmedia
Ed Zimmerman, Partner, Lowenstein Sandler

About C Squared

C Squared is one of the fastest-growing specialist publishing, events and technology companies in Europe. Its mission is to help the media and marketing industry become more connected and better informed so that it is fully equipped to respond to the challenges and opportunities brought about by digital technology and globalization. The company first launched Cream magazine in 2005 to reflect the changes taking place in global media. Cream has now become the world's largest database of media innovation and its bespoke technology serves many of the leading global agency groups and multinational advertisers. C Squared launched the Festival of Media in Venice in 2007 and the brand now has 3 major Events across the world, attended by 3,000 senior delegates and receiving over 2,000 Awards entries. In 2009, C Squared acquired the leading magazine for international advertisers, M&M; plus the M&M Awards and the popular media training course, IMM. In 2011C Squared created its "Original Events" unit, which has since created leading events for clients including Wired Magazine and Unilever.
www.csquared.cc

About MediaLink LLC

MediaLink  is a Los Angeles and New York based advisory firm that provides critical counsel and strategic direction to the media, advertising, marketing, entertainment, and technology industries and to companies and investors that interact with those sectors. MediaLink professionals bring decades of sophisticated management expertise along with the vision, ingenuity, strategic thinking and skills for creative execution that can help clients achieve their goals. The MediaLink team's varied experience delivers insights that are grounded in actual business problems and opportunities. MediaLink's practice areas include strategic advisory, business acceleration, digital leadership, strategic communications, executive search, regulatory advisory, industry advocacy, and content and distribution strategies.
www.MediaLink.com

17^th April 2012:  Winners of the highly coveted Festival of Media Global Awards were celebrating tonight at a gala awards dinner in Montreux, Switzerland. The big winners were MediaCom (Network of the Year), Starcom Australia (Agency of the Year) and The Coca-Cola Company (Advertiser of the Year).  

MediaCom Norway was awarded the prestigious Campaign of the Year award, for a Norwegian campaign entitled "Tea Time - Muslims, your nice neighbour next door". Created for the Anti-Racism Centre the campaign was described by the award judges as being a genuinely outstanding piece of work. It also came out on top in both The Public Service Award and Best Communications Strategy categories.

There were two winners in the Best Experiential Campaign category, a first for the Festival of Media Global Awards. MediaCom Israel won for their "Danger! Dog poop" campaign, created for Mokesh - The coalition for a mine free Israel. Ikon Communications also won the category, for their "Share a Coke" campaign created for Coca-Cola. The judges were particularly impressed with the quality of entries for this award and noted how far experiential strategies have developed since the more stunt focused campaigns of previous years, demonstrating that experiential is now at the heart of brand thinking.

Aside from Advertiser of the Year going to an American brand no US campaigns were awarded trophies, despite initially leading the way with 32 shortlisted entries, more than any other country. In the end Norway and Australia came out on top with three wins each, far ahead of their nearest rivals.

Now in their 4^th year the 14 categories of awards, organised by Festival founders C Squared, recognise the very best in creative and innovative media thinking from around the world. The winners were chosen by a team of over 80 judges from a record breaking 870 entries, with the shortlist incorporating more than 70 companies and 100 brands from over 20 countries.

Michael Donnelly, Group Director of Worldwide Interactive Marketing at The Coca-Cola Company and Chair of the Awards Jury, comments:

"The work was truly inspiring across the board.  The category of Public Service Award was particularly poignant, as was the entries in the Experiential category.  These and others, such as Best Use of Content and Creative Use of Media demonstrated outstanding use of strategic thinking and goal setting up front, and then tremendous collaboration amongst clients, agencies, publishers and in many cases technology partners to yield astounding results that will provide learning for all interested parties for many years to come."

All campaign entries are available on www.creamglobal.com. For details of all winners, a complete list, judges or visuals from the event please go to www.festivalofmedia/global.com.

Outside the main Awards the Media Accelerator Programme (MAP) was won by VideoHub - a video intelligence suite which monitors video online and matches it to adverts, content and viewers in order to maximize brand impact. Now it's second year, MAP is a unique scheme designed to bring the most exciting game-changing new media companies to the attention of CMOs, advertisers and agencies, media buying groups and leading businesses within global media. This year VideoHub's self-service platform proved the most popular amongst the audience at the Festival of Media Global, where 10 other ground-breaking businesses presented their industry solutions as part of the programme.

