Here's an interesting posting from Campaign Brief Asia's sister publication Campaign Brief Australia. There's some great work in this list!

And what a big decade it was, with so many great Australian ads to choose from, which helped cement our reputation as a world class centre of advertising excellence. Here are Campaign Brief's favourite 30 spots of the noughties - ads that not only satisfied the award judges, but hopefully also made a favourable impression with the Australian public. (Such was the standard of the decade's best, it was painful leaving out at least another 30 which could have been in here!). This list does not include Public Service and Charity ads, which will be compiled in a separate list over the summer break, as will the top Integrated Campaigns of the Decade.

1. CARLTON DRAUGHT 'THE BIG AD'
2005
Agency: George Patterson Y&R, Melbourne
Executive Creative Director: James McGrath
Copywriter: Ant Keogh
Art Director: Grant Rutherford
Director: Paul Middleditch
Production Company: Plaza Films

Damian Coren has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of Leo Burnett's Shanghai office. In his expanded role as COO, Coren is responsible for new business development and partnering with Wei Wei Chen, Chairman and CEO of Leo Burnett Group Shanghai.

This is probably the funniest email of the year, currently doing the rounds, created by Adelaide design director David Thorne. Enjoy, as it may ring a bell with ad folk and designers still recovering from the GFC....

VIEW THE PDF:
Logo__pie_charts.pdf 

At the end of the year many blogs release their best of the year or various other end of year specials. One that always catches CB Asia's eye is AdFreak's list of the oddest, creepiest, quirkiest and downright freakiest spots of the year. Only one Asian spot makes their top 30 this year - Dentyne Ice "Squid" from McCann Erickson Thailand.

See their top 30 here.

Continuing the theme of Christmas videos, the legendary Jeff Goodby gets into a rap battle in an experienced over youth battle for the Goodby, Silverstein & Partners holiday video.

View it here.

Publicis London has produced a sing-along video for Christmas.




.... and it has lead to one copy-cat video already.


 

Ted Lim has been appointed Jury President for the AdFest Press Lotus & Poster Lotus categories. As Executive Creative Director & Deputy Chairman at Naga DDB Malaysia, Lim successfully built Naga DDB into one of Malaysia's most consistently awarded creative powerhouse.

"I am delighted to attend AdFest as a Jury President next year as there's something about AdFest that makes giving up family and friends for three long days to look at thousands of ads all worthwhile. Learning and sharing with some of the sharpest creative minds in the business is rewarding, enlightening and humbling at the same time. I hope to see big ideas that will make me feel small," says Lim.

Happy Prepaid wanted to target the urban kids of Malaysia. With no ATL budget, Grey Kuala Lumpur launched a set of comics where the hero always dies happy. The web address in the comic leads the kids to a micro site where they see Happy Prepaid's great offers that keep our hero happy, even when he's dead.

View details and the credits.

Ogilvy Asia's former head of TV Production Erik-Jan Verheijen has been appointed as the new Head of Broadcast at Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam. Verheijen is a native of Amsterdam and brings a wealth of over 16 years of professional broadcast experience to W+K, ranging from consultancy, agency in-house, TV and feature film production.

Most recently at W+K, Erik produced the Nike 'Bad Listener' spot featuring Oscar Pistorious, Honda's 'Let It Shine' and the frenetic trailer to launch EA's 'Need For Speed Shift' video game to the press and gaming industry in LA.

AWARD School, the ideas programme for aspiring art directors and copywriters, opens for applications on January 15th, 2010. The application brief will consist of a series of questions to respond to, and will be avaliable to download online from the following link: www.awardschoolasia.com

Better audio clarity and bigger sound let you hear more on the Sound Dock as this print work from DM9JaymeSyfu, Manila shows.

Credits - Chief Creative Officer: Merlee Jayme. Executive Creative Director: Eugene Demata. CD/Writer: Louis Sotto. Art Director: Alan Montayre. Photographer: Paolo Gripo.

Bestads Top 6 Commercials of the week in the world is now ready to view, reviewed by Steve Henry (pictured), the legendary London creative director. Steve's favourite spot of the week is the awesome TAC 20th Anniversary compilation spot via Grey, Melbourne.

Hemant Jain is joining Leo Burnett Mumbai as ECD. Jain joins from Wieden+Kennedy, London. He was earlier with the W+K Amsterdam office. A writer cum art director cum illustrator, his distinct style has won countless number of international awards and recognition - from Cannes Gold and Clio to One Show, D&AD, Abby and AAAI. Apart from doing stand-out advertising for clients such as Nokia India.

Hemant is also an activist lending his skills to augment multiple social causes in India. His earlier stints in India included O&M, Leo Burnett and Rediffussion Y&R.

