Creative Director at St. John's ad agency
chosen to judge at industry's biggest awards festival
St. John's, NL - Target's Creative Director, Tom Murphy, has been chosen to judge at Cannes Lions 2008, the 55th International Advertising Festival, June 15-21 in France. Judges are selected based on creative reputation and industry leadership, and Tom will be the Canadian representative for the Radio category.
Seven other judges have also been selected from top agencies across Canada to evaluate the best advertising in the world at the ad industry's equivalent to The Oscars.
"What an inspiring opportunity," says Tom. "Not only do I get to represent Canada - and of course Newfoundland and Labrador - but I'll be experiencing, first-hand, the best creative work, alongside some of the best creative minds in the business. And it's the strangest thing, but all of a sudden everyone at work is being really nice to me. I wonder if they're hoping I'll take an entourage..."
Target has a record of success at Cannes and is one of only eight agencies in Canada to win a Gold Lion in the 55-year history of the awards. Target is the only agency in Atlantic Canada to win a statue at the international festival and has won three Lions overall. In 2005, Target won two Bronze Lions for an Irving radio campaign and a campaign for the Nickel Independent Film Festival. In 2006 the agency won Gold for another Irving campaign.
"It doesn't get much better than Cannes," says Noel O'Dea, Director of Strategic and Creative Planning at Target. "Tom will do us proud, taking with him the unpretentious insight and creativity we aim for at Target - a direct reflection of the creative culture of Newfoundland and Labrador. The fact he was chosen out of the best talent in the business goes to prove great ideas and groundbreaking work can come from anywhere - New York, London, Toronto or St. John's."
The last few months have been successful ones for Target and in 2007 the agency received a host of national and international awards, including a prestigious London International Award for its Newfoundland and Labrador Brand TV animation. Also, Target's work for Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism won the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) Marketing Campaign of the Year award, as well as a CASSIES (Canadian Advertising Success Stories) award. Target also won a CASSIES for its client Capital G Bank in Bermuda.
Target is a full-service advertising and branding firm based in St. John's, Newfoundland, and has repeatedly been named one of Canada's Top 10 creative agencies. Target's clients include Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism, Air Canada Jazz, Irving Oil, Fronteer, Aurora Energy, A&P supermarkets, and Capital G Bank in Bermuda.
For more information, please contact:
Clare-Marie Gosse, Communications Manager
Target Marketing & Communications Inc.
709.739.8400 ext 290, cmgosse@targetmarketing.ca