Dentsu Tokyo’s Yukio Nakayama to head Direct Lotus and Promo Lotus categories at AdFest

Yukio Nakayama, Executive Creative Director at Dentsu in Tokyo, is to take up the role of Jury President of the Direct Lotus and Promo Lotus categories at AdFest 2012.

Nakayama (pictured left) studied biophysics before realizing he had a talent for advertising. After seven years at Dentsu, he received his first Grand Prix at an award show. Since then, he has won 12 Grand Prix at international and local awards.

“I’ve been a big fan of AdFest since its inception in 1998, and I love being inspired. AdFest is the festival which is closest to our minds and origins, which is why I’m delighted to join next year’s prestigious line-up of Jury Presidents,” says Nakayama.

Nakayama recently returned to Dentsu Inc. after six years managing Frontage, a mid-sized agency in Tokyo whose investors include Sony and Dentsu Inc. As ECD and “Chief Chaos Officer” at Frontage, he introduced a Horizontal Solutions System (HSS) to enhance creativity by helping staff to work beyond group borders and manage their time better.

After HSS went into action, Frontage won more than 40 local, regional and international awards, including in the direct and promotion categories, for clients such as BMW and Sony.

“When the first-ever AdFest took place 15 years ago in Chiang Mai, Yukio paid for himself to attend as a delegate. That says a lot about his passion and support for AdFest, which is why we’re so pleased to invite him back again next year as Jury President of the Direct and Promo Lotus categories,” says Vinit Suraphongchai, Chairman of the AdFest Steering Committee.

Nakayama regularly speaks on the topic of Japanese and Asian creativity for international audiences in Cannes, Beijing, Jaipur, Bangkok, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, and Sao Paulo.

In 2006, Nakayama returned to the academic field after 30 years, becoming the only Asian in the inaugural class at the Berlin School of Creative Leadership headed by Michael Conrad, ex-Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett. After combining studies and work for two years, he graduated with an MBA in 2008, as one of the top three in his class.