Our Executive Creative Director Satoshi Chikayama and General Manager of Media Solutions Division Motoko Nakao have joined the jury for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the world’s largest advertising awards, which will be held from June 21 to 25, 2021. Since it was canceled last year due to the spread of COVID-19, the festival will be held online this year for the judging and the announcement of the winning entries for 2020 and 2021.

＜Direct Jury＞
Satoshi Chikayama
Executive Creative Director, TBWA\HAKUHODO

Satoshi Chikayama joined Hakuhodo in 2003. After his days at TBWA\CHIAT\DAY in 2010 where he gained international business experience, he has been in his current position at TBWA\HAKUHODO since 2011. His accolades include Gold at Cannes Lions, Grand Prix at ADFEST, Grand Prix at ACC Tokyo Creativity Awards and many more. He was a JAAA Creator of the Year Medalist in 2015.

“I had an impression that defining the Direct category becomes more and more difficult year by year. In addition, the jury this year were to look at entries for both years. In advance of the judgement, the Jury President emailed, advising us to ‘take time to understand differences around the world’. I hope to be part of the challenge of redefining the meaning of “direct,” as especially these days that we are going through now, sometimes it’s the works that are difficult to evaluate or can’t be evaluated that contain hints for us.”

＜Media Jury＞
Motoko Nakao
General Manager, Media Solutions Division, TBWA\HAKUHODO

Motoko Nakao started her professional career at Hakuhodo in 1999 as a media planner, specializing in TV and Radio, and joined TBWA\HAKUHODO in 2006. Since 2017, she has been head of the Media Solutions Division, where she leads the broad media of various global and Japanese clients. Believing in the great potential of media, her motto is: Devise creative, idea-driven uses for media, going beyond simply optimizing the efficiency of planning to incorporate such things as branded content planning and sponsorships, and contribute to solving clients’ challenges by co-creating values with media companies and content holders.

“I’ve been in the media industry for over 20 years ever since I started my career and this is the first time I experience judging at Cannes Lions, which I am excited about! I will not only be looking for superior ways of using media to deliver creative ideas to customers but combinations of media and creatives that leverage the mindsets of people when they interact with the various media and platforms, as well as changes in the media in the COVID-19. I hope to share this experience with everyone to spur further initiatives and challenges in the media division of TBWA\HAKUHODO and Hakuhodo Group!”