McCann Worldgroup announced today that Mark Ingrouille; Area Director, South East Asia, will be leaving McCann Worldgroup effective end of February 2010, to pursue other opportunities. Ingrouille has been working with McCann Worldgroup for the last ten years in a variety of key roles in Thailand, Singapore and in the Southeast Asia region. To ensure a smooth transition, Ingrouille will continue at McCann Worldgroup working closely with McLaren through February.

Advertising legend Sir John Hegarty (left)will return to Asia next year to judge The 3rd International Advertising CUP, which - for the first time ever - will take place in Thailand. Sir John Hegarty attended ADFEST in March 2009 as Grand Jury President. Next year, he will represent the Asia Pacific region on THE CUP's Jury Panel along with Prasoon Pandey, Director at Corcoise Film in Mumbai (below left), and Suthisak Sucharittanonta, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer at BBDO Bangkok (below right).

Bestads Top 6 Commercials of the week in the world is now ready to view, reviewed by Derek Green (pictured), chief creative officer of Saaatchi & Saatchi, Switzerland.

EXCLUSIVE - James Procter, ECD at GPY&R's Sydney office will become ECD of Y&R Singapore, which is one of Y&R's top offices globally and functions as a hub for Asia. He will work alongside group CEO network hub, Tanuj Philip and Marcus Rebeschini, chief creative officer of Asia. Procter's departure comes just over a year after joining Patts from CumminsNitro, Melbourne.

Tony Granger, global chief creative officer of Y&R, said Procter's appointment to a senior creative role in the network reflected Y&R's commitment to building a strong creative profile in the region: "Singapore represents our hub in Asia and it's an extremely important market for Y&R. It's important to honour the tradition and heritage of Y&R, while bringing in fresh energy and creative leadership. To that end, we are pleased that one of our own network stars will take up the role.

BBH founder John Hegarty is featured in an 'audio walk' for Johnny Walker. Hegarty talks about the early days of his career including his working with Charles Saatchi. Other people featured include Richard Branson, Lewis Hamilton and Ranulph Fiennes.

Visit the site here.

To drive awareness of the effects of global warming among Singaporeans, Singapore Environment Council recently worked with McCann Erickson to launch an innovative outdoor campaign that transports the damaging effects of climate change in the Arctic to the streets of tropical Singapore.   

This outdoor installation, which was produced with a specially-developed photochromatic ink from London, is the first of its kind in Singapore advertising.

Contract Advertising Mumbai is behind a new campaign for Tata Indicom. The cell phone network scenario in India is extremely competitive and dynamic. It's a sector where the demand for better service is soaring everyday and in just a few year, it has become the most widely used modes of communication across the country.

"It's imperative today that every person, whether it's the taxi driver, the launderer, the flower vendor, the cobbler or the student must have a cell phone," said Contract Executive Creative Director Ravi Despande.

Bestads Top 6 Commercials of the week in the world is now ready to view, reviewed by Derek Green (pictured), chief creative officer of Saaatchi & Saatchi, Switzerland.

This year's Grand Prix at the LongXi Awards has gone to McCann Worldgroup Hong Kong's "Flirting with Sounds" for Elements Shopping Mall in the "Break the Rule" category of "Catch Awards".

"This year, it is exciting to have a Grand Prix awarded because LongXi Grand Prix is representing the highest standard thus not necessarily born in every year. LongXi Awards is applauding the creative for their original with good implementation" said by Jimmy Lam, one of LongXi founders.

Three of the six Golds awarded went to McCann Worldgroup Hong Kong. They were for Nike: Paper Battlefield, Elements: Flirting with Sound and Jet Li's One Foundation: One Family One Walk. The other three Golds went to JWT Shanghai and JWT Beijing for China Environment Protection Foundation: Industrial Pollution in the print category and Nokia N96: Bruce Lee's Ping Pong in both TV and Viral categories respectively.

Brett Mitchell, Digital Director at Droga5 in Sydney, has been named Jury President of Cyber at AdFest 2010. Mitchell is one of the most respected Digital experts in Australia, with an impressive track record in using digital media channels to launch cutting-edge advertising campaigns.

"AdFest showcases a great diversity of work, which is created in dramatically different cultures from Australia to Japan to India and back to New Zealand. This in itself is interesting. I'm really looking forward to seeing what's new in the region, and discovering work that hasn't been seen elsewhere in other global awards shows, while meeting likeminded people who are truly taking a different angle with their work," says Mitchell.

Jon Loke is joining Ogilvy & Mather as Head of Art. In his role, he will be working closely with creative director Troy Lim on the agency's major accounts like SoyJoy, Health Promotion Board, Panadol, GE Money, IDA, Huggies, Prudential and Coca-Cola. His appointment is effective February 2010 and he will report directly to Executive Creative Director Robert Gaxiola.

