Dubai Lynx has announced the Jury Presidents for its 2026 Awards, confirming the line-up of global creative leaders who will oversee judging across 17 categories next March. The announcement includes the introduction of the inaugural Luxury Lynx Jury President McCann’s Julien Calot.
The MENA’s leading platform for creative excellence and effectiveness has brought together global CCOs, CEOs and award-winning creatives for its jury, reflecting both the growing momentum in the region’s creative economy and its ongoing transformation.
The line-up includes industry experts such as: Judy John, Global Chief Creative Officer, Edelman presiding over Audio & Radio, Film and Print & Publishing, Marco Venturelli, Global Chief Creative Officer and CEO, Leo, serving as Jury President for Brand Experience & Activation and Creative Commerce, Yasuharu Sasaki, Global Chief Creative Officer, dentsu leading Digital Craft and Social & Creator and Chrissie Hanson, CEO, OMD, USA chairing the Media Lynx Award.
Ian Fairservice, Vice Chairman, Dubai Lynx, commented: “Each year, the Jury Presidents play a crucial role in upholding the standard of work recognised at Dubai Lynx. This year’s line-up brings global authority and regional insight, reinforcing MENA’s role as a destination for world-class creativity. We thank them for all that they will bring to the important task ahead of them next March.”
Julien Calot, Chief Creative Officer at McCann Paris and Global Creative Director for L’Oréal Brands, has been appointed Jury President for the first-ever Luxury Lynx category. The new Award aims to recognise outstanding luxury creativity that balances heritage, craft and cultural impact.
Calot said he was “excited, joyful, and honoured” to take on the role. “Luxury is a quest for the extraordinary,” he added. “Luxury is never casual. It’s an obsession for the ‘never-ordinary’,” he noted, adding that the Jury will look for bold “never-seen- before” ideas that impact culture shifts and display excellent craft, stories and emotions.
Marian Brannelly, Global Director of Awards, LIONS, added that the introduction of Luxury Lynx reflects a sector “transforming at speed”, with brands navigating shifting definitions of luxury across the region. Calot’s appointment, she said, will help set a new benchmark for the category.
Here’s the complete list of Dubai Lynx 2026 Jury Presidents:
- Audio & Radio, Film, Print & Publishing
Judy John, Global Chief Creative Officer, Edelman - Brand Experience & Activation, Creative Commerce
Marco Venturelli, President and Chief Creative Officer, Leo; Chief Creative Officer, Publicis Groupe France; CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Publicis Conseil - Design, Industry Craft
Josefina Casellas, VP Executive Creative Director & General Manager SS LATAM, R/GA - Digital Craft, Social & Creator
Yasuharu Sasaki, Global Chief Creative Officer, dentsu - Direct, Outdoor
Joji Jacob, Regional Chief Creative Officer, Havas, South East Asia and North Asia - Entertainment
Laurence (‘Lolly’) Thomson, Joint Global Chief Creative Officer, M+C Saatchi Group - Film Craft
Zia Mandviwalla, Director, Finch (Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia) - Healthcare
Tash Beecher, Creative Director, Syneos Health (Global & EMEA) - Luxury
Julien Calot, Chief Creative Officer, McCann Paris; Global Creative Director, L’Oréal Brands, McCann - Media
Chrissie Hanson, CEO, OMD USA - PR
Lerato Songelwa, Managing Director, South Africa, Burson
