Piyush Pandey to head Craft jury at Spikes Asia Festival

Piyush Pandey, executive chairman and national creative director of Ogilvy & Mather India and South Asia, will be the president of the Craft jury at this year's Spikes Asia Festival.

The Craft jury at the Spikes Asia Festival will reward the excellence of craft technique in Print and TV/Cinema advertising over and above the creative idea of the work.

This year, Craft categories will include best use of animation, special effects and computer animation, best use of film direction and cinematography and best use of music in the TV / Cinema categories.

Entrants can also submit Print ads for consideration in best use of copywriting, illustration and photography. Both TV / Cinema and print work can also be judged in best art direction.

Commenting on his appointment, Pandey said, ''It is an honour to be invited to chair the Craft jury at Spikes Asia 2009. We will try our best to ensure that the best work wins.''

Philip Thomas, CEO of Cannes Lions, who together with Haymarket, organise Spikes Asia, said, ''A legend not just in India but around the world, Piyush knows all about winning awards as well as judging them. We are truly delighted to have him join us in Singapore to lead the Craft jury.''

Before joining Ogilvy & Mather Mumbai in 1982, Piyush worked as a professional cricketer and tea-taster. In 1994, he became Ogilvy & Mather's national creative director. By 2004, he was promoted to executive chairman of Ogilvy & Mather India and South Asia. More recently, Piyush was appointed as vice-chairman, Asia-Pacific.