-ENDS-

Notes to the editor

For press information please contact Jessie Winston (+44 7977 118186) or email Jessie.winston@withpr.co.uk

Check out videos of previous festivals and key presentations at www.YouTube.com/thefestivalofmedia  

Please credit Festival of Media with all images and videos used.    

About C Squared

C Squared is one of the fastest-growing specialist publishing, events and technology companies in Europe. Its mission is to help the media and marketing industry become more connected and better informed so that it is fully equipped to respond to the challenges and opportunities brought about by digital technology and globalization. The company first launched Cream magazine in 2005 to reflect the changes taking place in global media. Cream has now become the world's largest database of media innovation and its bespoke technology serves many of the leading global agency groups and multinational advertisers. C Squared launched the Festival of Media in Venice in 2007 and the brand now has 3 major Events across the world, attended by 3,000 senior delegates and receiving over 2,000 Awards entries. In 2009, C Squared acquired the leading magazine for international advertisers, M&M; plus the M&M Awards and the popular media training course, IMM. In 2011C Squared created its "Original Events" unit, which has since created leading events for clients including Wired Magazine and Unilever.

www.csquared.cc

Most believe agency trading desks are "a threat to transparency"

Concerns about agency transparency remain at the forefront of advertiser thinking according to a new survey conducted by the World Federation of Advertisers and the Festival of Media.

The issue of transparency in media trading will feature strongly on the agenda at the Festival of Media in Switzerland with WFA members from Heineken and MasterCard debating the subject on Tuesday 17 April.

The first comprehensive look at both agency and advertiser attitudes to transparency shows the issue continues to prove divisive in key areas. Based on 70 responses from multinational advertisers and senior global representatives from media agencies, the results indicate some areas of agreement as well as signs of a clear disconnect.

Key findings include:

• Advertisers are wary about some of the new ways of trading being developed for digital platforms. 84% agreed with the statement that: "Agency trading desks are a threat to transparency". 91% of agencies disagreed.
• Both parties agreed overwhelmingly that advertisers have the right to know the actual costs charged by any media owner to any third party acting on their behalf. All advertisers and 91% of agencies agreed with this statement.
• Both agencies and advertisers are equally split as to whether auditors overstate the issue of transparency, with 55% and 53% respectively agreeing with this statement.
• Both agencies and advertisers agree that procurement helps improve transparency in media buying but while 91% of advertisers agree, just 64% of agencies are positive.
• More than three-quarters of advertisers also cited media rebates as the biggest stumbling block to full transparency when asked "what is the biggest issue in the media transparency debate today?" The vast majority of clients feel that 100% of any rebate should be passed on to the advertiser.

Said Stephan Loerke, WFA Managing Director; "Advertisers want improved transparency both in existing areas of media buying and also in the new digital tools and platforms being established.. There is common ground in this area and we want to establish a dialogue with agencies and media owners to address this important issue. If we can resolve these issues than it will make it much easier for agencies and advertisers to work harmoniously together for mutual benefit."

Festival Founder and CEO of C Squared Charlie Crowe comments: "It might seem odd to many of us that "transparency" is still such a huge issue between advertisers and their agencies. Media has enormous value-adding capability and our Festival of Media Awards show how the fusion of great ideas and new technologies is resulting in the reformation of advertising into one of the most exciting industries in the global economy today. And yet it seems that this nettle has not been grabbed. It's the role of the Festival of Media - and its variants across the world - to bring all the parties together in order to find a path forward that works for everyone. I hope The Festival can help the WFA in achieving this goal."

The WFA transparency debate, involving members from Heineken and Mastercard, is taking place at the Festival of Media Global in Montreux, Switzerland from 15^th to 17^th April. The WFA will also be highlighting the issue of transparency and rebates as part of its Asia-Pacific Media and Marketing Network meeting in Singapore on April 25.

For a full statement on the WFA's position on media buying please read the WFA's Media Charter at http://wfamediacharter.org/media-buying.php.

Note for editors:

For more information on the WFA please contact
Alastair Ray
+44 (0)1600 713 987
+44 (0)7941 428 243
Alastair@raymedia.biz

About the WFA

The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) is the voice of marketers worldwide, representing 90% of global marketing communications spend- roughly US$700 billion per annum- through a unique, global network of the world's biggest markets and biggest marketers.

