17 December 2014 – Lions Health, the global creative festival for the healthcare communications industry, has today announced that Andrew Spurgeon and Rob Rogers will lead the juries at next year’s awards.
Andrew Spurgeon, Executive Creative Director, Langland, will preside over the Health & Wellness jury, judging consumer products and education & services campaigns. “Digital has really levelled the playing field, giving great ideas unprecedented reach regardless of category,” comments Andrew, “I’m looking forward to seeing how health and wellness brands are taking advantage of this, escalating connectivity with ideas that reach people in new and ever more meaningful ways.”
Rob Rogers, Chief Creative Officer and co-CEO, the Americas, Sudler, will lead the 2015 Pharma jury, judging communication campaigns that are solely for the attention of healthcare professionals and non-healthcare professionals. Commenting on his role, Rob said, “This festival plays a unique role in both elevating and celebrating the role of creative, and promises to develop powerful interactions in all spheres of the healthcare constituency. Joined by a group of talented jurors, I will continue hoisting the flag and use this significant event to shine a powerful light on work that pushes the boundaries of what can be achieved in healthcare communication.”
The 2015 awards will see the introduction of two new awards for specialist healthcare agencies: The Lions Health Specialist Agency of the Year and the Lions Health Specialist Network of the Year. In a change from last year, all Lions Health shortlist and winning points will count towards the Cannes Lions Network of the Year, Cannes Lions Holding Company of the Year and where relevant, the Cannes Lions Independent Agency of the Year. Non specialist Agency winners in Lions Health (including Independents) will contribute to Cannes Lions Agency of Year. Louise Benson, Festival Director of Lions Health hailed this as “a much needed move that gives life-changing creativity in healthcare communications the recognition it deserves. We have seen that healthcare work can compete at the highest level so it is appropriate that these specialist creative achievements are shown to contribute just as much as those of non-specialists.”
Commenting on the appointment of the presidents, Philip Thomas, CEO of Lions Festivals said, “Last year’s presidents and jury laid the foundations for the future of the Lions Health Awards; setting the standard high, they made winning a true privilege. We’re delighted that the baton now passes to Andrew and Rob who will determine and recognise the latest campaigns to show creative excellence in global healthcare communications,”
Andrew’s impact on creativity in health communications has been sustained and significant. Since Andrew joined Langland in 2008 it has doubled in size and produced some of the industry’s most talked about campaigns. These achievements culminated in Langland receiving the inaugural Lions Health Agency of the Year award in 2014.
Rob has led creative teams for some of the most successful brands and campaigns in healthcare history, including Nexium, Celebrex, Advair, Augmentin, Botox, Lexapro, Remicade and Perjeta. His work has been recognised at shows in New York, Milan, Sydney and London, while recent personal achievements include Med Ad News Agency of the Year and the CLIO Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lions Health takes place on 19 & 20 June 2015 in Cannes, France. Further information can be found on the website, which has launched today, at www.canneslions.com/lions_health/