Graham Warsop to receive NYF lifetime award

“I am left in no doubt as to the magnitude of the honour you confer upon me. I confess, as well as being honoured to be the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award, I remain hopeful I may have still have approximately half my career ahead of me! I am thrilled to be receiving this award in China, arguably the world's most exciting advertising market,” responded Warsop.

Creative life

Warsop, an Englishman, graduated with a Masters degree from Cambridge University and qualifying as a barrister, he intended to practice law. Following his heart, he spent a year attempting to write a novel. His advertising career began when he became short on funds while visiting family in South Africa and took a job as junior copywriter.

Eighteen months later, thirty-year old Warsop founded The Jupiter Drawing Room, (the agency is named after a room in a bordello in a Guy de Maupassant short story). In the twenty years that followed, measured by Creative Circle points, he would become reportedly the most awarded creative in the history of South African advertising and The Jupiter Drawing Room was destined to become one of the world's most awarded independent agencies.

He and Jupiter have played a significant role in building South Africa's global reputation as a developing country with a strong creative pedigree. Today, with offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town, the agency is reputedly the largest independent agency group on the African continent. In 2009 it was ranked (by the Creative Circle) as the number one creative agency group and remains the only African agency to have been ranked one of the five most creative agencies in the world by US trade publication Advertising Age.

"Graham's record speaks for itself, as does the success of The Jupiter Drawing Room. Presenting him with this award will be such an honour,” said New York Festivals' president Michael O'Rourke. “His stellar achievements in the field of advertising truly merit a Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Rising sun

Akira Kagami began his career as a strategist in 1971, and later became a copywriter at Dentsu, the world's largest independently owned ad agency. He now leads its global creative operation out of Tokyo and is focused on strengthening the agency's creative and client work in Asia. His contributions during his 30-year tenure have made him an iconic figure in international advertising circles, and as an international speaker, he has guided creative executives around the world. He has won numerous international advertising awards and has served on many respected judging panels.

Advertising goes east

Sponsored by Sino ADI, this year's festival will be held at the Shanghai Theatre Academy and the sponsor's state-of-the-art advertising and marketing centre, along with a showcase of NYF's award winning public service communications featured at the 2010 World Expo's World Wildlife Fund Pavilion from 10-12 June.

The event will include prominent keynote speakers, interactive speaking sessions, a Print & Design winner's gallery, TVC screenings and the presentation of trophies to the winners of the 2010 NYF Advertising Award competitions as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award.

For 53 years, the awards have honoured the World's Best Work in all media from around the world: television, cinema, print, outdoor, interactive, avant-garde, design, mixed media, Hispanic, collateral, radio, and student advertising. All winning entries were selected by its GrandJury, comprised of 255 senior creative directors from 56 countries around the world, representing the largest and most diverse jury of any advertising competition in the world. The award winners will be featured on newyorkfestivals.com, the newly launched newyorkfestivals.tv, and are promoted by a network of partners and representative in 84 countries around the world.