WFA's champions responsible and effective marketing communications worldwide. More information at www.wfanet.org

About the Festival of Media

Now in its sixth year, the Festival of Media Global 2012 is taking place in Montreux, Switzerland on 15-17 April 2012. The event celebrates media creativity and innovation from around the world - uniting global media specialists with senior marketers, media owners and thought-leaders, to do business and debate the many changes in media that are altering advertising landscapes worldwide.

For more information on the Festival of Media please contact Jessie Winston (+44 7977 118186) or Elizabeth Jones (+44 7825077686) at firstname.surname@withpr.co.uk

Or visit for all award entry and event booking information.

Check out videos of previous festivals and key presentations at www.YouTube.com/thefestivalofmedia

  About Festival Founder C Squared

C Squared is one of the fastest-growing specialist publishing, events and technology companies in Europe. Its mission is to help the media and marketing industry become more connected and better informed so that it is fully equipped to respond to the challenges and opportunities brought about by digital technology and globalization. The company first launched Cream magazine in 2005 to reflect the changes taking place in global media. Cream has now become the world's largest database of media innovation and its bespoke technology serves many of the leading global agency groups and multinational advertisers. C Squared launched the Festival of Media in Venice in 2007 and the brand now has 3 major Events across the world, attended by 3,000 senior delegates and receiving over 2,000 Awards entries. In 2009, C Squared acquired the leading magazine for international advertisers, M&M; plus the M&M Awards and the popular media training course, IMM. In 2011 C Squared created its "Original Events" unit, which has since created leading events for clients including Wired Magazine and Unilever.

The Festival of Media Global today announces the much anticipated shortlist for the Festival of Media Awards 2012, with entries selected across the 14 categories chosen from a record breaking 870 plus submissions.

Organised by Festival founders C Squared the highly popular awards are now in their 4^th year, with an established reputation for recognising the very best of creative media thinking from around the world. This year's shortlist is made up of more than 70 companies from over 20 countries, with 100 brands represented.

MediaCom has more shortlisted entries than any other agency, with 27 submissions currently up for awards. They are closely followed by OMD with 24 entries and last year's most successful agency Starcom, with 22. A wide variety of brands are able to boast multiple shortlisted campaigns, with Coca-Cola and McDonalds at the top of the pile, closely followed by the likes of Volkswagen, Dell and Vodafone.

In terms of country representation the United States leads the way with a staggering 32 entries making it through to the final round of judging. Australia is second with 29, with the United Kingdom just behind with 26 entries. The top five is completed by India on 10 and Norway on 6. Finland is the only new country to make an appearance in the shortlist this year, although first time entries were also received from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The 'Best Engagement Strategy' award, new this year and focused on recognising campaigns that can demonstrate tangible audience related engagement results for the client, has proven to be a particularly popular category. Entries across all categories revealed a number of broad trends, with talk of a digital 'tipping point' being reached now that social and digital media are completely integrated into the vast majority of campaigns, as well as mobile as a media appearing to go mainstream.

The awards are judged by a global panel of industry experts, including brand representatives such as Nadine McHugh from Colgate-Palmolive, Anna Pradzynska from Lego and Julie Chan from Pfizer. Agencies are represented on the panel by the likes of Nikki Mendonca from OMD, Nihar Das from MediaCom and Brian Elliot from Amsterdam Worldwide.

Michael Donnelly, Group Director of Worldwide Interactive Marketing at The Coca-Cola Company and Chair of the Awards Jury, comments:

"It became clear from speaking to my fellow judges that we were all genuinely impressed with and inspired by the calibre of entries to the Festival of Media Awards this year. Competition was particularly fierce given the tremendously high level of entries received, but I'm happy to say the standard of submissions met our high expectations. It was a real pleasure to have the opportunity to review so many innovative campaigns from around the world. I wish all the shortlisted companies good luck and look forward to seeing everyone in Montreux!"

Campaign entries will be available on www.creamglobal.com. Award winners will be announced at a Gala dinner on the final night of this year's Festival of Media Global, a two day event offering delegates industry insight and unrivalled networking opportunities. The Festival is taking place in Montreux, Switzerland from 15-17 April.

