The new Experiential category includes all communication that involves promotional or direct interaction from direct marketing and promotional media, encompassing all media types from flat mail through to non-broadcast video and live events.
Loerie Awards managing director, Andrew Human, is delighted to have the pair on board, claiming that their experience and commitment to creative excellence will ensure that the organising committee's aspirations are met.
"The Loerie Awards represents the pinnacle of communication media in our region, and entries will be judged in 2006 according to five criteria - an innovative concept, bringing new and fresh thinking; excellent execution; and relevance to the brand, target audience and chosen medium.
"While the focus of The Loerie Awards is on recognising and rewarding work from this region, it is vital to have international input in order to ensure that we meet the highest standards. We are therefore thrilled to appoint two professionals of such high calibre, and look forward to their input on this work," Human says.
Jonathan Harries is no stranger to South Africa; he was born in this country and began his career in advertising in Johannesburg.
"Two decades ago, Jonathan just walked into the Foote Cone & Belding office in Johannesburg where I was also working and offered to work for nothing, just to get into the business," comments long-time colleague, FCB South Africa's Ashley Bacon. "And he's come a long way since.
"He has worked at Grey Advertising in New York and Leo Burnett in Chicago and prior to rejoining Foote Cone & Belding, he was co-managing partner at Hal Riney and Partners in Chicago.
"In 2004, he became the first creative executive to be named CEO of Foote Cone & Belding since its founder, Fairfax Cone. That's in addition to being chairman of the Chicago office and worldwide creative director of the network's offices around the world. Jonathan spends about one-third of the year travelling as he extends his responsibilities globally," adds Bacon.
In contrast, Duncan Gray still spends much of his time as a hands-on art director at Proximity in London. He joined the world of direct marketing after six years of above-the-line, via DDM Advertising, where he rose to the position of joint creative director.
"Then, in 1991, he became a founding partner of Barraclough Hall Woolston Gray, the agency that grew to be one of the largest and most creatively awarded direct marketing agencies in the UK and one of the founding members of the Proximity network," explains Nici Stathacopoulos, CEO of proximity#ttp.
"This move was certainly a good one: in the 2004/5 Won Report, Proximity London was the most awarded direct marketing agency in the world. Duncan is also currently the Caples Chief International Judge and a member of its worldwide board.
"I, for one, am excited to work with both Jonathan and Duncan, and I'm sure our local judges are too. Not only does their willingness to judge show their support for our firm commitment to creative excellence, but also demonstrates the high regard in which they already hold South African creativity," concludes Stathacopoulos.
Close of entries: 30 June
Awards ceremony: 16 and 17 September
Creation, publication or flighting window: 1 August 2005 and 30 June 2006
To enter work, and for full information on categories and eligibility, visit www.theloerieawards.co.za.
Major sponsors for this year's event are the SABC, Media24 and Tourism KwaZulu-Natal. Other sponsors and partners are the Design Indaba, Gearhouse, Sappi, brandhouse, Lithotech, Ugu District Municipality, Hetzner Internet Hosting, Paygate Internet payment gateway, Joe Public, Six Million Dollar Media, Orchestra Blue, Sonovision and the Ornico Group.
