26 November 2025 – Dubai Lynx, MENA’s leading platform for creative excellence and effectiveness, has revealed the Jury Presidents who will oversee the 2026 Awards. Coming together in Dubai next March, these industry leaders will guide their Juries to benchmark excellence across the region’s very best creative and effective work.
From global CCOs and CEOs to award-winning creatives, these leaders represent the highest level of creative and strategic expertise. Their appointments underscore the growing momentum in the region’s creative economy and its ongoing transformation. The line-up includes notable industry experts such as: Judy John, Global Chief Creative Officer, Edelman presiding over Audio & Radio, Film and Print & Publishing, Marco Venturelli, Global Chief Creative Officer and CEO, Leo, serving as Jury President for Brand Experience & Activation and Creative Commerce, Yasuharu Sasaki, Global Chief Creative Officer, dentsu leading Digital Craft and Social & Creator and Chrissie Hanson, CEO, OMD, USA chairing the Media Lynx Award.
Ian Fairservice, Vice Chairman, Dubai Lynx, commented: “Each year, the Jury Presidents play a crucial role in upholding the standard of work recognised at Dubai Lynx. This year’s line-up brings global authority and regional insight, reinforcing MENA’s role as a destination for world-class creativity. We thank them for all that they will bring to the important task ahead of them next March.”
Elsewhere, Julien Calot, Chief Creative Officer, McCann Paris and Global Creative Director, L’Oréal Brands, McCann will preside over the inaugural Luxury Lynx Jury for 2026. His appointment underscores the importance of expertise in shaping luxury narratives that resonate globally and locally. On his appointment, Calot said: “I’m excited, joyful, and honoured to lead this Jury. Luxury is a quest for the extraordinary.
Information Classification: General
The extraordinary craft behind a dress. The extraordinary precision of a gemstone. The extraordinary engineering inside a car. The extraordinary care of a perfect service. “Luxury is never casual. It’s an obsession for the ‘never-ordinary’. So as a Jury, we’ll look for work that carries that same fire: Extraordinary ideas. Bold. Never-seen-before. Extraordinary impact that shifts culture. Extraordinary stories, extraordinary emotions. Extraordinary craft, and the courage to create beyond expectations.”
Marian Brannelly, Global Director of Awards, LIONS, added: “The Jury Presidents represent outstanding creative and strategic leadership from across the global industry. Their influence and perspective will help us continue to set the benchmark for excellence in the region. The launch of the Luxury Lynx marks an exciting evolution in how we celebrate creative excellence in MENA. Brands in the luxury sector carefully balance heritage with innovation and navigate changing consumer values alongside new definitions of luxury. This new Award will set a new benchmark for a sector that’s transforming at speed. As the inaugural Jury President, Julien Calot’s expertise will help guide the Jury to celebrate excellence in creative communications for luxury brands in the region.”
The Dubai Lynx 2026 Jury Presidents have been named as:
Audio & Radio, Film, Print & Publishing Judy John | Global Chief Creative Officer, Edelman, Global Brand Experience & Activation, Creative Commerce Marco Venturelli | President and Chief Creative Officer, Leo, Chief Creative Officer, Publicis Groupe France, and CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Publicis Conseil, Global Design, Industry Craft Josefina Casellas | VP Executive Creative Director & General Manager SS LATAM, R/GA, SS LATAM Digital Craft, Social & Creator Yasuharu Sasaki | Global Chief Creative Officer, dentsu, Global Direct, Outdoor Joji Jacob | Regional Chief Creative Officer, Havas, South East Asia and North Asia
Entertainment Laurence (‘Lolly’) Thomson | Joint Global Chief Creative Officer, M+C Saatchi Group,
Information Classification: General
Global Film Craft Zia Mandviwalla | Director, Finch, Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia Healthcare Tash Beecher | Creative Director, Syneos Health, Global & EMEA Luxury Julien Calot | Chief Creative Officer, McCann Paris and Global Creative Director, L’Oréal Brands, McCann, Global Media Chrissie Hanson | CEO, OMD, USA PR Lerato Songelwa | Managing Director: South Africa, Burson, South Africa
Entries into Dubai Lynx are being accepted until 22 January 2026. Further information on the Awards can be found at www.dubailynx.com/awards.
About Dubai Lynx
Dubai Lynx is MENA’s leading Awards for creative excellence and effectiveness, in the Middle East and North Africa. Presented by Ascential, organisers of Cannes Lions, together with their regional partners, Motivate Media Group, the Dubai Lynx, is held in association with the UAE Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) and with the support of Dubai Media City (DMC). The Awards serve as the definitive benchmark for creative excellence, marketing strategy and effectiveness in MENA. www.dubailynx.com About Motivate Media Group Motivate Media Group operates across the GCC and MENA region with a diverse portfolio of media interests comprising magazines, digital, social, video, exhibitions & events, cinema and books. A leading publisher in the Gulf since 1979, its portfolio includes market-leading magazines, eight websites and over 300 book titles. Motivate’s digital and video division is an established content provider for some of the region’s largest companies and the Motivate events team expertly stage some of the GCC’s major award ceremonies, festivals and activations. With a staff of more than 200 experienced and dedicated professionals, Motivate is committed to providing editorial excellence, and a corporate mission to develop integrated communication channels that entertain, inform and enrich. Motivatemedia.com
Information Classification: General
About LIONS
LIONS is the global platform that champions creativity and marketing effectiveness for growth. We help businesses grow through creative marketing that matters.
We know that creativity can and should be applied across the full marketing mix. Creativity is an impactful business driver – and when it’s integrated with a culture of effectiveness, it’s a competitive advantage.
Backed by over 150 years of experience and evidence, Cannes Lions, WARC, Effie, Contagious and Acuity – provides the global marketing industry with the definitive benchmarks, intelligence, training and tailored advice needed to grow.
LIONS is part of Informa PLC.
www.lions.co
About Informa
Informa PLC is a leading international B2B events, digital services and academic research group.
We champion specialists. Through hundreds of market-leading brands, we connect people with knowledge so they can learn more, know more and do more.
We operate in over 30 countries and serve businesses and professionals working in over a dozen specialist markets.
Informa is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100.
www.informa.com