-ENDS-

For press information please contact Jessie Winston (+44 7977 118186) or Elizabeth jones (+44 7825 077686) or on firstname.surname@withpr.co.uk

Or visit for all event booking information.

Check out videos of previous festivals and key presentations at www.YouTube.com/thefestivalofmedia  

Please credit Festival of Media with all images and videos used. 

Notes to the editor

Confirmed judges for the Festival Of Media Global Awards include:

• Michael Donnelly, group director, worldwide interactive marketing, The Coca-Cola Company
• Jakob Kalkar, global media director, Carlsberg
• Nikolas Badminton, director of digital strategy, DDB
• Suresh Balaji, global head of media and marketing innovation, HSBC
• Dave Benson, global head of communications planning, ZenithOptimedia
• Chris Botha, chief executive officer, The Media Shop
• Laurent Broca, executive vice-president, network and client development, Havas
• Gordana Buccisano, business director, ZenithOptimedia
• Cheuk Chiang, chief executive officer, Asia Pacific, PHD
• Ben Collins, digital media director, EMEA, Initiative
• Nihar Das, regional managing director, MediaCom
• Rich DelCore, global director of branded entertainment, P&G
• Amy DuPon, SVP, head of strategic planning, MPG
• Caroline Foster Kenny, chief client officer, MEC
• Monica Gadsby, regional chief executive Latin America, Starcom Media Investment Group
• Jeff Hyams, chief strategy officer, MEC
• Frederic Joseph, worldwide chief digital officer, ZenithOptimedia
• Sarah Kramer, president, client services, Starcom MediaVest Group
• Gerhard Louw, international media management, Deutsche Telekom
• Mike Mathieson, founder and chief executive officer, Cake
• Nadine McHugh, vice president global integrated media communications, Colgate Palmolive
• Nikki Mendonca, chief executive officer EMEA, OMD
• Kerstin Millar, partner, strategy, Mindshare
• Peder Mittet, chief executive officer, Starcom Norway
• Vishnu Mohan, chief executive officer APAC, MPG
• Nicolas Ramonde, chief executive Argentina, Initiative
• Carlos Ospina, general manager Colombia, Mindshare
• Anna Pradzynska, marketing director, Lego
• Ricardo Reis, chief executive officer, Havas
• Kate Rowlinson, new business and marketing director, EMEA, MediaCom
• Marc Schader, chief commercial officer, MPG
• Thorsten Schulz, chief executive officer, Initiative Germany
• Scott Schwartz, global strategist, UM
• Rupert Slade, head of international, PHD Media
• Chris Stephenson, strategy director, PHD
• Scott Tegethoff, president global product, UM
• Nick Vale, global planning director, Maxus Worldwide
• Melanie Varley, chief strategy officer, MEC
• Steve Williams, chief executive, OMD UK Group

  About C Squared

C Squared is the global media and marketing industry's fastest growing publishing and events business. Since the launch of its first international industry publication - Cream - in 2005, C Squared has grown twelve-fold and, though still headquartered in London, over half the Group's turnover now comes from outside the UK. Known for our creative approach, vibrant team and unrivalled global connections, C Squared's brands are leaders in their markets and offer knowledge and networking to senior decision-makers in advertising and communications across the world. Across C Squared's portfolio of market-leading magazines, websites and conferences, it has readers, subscribers, visitors and clients from over 50 countries and produces successful events on every continent - from New York to New Delhi; from Valencia to Vilnius and from Amsterdam to Accra.

www.csquared.cc

Contacts

For information on the awards:

email Nisha Ashra nisha@csquared.cc or call +44 (0) 207 367 6986

For information on delegate booking rates:
email Rachel Barber Rachel.barber@csquared.cc or call +44 (0) 207 367 6978

For information on sponsorship and exhibition opportunities:
email Caroline Holmes caroline@csquared.cc or call +44 (0) 207 367 6980

For information on the agenda:
email Dee Gage dee@csquared.cc or call +44 (0) 20 7367 6976 

The Media Accelerator Programme (M.A.P.) is launched today which, for the second year running, will invite emerging media and technology companies from around the world to compete for the title of 'Hot Company of the Year'.  Created in partnership between US advisory firm MediaLink and UK media business C Squared, M.A.P. is the only global competition of its kind. The programme will seek out the cutting-edge businesses set to re-shape the future of the media industry.

