SA makes global Agency Innovators shortlist

Nazeer Suliman, MD of Universal McCann, the only South African to be included in the 21 Internationalist Agency Innovator finalists for 2008

Internationalist writes, “This third annual summer feature devoted to international agency innovators underscores how innovative thinking is not limited by geography, age, company size or ones position in a company. These 21 individuals have been selected from over 100 entries through industry nominations.”

“I am absolutely thrilled to be nominated for the Internationalist Agency Innovator 2008,” says Suliman. “No matter the outcome, I'm pleased to be considered and thank my staff and peers for their continued support.”

On the subject of innovation, he says, “There is a context to innovation. Often, people in our industry interpret innovation as a new menu item when in fact it could have always been there - but placed differently and re-framed, could be interpreted in a new way. I believe that innovation is about seeing the same old world with fresh eyes or from a different vantage point.”

Finalists include:

• Givi Topchishvili: Global Advertising Strategies, New York
  
• Philip Brett: TBWA\Tequila, Singapore
  
• Christian Kugel: Denuo (a Publicis Groupe Company)
  
• 'Crystal' Wang Jingjing: G2 Star Echo Group, Beijing
  
• Shadi Bteddini: BE International, Dubai & New York
  
• Shubha George: Mediaedge:cia, Mumbai
  
• Becky Walden: Starcom Worldwide
  
• Patricia Gogliara: McCann Erickson, Brasil
  
• Charlotte Freemantle: Universal McCann, London
  
• Ian Bell: Mediacom, London
  
• Dan Benedict: Mediaedge:cia, London
  
• Laura Milstead: JustMedia, London
  
• Alistair Henderson: OMD, Australia
  
• Mark Stewart: OMD, New York
  
• Martin Sundberg: Medicom, Sweden
  
• Rob Hilton: The Promotions Factory, Melbourne
  
• Felix Wong: The Marketing Arm, Beijing
  
• Hani Mahdi: Mindshare Worldwide, London
  
• Christina Dagnello: Mediaedge:cia, New York, and
  
• Will Swayne: Carat, Hong Kong.

For more information, go to www.internationalistmagazine.com.