John Merrifield joins the international names judging the 2013 Singapore CCA Gongs

John Merrifield, Chief Creative Officer at Google Asia Pacific has been confirmed as a Gong CCA 2013 international judge. He joins other international judges Matt Eastwood (ECD at DDB New York) and Yang Yeo (JWT China Chairman & North Asia ECD) on the panel.

Merrifield (left) first emerged in Singapore, where an initial foray into adland was marked by six years at Batey Ads. Seven years at Saatchi’s followed, one highlight of which was getting the entire Tokyo office arrested. With time off for bad behaviour (read: eight months surfing) he joined TBWA, where his work for adidas – Vertical Football, Impossible Sprint, et al – earned worldwide acclaim.

After a year off surfing in Hawaii and Bali, John joined Google in December 2012 as Chief Creative Officer, Asia-Pacific. Based in Tokyo and Singapore, he leads a team that is hubbed in Singapore, Tokyo and Sydney.

Merrifield has won multiple gold lions at Cannes, multiple gold pencils at the One Show, the grand prix and multiple golds at the Clios, best of show (twice) and multiple golds at AdFest, multiple golds at Spikes Asia, multiple golds at AWARD, the ADC prize (gold) in Tokyo, multiple acceptances in D&AD, Communication Arts and The Work book.

He was named Asia’s Creative of the Year in 2004 and 2008, and topped the Campaign Brief Asia Creative Rankings in Asia/Pacific in 2004.