By connecting entering companies with The Festival of Media, M.A.P. provides the opportunity to be assessed by a leading international panel of experienced VCs and marketers. Judges this year include Chris Burggraeve (President of WFA and CMO of AB-InBev), Ian Armstrong (global communications director, Jaguar), Jeff Bussgang (Flybridge Capital Partners) and Alain Heureux (chief executive of IAB Europe).

Entering companies must be capitalised but still at an early stage of development and have a powerful proposition that challenges established practices in the media industry and could move the sector forward. As 39% of the gathered Festival audience is of managing director or C-suite level, representing approximately half of all global advertising expenditure (c$250 billion), shortlisted M.A.P. entrants will have the chance to take both their business, and the media sector as a whole, to the next level.

Alongside free tickets to the main Festival, entering companies will also benefit from structured onsite networking session with attending advertisers, media owners and agencies.

Last year, shortlisted companies included the now world-renowned ShareThis, which was eventually pipped at the post by innovative TV audience tracker Simulmedia. "We were honoured to be selected as the inaugural M.A.P. award winner. However, having the opportunity to participate in the M.A.P. competition with so many innovative companies, was the bigger victory," comments John Piccone, SVP of sales, Simulmedia.

Michael Kassan, chief executive of MediaLink, comments: "M.A.P. is a major step forward in the creation of a global mechanism to bring great ideas to advertisers. It is a systematic way to provide a 'liquidity of innovation' in the media markets. We encourage all progressive young businesses to take part in this scheme."

- ENDS -

For full entry criteria, please visit www.festivalofmedia.com/global/map

For further press information on M.A.P. or The Festival of Media, please contact Elizabeth Jones or Jessie Winston at WITH PR on + 44 20 7249 7769 or firstname.surname@withpr.co.uk

Full judges list:

Ian Armstrong, Global Comms Director, Jaguar

Rothin Bhattacharyya, CEO, HCL Security

Chris Burggraeve, CMO, AB-InBev; president WFA

Jeff Bussgang, General Partner, Flybridge Capital Partners

Bernhard Glock, president & CEO, Media Leadership Company LLC

Alain Heureux, CEO, IAB Europe

Ryan Jamberotz, Co-founder, Videology

Stephen Messer, Founder, Collective(i) and LinkShare; Chairman CAA

Wenda Millard, President and COO, MediaLink LLC

Roger Parry, Chairman, MSQ Partners

John Piccone, SVP Sales, Simulmedia

Ed Zimmerman, Partner, Lowenstein Sandler

More advertisers are participating in the programme than ever before, with high-profile appearances from the likes of Amazon, Kellogg's, Nestlé, Deutsche Telekom, Facebook, Colgate-Palmolive, MasterCard, Heineken and PepsiCo scheduled. Amazon will explore 'Driving insight from data' during a session which examines the best ways to collect, store, manage, analyse and share data to ensure maximum impact. In another session, Colgate-Palmolive will draw on extensive experience to tell the story of a brand's shift from using traditional forms of media to becoming a multi-platform advertiser without losing focus on accountability, effectiveness and consistency.

A variety of agency chief executives from around the world will also offer invaluable day-to-day operational insight in two bespoke discussion panels. From demand-side platforms to the constant drive towards lower spend figures, these agency experts will explore the number-driven business of media in today's agency world, while a counterbalancing session will examine how agencies can plan and execute strategies that will ensure engagement with consumers on an emotional level.

In 'The Art and Science of Storytelling', a session designed to push the parameters of commonplace practice, Frank Rose, author of The Art of Immersion, will outline the latest neurological research in terms of how it relates to The Festival theme of storytelling, illustrating what it is about stories that consumers find so compelling.

Encouraging delegates to think outside the box, Richard Seymour of Seymour Powell will combine theoretical teaching and modern examples to outline the importance of a shift to a new form of marketing, by basing an understanding of products and services on what they can do for us rather than simply on how they work.

Thought-leaders in digital media from the likes of comScore and Kellogg's, will be taking to the stage to discuss the advent of digital platforms and how to generate and measure the best return on digital adspend budgets, while INNOVATION Media Consulting will demonstrate how newspapers and magazines are maintaining their reach, relevance and revenues in an increasingly digital business sector.

