NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- The Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival has named Philip Thomas, an executive from festival owner Emap Communications,
as its new CEO starting Nov. 1. The previous CEO, Penny Reid, left the festival abruptly in July, less than a month after the conclusion of her first Cannes festival. Ms. Reid, a former ad-agency and direct-marketing executive, had only joined the Cannes Lions organization in January 2006.
Publishing background
Mr. Thomas, 45, is a longtime exec at Emap, the U.K.-based publishing and exhibitions group that bought the Cannes Lions festival two years ago from previous owner Roger Hatchuel. Mr. Thomas was most recently managing director of Emap Media, overseeing titles such as Shots, Screen International and Broadcast. Before that, he held the titles of managing director of Emap Australia and managing director of FHM Worldwide. Mens' magazine FHM is an Emap publication.
The festival is also promoting Carolyn Lowery, the operations director, to the title of festival director. Terry Savage, the festival's executive chairman, will continue in his current role.
Mr. Thomas will preside over the week-long Cannes Lions festival held each June in the south of France as well as the lesser-known Eurobest awards for the European ad industry and the new Dubai Lynx awards for the Middle East ad industry, which will be held for the first time in March 2007 in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
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| Philip Thomas was most recently managing director at Emap Media. |
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Related Stories: CEO of Cannes Ad Festival Resigns Penny Reid Held Post for Less Than a Year New Cannes Lions CEO 'Bursting With Ideas' Penny Reid Succeeds Terry Savage as Festival Chief |
Publishing background
Mr. Thomas, 45, is a longtime exec at Emap, the U.K.-based publishing and exhibitions group that bought the Cannes Lions festival two years ago from previous owner Roger Hatchuel. Mr. Thomas was most recently managing director of Emap Media, overseeing titles such as Shots, Screen International and Broadcast. Before that, he held the titles of managing director of Emap Australia and managing director of FHM Worldwide. Mens' magazine FHM is an Emap publication.
The festival is also promoting Carolyn Lowery, the operations director, to the title of festival director. Terry Savage, the festival's executive chairman, will continue in his current role.
Mr. Thomas will preside over the week-long Cannes Lions festival held each June in the south of France as well as the lesser-known Eurobest awards for the European ad industry and the new Dubai Lynx awards for the Middle East ad industry, which will be held for the first time in March 2007 in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