"We've got a lot of dynamic people around here creating interesting work for our clients, and Jon will be a great addition. Having cut his teeth in creative shops such as Mother London, he has a fresh and open perspective to doing things. The needs of our clients are changing and a multi-channel range of solutions now requires a new blend of talent. Jon will be a great addition to this evolution," comments Robert Gaxiola, Executive Creative Director, Ogilvy & Mather Singapore.

This got sent to CB the other day. It has been around for a while but it certainly has a strong message for brand managers.

To encourage adoption from the Malaysian SPCA, Grey Kuala Lumpur created warning plaques that were placed at upper-middle class neighbourhoods at risk of robbery with slightly ridiculous copy stating "Beware of Broom" and "Beware of Rolling Pin". This served to highlight the absence of a faithful canine guardian.  The back of each plaque says that "Nothing protects your home like a dog", followed by a call from Grey Kuala Lumpur to adopt one as well as the shelter's contact details.

Credits - Creative Director: David Sin. Writer: Charlene Ong, Collin Yeoh. Art Director: Phoecus Lee, David Sin.

'The Ultimate Start up Space' audition invite individuals with a strong business mindset to submit their own business proposals. Martell via TBWA Singapore has reserved a 760 square foot shop space at Clarke Quay in Singapore. If you have the winning business idea, Martell give you the ultimate upper hand to start up your business with a prime location in Clarke Quay.

View the site.
View the credits.

One of India's most celebrated advertising creatives, Ravi Deshpande, will be Jury President for Direct Lotus at AdFest 2010. Deshpande is famous for building Contract into one of India's most awarded agencies. He joined Contract in 1987, and within a few years he led the agency to win over 400 local awards for creative excellence along with awards at ADFEST, Cannes, One Show, D&AD, Clio and other global festivals.

The One Show has revamped it's Interactive awards and will become the first awards show with a quarterly entry system, as opposed to the annual entry system that has become the industry norm. Entries will be posted on the One Show Interactive site and will be viewable by the general public in real-time. Once work appears on the site it also triggers the system's social networking features, (updates on facebook and twitter) effectively promoting the entrant's work.

Big news on our sister Campaign Brief Australia site with two of New Zealand's most prominent admen leaving Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand.

It has been confirmed that ECD Mike O'Sullivan and CEO Andrew 'Rocky' Stone are leaving Saatchi & Saatchi next week. However, the pair are not saying anything about where there are going. But there is much speculation on the duos next move. Read more here.

Former top Singapore creative Rob Kleman has teamed with Daniel Shapiro to completed a project called care4less.org

Care4less.org is an organization committed to the outreach to those who are unable to give gifts this holiday period. Mainly ad people who have been laid off. Well, not really. It's all a bit of fun.

The site launched last night and over 10 million dollars in donations to some questionable charities have been made and over 2000 hits. View the idea here.

BBDO/Proximity Malaysia has been on a recent hiring spree. The agency welcomes VJ Anand as Creative Group Head to work closely with Executive Creative Director Mun Tuck Wai to deliver a fully integrated offering. Vijay arrives at the agency with more than a decade of experience in the digital scene at IDM/Cellnetwork, XM and Ogilvy Interactive as well as ATL (Dark Marketing) with TBWA and Ogilvy. Having spent more than year in Activation and Digital at Riverorchid Bangkok, Vijay is back to rock the digital scene in Malaysia.

The 57th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, the world's most coveted awards and largest celebration of creativity in communications, has announced three top industry leaders who will chair three of the awards categories at next year's global event.

Radio President - Paul Lavoie, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, TAXI
Media President - Laura Desmond, Global Chief Executive Officer, Starcom MediaVest Group
Outdoor President - Tay Guan Hin, Regional Executive Creative Director, JWT Asia

In this print campaign DM9JaymeSyfu, Manila encourage people to step out of the shadow by paying tribute to those who have had to contend with the biggest shadows of all.

Credits - Chief Creative Officer: Merlee Jayme. ECD: Eugene Demata. CD/Copywriter: Louie Sotto. Creative: Allan Montayre, Herbert Hernandez. Photographer: Paolo Gripo.

The AME Awards for Advertising & Marketing Effectiveness has selected John Zeigler, chairman and CEO of DDB Asia Pacific, Japan & India, as AME Grand Jury President for the Asia Pacific region.