Not losing sight of the importance of traditional media platforms, RTL Interactive, Nestlé and Deutsche Telekom will address why TV advertising is changing, offering both the views of the brand and the media owner to find out how exactly the industry is keeping pace with both technology and consumers.

The last session will see a controversial panel discussion featuring the WFA, Heineken and MasterCard sharing their opinions on the opaque world of media trading. Invitations to participate in the discussion will be offered to delegates from the floor, guaranteeing a fully interactive and close to the conference programme.

Finally, The Festival will come to a close at the Gala dinner at the end of day two, during which The Festival of Media Award winners will be announced, selected from a record-breaking 870 plus entries.

Festival Founder and chief executive of C Squared Charlie Crowe comments:

"We are quickly approaching what is set to be the most dynamic and interactive Festival of Media Global we have ever presented. It will also be the biggest, with more big-brand advertisers than ever before, collectively representing over $5 billion in worldwide media expenditure.

We remain focused on offering our attendees the type of commercially impactful insight they can't get elsewhere and the agenda we've announced today demonstrates this commitment. The range of future-gazing speakers and variety of networking opportunities being offered in Montreux promises to deliver a Festival like no other."

ENDS

For press information, please contact Jessie Winston (+44 7977 118186) or Elizabeth Jones (+44 7825077686) at firstname.surname@withpr.co.uk

Or visit for all award entry and event booking information.

Check out videos of previous festivals and key presentations at www.YouTube.com/thefestivalofmedia

With awards including 'Best Social Strategy', 'Best Use of Mobile' and 'Best Use of Emerging Technology' generating more entries than ever before, the increasingly technical diversification of global advertising businesses has been cited as one key reason for the awards success.

Event founder, C Squared, has also highlighted the increasingly international outlook of chief executives and chief marketing officers from all corners of the globe, ensuring that global awards carry significant importance. A total of 58 countries entered the awards this year, including countries who have never previously entered, from Vietnam to Venezuela.  Additional new entrants include Kuwait, Finland, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan.

The world's fastest growing markets including Brazil, India and China all increased their number of entries by at least 25%. In fact, the BRIC nations represented 12% of the overall entry totals.

Again, reflecting the vast number of different countries now entering the awards and their truly global diversity, European countries represented less than 50% of the overall total. However major European powers France and Germany dramatically increased their entries as did the US, whose award total shot up by 68%.

The top five countries in terms of award entries are (in order):

1. UK
2. US
3. Australia
4. Spain
5. Germany

Entries from global media agencies including Mindshare and PHD rank alongside the smaller regional outfits, including MediaCom Norway and OMD Dominican Republic. Brands entering the foray range from Nestlé to Puma and Vodafone.

Chief executive of C Squared and founder of The Festival of Media, Charlie Crowe, says:

It's fantastic to be able to announce more entries to the Festival of Media Awards than ever before. Not just that, but a significant leap in terms of the number received. Competition will be particularly fierce this year and I know all the judges are looking forward to reviewing the submissions. Creativity and innovation will of course be paramount.  We look forward to announcing the shortlist in due course.

The shortlist is due to be announced 15 March. Campaign entries will be available on www.creamglobal.com and award winners will be announced at The Festival of Media Global, which takes place in Montreux, Switzerland, 15-17 April.

ENDS

For press information, please contact Jessie Winston (+44 7977 118186) or Elizabeth Jones (+44 7825 077686) at firstname.surname@withpr.co.uk

Or visit for all award entry and event booking information.

Check out videos of previous festivals and key presentations at www.YouTube.com/thefestivalofmedia

Contacts

For information on the awards:
email Nisha Ashra nisha@csquared.cc or call +44 (0) 207 367 6986

For information on delegate booking rates:
email RachelBarber Rachel.barber@csquared.cc or call +44 (0)20 7367 6978

For information on sponsorship and exhibition opportunities:
email Caroline Holmes caroline@csquared.cc or call +44 (0)20 7367 6980

For information on the agenda:
email Greg Brooks greg@csquared.cc or call +44 (0)20 7367 6974

Festival of Media organiser, C Squared, has announced the first six brand representatives who will speak at The Festival of Media Global 2012 taking place in Montreux, Switzerland 15-17 April. This announcement goes hand-in-hand with the confirmation of the conference theme for 2012; 'When data becomes insight: the beauty in numbers and the science of storytelling', which will be the headline for this year's Festival.

