Judges

Andre Allard
VP sales and marketing, Astral Media Outdoor, Montreal

Allard has over 25 years’ experience in the media industry. He’s worked in television and radio, and in addition to sales management and marketing, has amassed business development expertise in various management positions at Astral Media Radio and CKAC Radiomédia.

John Bradley
Principal, Yknot Strategic Solutions, Toronto

Bradley spent 24 years with Cadbury in the U.K., Canada and globally in brand marketing, consumer insight and business strategy roles. Since leaving the corporate world in 2003, Bradley has a twin-track career in corporate training and business writing. He’s bringing Store Wars, the world-renowned INSEAD business simulation training program, to Canada, and in 2008 published Cadbury’s Purple Reign.

Frank DeCesare
Director, marketing & business development, Park’N Fly Canada

DeCesare has spent nearly 20 years working in sales and marketing within the tourism and retail industries. Last year he joined Park’N Fly Canada from National/Alamo, where he was VP marketing for the last six years. Prior to that he had a number of sales and marketing roles at Thrifty Canada and Dylex. DeCesare is also vice chair of the Canadian Tourism Commission U.S. working committee.

Nancy Evans
SVP, Environics Communications, Toronto

Evans works with clients including the Globe and Mail, MasterCard Canada and WWF to develop messaging strategies and public relations programs. She has 20 years experience in both corporate and agency positions, starting her career at McKim Advertising as an assistant media buyer before moving to global external relations for Manulife Financial.

Sabrina Geremia
Head of agency relations, Google Canada, Toronto

Geremia joined Google Europe in 2006 to set up the U.K. Consumer Products and Healthcare sales team before returning to Canada in 2007. She started her career in 1995 at Procter & Gamble Italy, working on laundry and cosmetic brands. In 2001, Geremia entered the interactive world as marketing manager at the search engine Ask.co.uk, and then became global internet and integrated communications director at Reckitt Benckiser in London.

Carmen Hunt
Media director, TBWA\Vancouver

Hunt is a media planning and buying specialist with 15 years’ experience across a broad range of industries and a unique insight into western Canadian markets. Previously, she oversaw the media department at TBWA\Calgary before making her way west and stepping into her current role at the Vancouver office. Hunt is also the sponsorship committee chair for the 2009 Lotus Awards.

Carol Ann Kairns
Associate GM, BCP, Montreal

Kairns is actively involved in all new business development, and is responsible for providing strategic direction and management of all agency activities. A 27-year veteran of the media services industry, she joined BCP in 1989. She has an extensive background as a media strategist delivering innovative and creative solutions for clients such as Procter & Gamble, Canadian Forces and NAPA.

Gaye McDonald
Principal, Branded Entertainment Management, Toronto

McDonald recently founded BEM, which focuses on creation of programming and branded content for Canadian media companies, endorsements and campaign and environment-specific commercial production. Starting her career with International Management Group (IMG), she led the Corporate Sponsorship division of the CBC for 10 years, after which she revitalized the Royal Winter Fair, and then spent four years as VP of Canwest’s Marketing Ventures division, where she created the Brand Partnership department.

Jason Oke
Former director of strategic planning, Juniper Park, Toronto

Oke led strategic planning at Juniper Park from 2007 to 2009. From Coke to Starbucks, he has worked on some of the world’s best brands in Canada, the U.S. and globally. Oke began his career at Chiat/Day, and later joined Leo Burnett, where he rose to VP strategic planning, launched their ground-breaking Engagement Study and played a leading role in the agency’s global planning network. Oke recently left Juniper Park to pursue a soon-to-be-announced venture.

Marilyn Orecchio
Director of sales, women’s specialty, Corus Entertainment, Toronto

Orecchio oversees the advertising sales responsibilities for Corus’ women’s portfolio, which consists of W Network, CosmoTV and Viva. Building on research-based insights about Canadian women, she works with clients to create customized, multi-platform solutions. With more than 20 years in the media business, her resume includes time at ad agencies such as OMD and McCann Erickson as well as at conventional and specialty broadcast companies.

Tatania Tucker
Media director, Bensimon Byrne, Toronto

Tucker launched the media department at Bensimon Byrne in 2004. Over the past 15 years, she has worked on blue chip brands including Walmart, Lucent Technologies, Mazda and currently Hyundai. She began her career planning for Warner-Lambert brands at JWT, and later managed the planning AOR for a consolidated buying group consisting of General Mills, Coca-Cola, Walmart, Hasbro and Nestlé.

Karrie Van Belle
Principal/director of Canada marketing, Barclays Global Investors Canada, Toronto

Van Belle is responsible for the promotion and growth of BGI Canada’s exchange traded products business brands, including iShares. She manages quantitative and qualitative marketing research, market segmentation, strategic brand planning, sales communications, advertising, media planning, sponsorship marketing and PR. Van Belle has over 10 years’ experience in corporate and non-profit marketing and communications.