Spikes Asia announces first nineteen speakers set to take to the stage this year

The Spikes Asia Festival of Creativity has announced the first 19 speakers who will deliver an outstanding programme of content at the 2014 Festival. This year, the Festival grows from a 3-day to a 4-day event allowing for the biggest line-up of seminars and forums to date.

Some of the unmissable talent taking to the stage will include: Stefan Sagmeister, Creative Director, Sagmesiter & Walsh: Stefan formed the New York-based Sagmeister Inc. in 1993 and has since designed for clients as diverse as the Rolling Stones, HBO and the Guggenheim Museum. He has won two Grammies and practically every important international design award.
DDB Presents: Casey Neistat, Writer, Director, Editor and Filmmaker: Casey has produced dozens of online short films which have been viewed over 70,000,000 times in the last three years. Star of the series The Neistat Brothers on HBO, he has also won the John Cassavetes Award at the 2012 Independent Spirit Awards for producing the film, Daddy Long Legs.

Bob Greenberg, Founder, Chairman, CEO, R/GA: Bob has been a pioneer in the advertising and communications industry for nearly four decades. R/GA is one of the world’s most influential agencies and it is Bob that leads its vision working for renowned brands that include Nike, Beats by Dr. Dre, Unilever, Samsung and Coca-Cola.

Valerie Cheng, Chief Creative Officer, JWT Singapore: Valerie is one of Asia’s best-known integrated communications brand experts. She has been recognised as the Digital Creative Director of the Year by the IAS two years in a row – 2011 and 2012, and has been voted as one of Singapore’s Most Influential CDs.

Polly Chu, Chief Creative Officer, JWT Beijing: Polly is one of the most awarded creatives in China with over 300 awards to her name. Polly was recognised as Greater China Creative of the Year in 2013 by Campaign Asia Pacific, China’s Adman of the Year in 2006 and is proud to have been a consultant to the 2008 Beijing Olympics Organising Committee. She has helped nurture a generation of Chinese creatives in over ten years’ time in China.

Josy Paul, Chairman, Chief Creative Officer, BBDO India: Josy is ranked among the most influential people in Indian advertising according to a survey conducted by the Economic Times. Josy’s belief that India needs more ‘acts, not ads’ is earning BBDO India a reputation for creating large successful social movements for brands. He has won 10 Cannes Lions in under five years, including Asia’s first Creative Effectiveness Lion.

Other key speakers confirmed for Spikes Asia include:
Kristian Barnes, CEO, Vizeum APAC
Julian Boulding, President, thenetworkone
Rei Inamoto, Chief Creative Officer, VP, AKQA
Amir Kassaei, Chief Creative Officer, DDB Worldwide
Marc Landsberg, Founder, CEO, socialdeviant
Jean Lin, Global CEO, Isobar
Yoshitaka Matsuura, Strategic Planning Director, Hakuhodo
Ted Royer, Chief Creative Officer, Droga5
Will Sansom, Director, Content & Strategy, Contagious Insider
Mike Schalit, Chief Creative Officer, Net#workBBDO
Atifa Silk, Brand Director, Campaign Asia
Rogier Vijverberg, Executive Creative Director, Founder, SuperHeroes
Nir Wegrzyn, CEO, BrandOpus, London

Commenting on the line-up, Terry Savage, Chairman of Lions Festivals, says, “With Spikes Asia growing into a four day event this year, it’s imperative that the content is consistently strong, diverse and inspirational throughout the programme. These first speakers have already set the bar and we’re proud to be able to list them as part of the event and bring them in front of the region.”

Spikes Asia takes place from 23-26 September at Suntec in Singapore. Entries are still being accepted and anybody wishing to be a part of the Festival can register online, with an earlybird discount until 17 July, at www.spikes.asia.