Speakers in this year's line-up include names from some of the most notable global brands, collectively representing more than $5bn in media expenditure worldwide. Nigel Burton, CMO, Colgate-Palmolive; Ian Hutchinson, worldwide media director, Reckitt Benckiser; and Benjamin Jankowski, group head, global media, MasterCard are confirmed to speak at the Festival, with Tom Gill, marketing capability manager agency relations, global commerce, Heineken International; David Stern, SVP and CMO, Kao brands; and Petra Zinkweg, global category director, Campina Friesland Foods also among the first names to be announced.

The global conference agenda will focus on the two key forces predicted to shape the global media and advertising climate in the year to come: data and content. As the global marketing business continues to undergo major structural change, the future-thinking line-up of leading CMOs and global business-leaders will be taking to the stage to discuss these two principle focuses at different ends of the media and marketing spectrum. Thought leaders will offer a variety of perspectives on communicating a brand story though content, as well as sharing ideas on how to get the best from media and consumer data through demand-side and sell-side platforms.

In announcing the newly-confirmed brand speakers and outlining the Festival theme, Charlie Crowe, Founder of The Festival of Media, made it clear that the conference agenda is carefully designed each year to reflect the mood and issues of the media and marketing landscape:

"We have always reflected the most topical issues of the industry in our Festival agendas and this year will be no exception. With the relationship between data and content as one of the most interesting and widely debated themes currently on the media landscape, we are hugely honoured to be able to confirm such a prolific group of global brand representatives for this year's Festival of Media Global.

"It has always been our challenge to balance our agenda across media channels and to reflect the issues surrounding how brands are spending media budgets now, as well as how they might be changing their media spend in the future and the insight offered from our speaker line-up will be truly invaluable to the delegates who will be joining us in Montreux."

Newly confirmed members of the jury represent both client and agency sides of the media industry spectrum and include Nadine McHugh from Colgate-Palmolive, P&G's Rich DelCore, Suresh Balaji from HSBC, OMD's Nikki Mendonca, Monica Gadsby from Starcom MediaVest Group , Anna Pradzynska from Lego and Cake's Mike Mathieson. This announcement follows the recent confirmation of Michael Donnelly, Group Director of Worldwide Interactive Marketing at The Coca-Cola Company, as Chair.

Charlie Crowe, Founder of the Festival and CEO of C Squared, comments: "Interest in and entries to the Awards grow every year and 2012 is no exception. The success of the Awards is due in no small part to the industry figures who take time out to select the very best work from around the globe. The Festival is all about generating inspirational, controversial and insightful debate for attendees, and we expect the quality of campaigns entered to reflect this ethos. Good luck and see you in Montreux!"

Since the first global event six years ago in Venice, the Festival of Media has more than doubled in size, establishing itself firmly on the media industry's calendar.  The 2012 Festival promises to draw key global media and communications influencers, strategists and budget holders from across the world, bringing with them more award entries than ever before.

The deadline for award entries is 6^th February, with the shortlist due to be announced on 15^th March. Campaign entries will be available on www.creamglobal.com and award winners will be announced at the Festival of Media Global, taking place in Montreux, Switzerland from 15^th-17^th April.

For press information please contact Jessie Winston (+44 7977 118186) or Elizabeth Jones (+44 7825077686) at firstname.surname@withpr.co.uk

Or visit for all award entry and event booking information.

Check out videos of previous festivals and key presentations at www.YouTube.com/thefestivalofmedia

Please credit Festival of Media with all images and videos used.

Notes to the editor

Confirmed judges for the Festival of Media Global Awards include:

