Fernando Vega Olmos and Craig Davis to head Caxton Seminar speakers’ line-up in Noosa

| | 6 Comments

CRAIG-DAVIS-2.jpgFernandoVegaOlmos.jpgThe 2009 Caxton Seminar has announced JWT creative chairman of Continental Europe and Latin America Fernando Vega Olmos (left) and Publicis Mojo’s new chief creative officer Craig Davis (far left) as its keynote speakers for this year.

 

“We are extremely fortunate to have two speakers of this calibre to speak at the Caxtons this year, especially with our theme of ‘creativity as a currency,” says Caxton chairman Rob Belgiovane, creative partner at BWM Sydney. “They will both bring an immense amount of global experience and knowledge to our seminar.”

Argentine-born Vega Olmos joined JWT in the newly created role ofCreative Chairman for Continental Europe and Latin America in 2008.

He has won more than 500 awards since 1992, when he became the firstArgentine creative to win a Gold Lion at Cannes. Vega Olmos studiedpsychology at Pontificia Universidad Catolica Argentina, but decided tomove into advertising because he loved to write.

His first copywriting job was 1980 at one of the biggest agencies inArgentina, Gowland & McCann Erickson. In 1997 he and partner HernanPonce established VegaOlmosPonce, which was acquired by Lowe in 2007.Vega Olmos became Lowe’s worldwide creative director for Unilever andin 2000, Lowe set up an agency in Madrid, Lowe Latina (Lola), andappointed Vega Olmos as its chairman.

BELGIOVANE-CANNES.jpgSays Belgiovane (left): “Coming from Argentina, Fernando knows a few things about financial crises. Yet when Argentina’s economy collapsed several years back, he created some of the best work in the world for his clients, including Unilever’s Axe brand. He’ll be talking about how tough economic times can dramatically improve the quality and effectiveness of advertising creativity.”

 

Davis, who has just joined Publicis Mojo, was previously global ChiefCreative Officer at JWT. He graduated from AWARD School in Sydney andafter establishing his own advertising agency, moved to Singapore asExecutive Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi.  Within a year hewas promoted to Regional ECD Asia/Africa and moved to Hong Kong.

 

Under his leadership Saatchi won Regional Agency of the Year from CBAsia, International Agency of the Year at Cannes and Network of theYear titles from both Ad Age and Adweek.  In 2003, Davis was named oneof the world’s Top 100 advertising people by Ad Age and AdvertisingPerson of the Year by Campaign Brief Asia. 

He joined JWT London as Chief Creative Officer for Europe, Middle Eastand Africa and, within a year, was given global responsibilities forthe creative leadership of JWT’s 10,000

strong network. 

 

Davis helped JWT win the global HSBC and Nokia businesses and producesome remarkable “brands as entertainment” work for Ford, Unilever,Shell, Freixenet and Wilkinson Sword.

 

He has been selected as a juror for every major internationaladvertising festival including The One Show, Clio, D&AD and Cannesand has made the Campaign “A List” for five consecutive years.

 

His client experience includes Ford, Toyota, Sony, HSBC, Procter &Gamble, Unilever, Shell, Nokia, Vodafone, Kraft, Nestle, Diageo, Bankof China, Netease, Hewlett Packard, DTC and Johnson & Johnson.

 

Davis was also the first ever guest editor of The Gunn Report, workedas an advisor to the Berlin School of Creative Leadership, wasPresident of the Cannes Film and Press juries in 2008 and delivered thekeynote address to the World Export Development Forum in Switzerlandlast November. 

 

And on the side he also became the fastest Australian to complete a marathon at the North Pole.

 

This year’s Caxton Seminar and Awards will be held October 23-25, 2009 at the Quay West Resort, Noosa. , an entry kit can be downloaded from www.thecaxtonawards.com.au. Winners will be announced at the Seminar.

 

Bookings are now open for the Caxton Seminar weekend. To secure your spot download a registration form at www.thecaxtonawards.com.au.