As chairman and CEO, Mr. Zeigler is the leading voice of the DDB Group, Asia Pacific, Japan, & India, and is responsible for 21 agencies in 16 countries and more than 2,500 employees.  His philosophy of reinvention, and what that implies for global brands, will aid him in selecting the 2010 award winners.  He began his career with DDB in Australia, and served as President and CEO of DDB's Southeast Asia region and President and CEO of DDB Singapore.  Mr. Zeigler has been responsible for the strategic growth of DDB Worldwide and its strong presence and momentum in the Asia Pacific Region.

Executive Creative Director for North East Asia at JWT and Chairman of JWT China, Sheung Yan Lo will be Jury President of Outdoor at AdFest 2010.

Ma Yan, as he is known amongst his peers, has played a major role in JWT's emergence as China's most awarded agency and was recently named as one of 30 of the most outstanding industry leaders in China over the last 30 years.

"AdFest is the award show which best represents the diversity and creativity across the region. To be the Jury President of Outdoor allows me to work with the best judging panel, to see the best work, and learn," says Ma Yan.

The Guardian in the UK has compiled a list of their favourite British ads of the noughties, most of them true classics that stand up to almost any decade prior.

Cheil Worldwide has purchased a majority stake in The Barbarian Group, the highly acclaimed award winning digital creative and marketing company.
 
Nack Hoi Kim, Worldwide CEO of South Korea-based Cheil Worldwide, which operates 29 networks in 25 countries said, "As part of our agency's plan to secure a strong foothold in digital marketing capabilities, we are thrilled to have The Barbarian Group integrated in our family. We're committed to being among the world's top 10 agencies by 2012, and this transaction brings us one step closer to realizing our goal."

Bestads Top 6 Commercials of the week in the world is now ready to view, reviewed by David Angelo (pictured), chairman and chief creative officer of David&Goliath, Los Angeles.

Saharath Sawadatikom (right) is joining McCann Worldgroup Thailand as Executive Creative Director (Digital). He joins from OgilvyOne Thailand where he was Executive Creative Director. Saharath is a leading creative star in the region and has 2 decades of experience in the industry working across below-the-line, above-the-line and online advertising.

Tasked to focus on MRM Worldwide's offering as well as expand the digital capacity for the other disciplines which include McCann Erickson and Momentum within McCann Worldgroup in his new role, Saharath will report to Martin Lee, Chief Creative Officer, McCann Worldgroup Thailand.

The UK's Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) is inviting advertisers, media owners and agencies from Asia to enter its prestigious global IPA Effectiveness Awards for 2010. Now in their 30th year, the IPA Effectiveness Awards have been open to international entries since 2006, and reward campaigns that prove the commercial power of their ideas and demonstrate their marketing payback. In 2008 Ogilvy & Mather Vietnam won both a Silver Award and the special prize for 'Best International Single Market' for their public awareness campaign for helmet wearing for the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation and Ogilvy & Mather Advertising Beijing were awarded a Bronze for their Motorola campaign.

The Intercontinental Advertising Cup (ICAC) are holding The Cup 2009 Award ceremony in Thailand on 18 March 2010 as part of AdFest. The Cup was established in 2007 by the world's three biggest regional advertising festivals: Asia Pacific's AdFest, Ibero-America's FIAP and New Europe's Golden Drum. The Art Director's Club of Europe has also joined as a participating festival.

Michael Conrad, Co-Founder of The Cup & President of the Berlin School of Creative Management, says The Cup 2009 will be a milestone for agencies in the Asia Pacific: "When I helped to establish The Cup it was important to have the best quality jury ever appointed to a global award show. We succeeded with an amazing group that loved focusing on awarding 'local genius' in advertising communication. Being nominated or winning at The Cup should be a big deal in communication today where the focus is strengthening on human values and local culture - especially for Asian Pacific marketers who live in the most promising region of our planet."

According to a report in today's SMH, which originated in the Financial Times, Lachlan Murdoch is close to making a joint bid for Nielsen Business Media, which owns US trade magazines including Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter. Nielsen also owns Adweek and the Clio Awards, one of the top 4 international advertising shows.

Steve Ayson has joined The Sweet Shop for global representation and management. Ayson, sought after for his contemporary film style, is considered as one of the top commercials directors in the world. He's recently completed heralded work for, Fosters Pure Blonde "Dove Love" for Clemenger BBDO Melbourne and R+V Insurance "Ballet Dancer" for Jung Von Matt Berlin. And his much-anticipated second project with Weiden+Kennedy Portland, this time for Coca Cola Olympics, airs right after the New Year.

ESPN STAR Sports has appointed Batey to handle its creative duties for various markets in South East Asia. Batey will be responsible for the creative work on various brands and properties of ESPN STAR Sports. The first assignment for Batey is the launch of ESPNEWS, the first 24-hour sports news channel dedicated to Asian sports fans, from ESPN STAR Sports (ESS).