Chairman's Note

As we enter 2010, two elements are critical to every global brand's success. The first is innovative ideas to deliver effective returns, and the second is winning in the high growth and relevantly high volume markets of Asia. These two imperatives are precisely the focus of the AME's and why I am excited to serve as the Jury Chair this year. Clients and agencies should be focused on identifying and rewarding the effective, innovative and category leading campaigns.

Additionally, I am excited and honored to work along side my fellow AME judges, each of whom brings a tremendous amount of marketing and advertising expertise to this year's jury.  As a team, we will acknowledge and reward the brillance of those who bring to life a creative idea based on a true understanding of the culture, competition and the consumer - and, ultimately, solves a Brand's marketing challenge, in a ground breaking way. Based on the international scope of the competition and the judging catergories that reflect the current trends of mobile, social media, green initiaitves, etc., I expect to be blown away by the entries and I look forward to congratulating the winners.

Good luck and see you in Shanghai!

Bob O'Leary  

Managing Director, Global Advertising

Citi