Steve Harrison to chair the 2006 Cannes Lion Direct jury

Steve Harrison, managing director and creative partner of Harrison Troughton Wunderman (HTW), has been announced as the 2006 Lions Direct jury president by the organisers of the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.

An enthused Harrison says, “I am honoured, more so because this is the first time a creative director will head the Lions Direct jury. In just five years, these awards have become the benchmark for worldwide creative excellence in our industry.”

Harrison has himself won Lions Direct trophies several times. In 2002, HTW won the inaugural Lions Direct Grand Prix. In four years, the agency has picked up three gold, five silver and two bronze Lions for various campaigns such as Xerox, IBM, Star Alliance and Microsoft.

At the 2005 awards, HTW won a record nine shortlist nominations, which helped it into the runner-up spot for the Cannes Lions Direct ‘Agency of the Year’ award. Last year, HTW won six golds, seven silvers and four bronzes at the UK Direct Marketing Awards.

Terry Savage, executive chairman of the festival, says, “Harrison has bagged so many Lions in such a short span – that should indicate the kind of talent he has. We are extremely delighted that he will preside over Lions Direct this year.”

Harrison began his career at OgilvyOne (then Ogilvy and Mather Direct). He started as a researcher in 1985 having completed his doctorate at the University of Manchester. He became a copywriter 12 months later, head of copy in 1989 and UK creative director in 1991. From 1991-97, his department won over 150 creative awards. He was made European creative director in 1997.

Harrison helped found HPT Brand Response in 1998 and he assumed creative and management control of the new agency, Harrison Troughton Wunderman, in May 2001.

‘Campaign Magazine’ recently said: “If Steve Harrison had worked above the line, they’d have built a statue to him in Soho years ago.”

© 2005 agencyfaqs!