Nick Brien, President and CEO of Mediabrands to chair Cannes Media Jury

In his role, Nick has overall management for Mediabrands' independent media agencies, including global networks Universal McCann and Initiative, centralised marketplace analysts and negotiation entity Magna, media barter group Magna Trading, dedicated Johnson & Johnson agency J3 and a host of diversified agencies including ID Media, NSA, OSI, Wahlstrom, Reprise Media, marketing accountability experts MAP and the IPG Emerging Media Lab.

Before joining Mediabrands, Nick served for three years as Worldwide CEO of Universal McCann, based in New York. Under his leadership, Universal McCann won the Cannes Media Lions Grand Prix in 2006 for its Lynxjet work and Universal McCann Sydney was named the 2006 Cannes Media Agency of the Year.

Previously, Nick enjoyed a long career at Publicis Groupe's Arc, Starcom MediaVest Group and Leo Burnett where he played key roles in shaping and leading these companies' media, advertising, promotions and integrated marketing offerings.

A highly-regarded industry expert, Nick received the prestigious accolade of Advertising Age Media Maven in 2008, has served as keynote speaker at various preeminent advertising industry events and holds a number of industry board positions.

Philip Thomas, Festival CEO said:

"Nick is not only passionate about the media business; he is passionate about how creativity can transform communications. We've worked closely with Nick and other industry leaders to adapt and develop the Media Lions in 2009 so that they continue to reflect the changing media landscape and remain the global standard for outstanding media thinking. We are delighted to have Nick as our President."

Commenting on his role as Media Lions Jury President, Nick Brien said, "Media, it's personal now. It's exciting, it's dynamic, and it's changing every day. No longer a world defined by pushing one-way messaging focused on generating awareness, rather a world of creating real-time conversations able to drive brand advocacy and consumer engagement, made possible through the growing influence of digital media.

For those blessed with the necessary curiosity and passion, I believe that media today is the most exciting area of marketing communications. This important discipline has changed fundamentally, moving from a world focused on productivity and efficiency to one of communications strategy and innovative ideas.

Cannes remains the world's premier festival for recognising and celebrating creative excellence and today, more than ever, media's contribution to driving marketing break-through should be judged by the power of their ideas combined with the rigor of their execution. The 2009 Cannes Media jury will work enthusiastically to recognise and reward those surprising, inspiring and exciting ideas but within a framework of proven accountability and consumer relevance.

All marketers today compete in a digital reality; a reality in which media's potential to help maximise the impact of a brand's overall marketing activities strategy should not be underestimated.

I'm excited and honoured to be leading a jury of the world's best media professionals who will search for the jewels of creative genius which, beyond a measure of doubt, demonstrate their proven business success."