• Michael Donnelly, group director, worldwide interactive marketing, The Coca-Cola Company
• Nikolas Badminton, director of digital strategy, DDB
• Suresh Balaji, global head of media and marketing innovation, HSBC
• Dave Benson, global head of communications planning, ZenithOptimedia
• Chris Botha, group managing director, The MediaShop
• Laurent Broca, executive vice-president, network and client development, Havas
• Gordana Buccisano, business director, ZenithOptimedia
• Cheuk Chiang, chief executive APAC, PHD
• Ben Collins, digital media director, EMEA, Initiative
• Nihar Das, regional managing director, Mediacom
• Rich DelCore, director, global branded entertainment, P&G
• Amy DuPon, SVP, head of strategic planning, MPG
• Caroline Foster Kenny, chief client officer, MEC
• Monica Gadsby, chief executive Latin America, Starcom MediaVest Group
• Jeff Hyams, chief strategy officer, MEC
• Frederic Joseph, worldwide chief digital officer, ZenithOptimedia
• Jakob Kalkar, media and digital communications officer, Carlsberg
• Sarah Kramer, president, client services, Starcom MediaVest Group
• Gerhard Louw, international media management, Deutsche Telekom
• Mike Mathieson, founder and chief executive, Cake
• Nadine McHugh, vice president global integrated media communications, Colgate-Palmolive
• Nikki Mendonca, chief executive EMEA, OMD
• Kerstin Millar, partner,strategy, Mindshare
• Peder Mittet, chief executive, Starcom Norway
• Vishnu Mohan, chief executive officer APAC, MPG
• Carlos Ospina, general manager, Mindshare Colombia
• Anna Pradzynska, marketing director, Lego
• Nicolas Ramonde, chief executive, Initiative Argentina
• Ricardo Reis, regional manager Havas Digital Latin America and chief executive officer Havas Media Brazil, Havas
• Kate Rowlinson, new business and marketing director EMEA, Mediacom
• Marc Schader, global chief commercial officer, MPG
• Thorsten Schulz, chief executive officer Germany, Initiative
• Scott Schwartz, global strategist, UM
• Rupert Slade, head of international, PHD
• Chris Stephenson, strategy director, PHD
• Scott Tegethoff, president global product, UM
• Nick Vale, global planning director, Maxus Worldwide
• Melanie Varley, chief strategy officer, MEC
• Steve Williams, chief executive UK, OMD

Following his appointment, Michael commented on his role and personal perception of the awards: "As in years past, the Festival of Media Global Awards will demonstrate some of the very best in creative and innovative work happening throughout the world. I am excited to be a part of them this year, now we are truly in the era of empowered consumers - equipped with reliable, always on, cross-media connectivity throughout much of the world.

This fact will challenge marketers to raise the bar with regard to their connections and planning skills, as I'm sure we'll see from the entries we receive. The awards will certainly provide us all with an opportunity for tremendous learning, sharing and celebrating together."

Award winners will be announced at the Festival of Media Global, taking place in Montreux, Switzerland, 15-17 April.

Now in their fourth year, the highly popular awards celebrate the very best in media thinking, with a full programme of 18 awards, more than ever before. In 2011, more than 750 entries were received, with campaigns from over 50 countries making it through to the shortlist. Historically, the UK, US, Australia and India lead the board, but 2011 saw a number of new countries, including Russia and Thailand, entering the fray for the first time.

The deadline for entries is 6 February, with the shortlist due to be announced 15 March. Campaign entries will be available on www.creamglobal.com.

For press information, please contact Debbie Zaman (+44 7971 962221) or Jessie Winston (+44 7977 118186) at firstname.surname@withpr.co.uk

Or visit for all award entry and event booking information.

Check out videos of previous festivals and key presentations at www.YouTube.com/thefestivalofmedia

Please credit The Festival of Media with all images and videos used.

Notes to the editor

About C Squared

C Squared is the global media and marketing industry's fastest growing publishing and events business. Since the launch of its first international industry publication - Cream - in 2005, C Squared has grown twelve-fold and, though still headquartered in London, over half the Group's turnover now comes from outside the UK. Known for our creative approach, vibrant team and unrivalled global connections, C Squared's brands are leaders in their markets and offer knowledge and networking to senior decision-makers in advertising and communications across the world. Across C Squared's portfolio of market-leading magazines, websites and conferences, it has readers, subscribers, visitors and clients from over 50 countries and produces successful events on every continent - from New York to New Delhi; from Valencia to Vilnius and from Amsterdam to Accra.

www.csquared.cc

Contacts

For information on the awards:

email Nisha Ashra nisha@csquared.cc or call +44 (0)20 7367 6986

For information on delegate booking rates:
email Rachel Barber Rachel.barber@csquared.cc or call +44 (0)20 7367 6978

For information on sponsorship and exhibition opportunities:
email Caroline Holmes caroline@csquared.cc or call +44 (0)20 7367 6980

For information on the agenda:
email Greg Brooks greg@csquared.cc or call +44 (0)20 7367 6974