MUMBAI: BBDO India chairman and chief creative officer Josy Paul has been named as the jury president of Adfest 2016’s Media Lotus and Branded Content & Entertainment Lotus.

Additionally, M&C Saatchi creative chairman Ben Welsh has been named as the jury president of Film Lotus and Radio Lotus categories.

Paul said, “It is a huge privilege to be selected to lead this prestigious Jury, working alongside the industry’s most respected and awarded creatives. There are agencies in Asia and the Middle East that are leading the world when it comes to producing brave, impactful media concepts and branded content. I live by the mantra ‘Think like the navy, deliver like pirates,’ which means I’ll be looking for work that is both strategic and powerfully executed. It’s going to be a lot of fun debating the industry’s best ideas.”

“Josy has led the way in India as a creative professional who is determined to make the world a better place through impactful branded content and creativity. It will be an honour to welcome him to Thailand in March,” added Adfest president Jimmy Lam.

Welsh said, “I am really excited about being part of Adfest again, it’s actually my favourite creative festival. I’ve judged Cannes, D&AD, London International Awards and more but there’s something unique about Adfest. As jury president, I’m really looking forward to discovering what this region is capable of producing.”

Lam added, “Ben has one of the sharpest creative minds in the industry, which makes him perfect to lead next year’s Film Lotus and Radio Lotus categories. It’s been several years since Ben last joined Adfest’s jury panel, and we look forward to welcoming him back to Thailand in March.”

Adfest 2016 runs from 16 - 19 March at the Royal Cliff Hotels Group in Pattaya, Thailand.