APEX judges announced

The Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA) has announced the judges for the 2006 Advertising Performance Excellence (APEX) awards aimed at rewarding effective marketing communication.

A total of 12 judges including marketers, media planners, strategists, creatives and media owners, led by Chairman of the APEX Judging Panel 2006 Nunu Ntshingila, will scrutinize entries submitted in the three main APEX categories: launch, change and sustain.

Finalists will then be categorized into gold, silver and bronze winners plus recipients of the certificates of commendation and special prizes. The Grand Prix will be awarded to the most outstanding paper overall selected from the gold winners.

The APEX selection criteria put special emphasis on advertising that demonstrates both strategic and creative effectiveness measurable through its contribution to bottom-line business success.

Zandile Nzalo, CEO of ACA, says: "The trend globally is that clients want to see return on investment and the South African market is no different. APEX encourages and recognizes practices that demonstrate that the advertising and marketing industries strive to provide clients with value-for-money."

The ACA has scheduled APEX workshops on how to prepare a winning APEX entry, to be held Friday 23 September 2005 from 09:00 - 11:00 at AAA School of Advertising Johannesburg and on Tuesday 27 September from 10:30 -12:30 at the AAA School of Advertising, Cape Town.

Industry expert Andy Rice of Yellowwood Brand Architects and previous APEX Chairperson and judge, will be giving prospective entrants useful guidelines on crafting their APEX entries in time for the 31 October 2005 deadline.

Entry forms can be downloaded from the ACA website at www.acasa.co.za. For more information contact Lia Clayton Tel: (011) 781 2772 or e-mail .

APEX 2006 JUDGING PANEL

Zikie Molusi
Executive Advertising & Promotion
Telkom

Heather Partner
Marketing Director
McCain Foods

Simon Grose
Marketing Manager
Brand Communications
Sappi Fine Paper

Strategy Planner (1)

Cecilia Andrews
Strategic Planner
Joe Public

Media Planner (1)

Sue Rooney
Regional Media Director
Universal McCann

Researchers (2)

Henry Barenblatt
CEO
Research Surveys

Sifiso Falala
CEO
Plus 94 Harris

Creative (2)

Wingwing Mdlulwa
Creative Director
Africa Extra Bold

Nick Liatos
Creative Director
RMG Connect

Media Owner (1)

Mark Jakins, SABC
Chief Executive Commercial Enterprises

Academic (1)

Gordon Cook
Director
VEGA

Consultant (1)

Andy Rice
Director
Yellowwood Brand Architects

Chairman

Nunu Ntshingila
CEO
Ogilvy South Africa