Danny Searle steps up to replace Ali Shabaz as Jury President of Outdoor + Radio at Spikes Asia
Ali Shabaz, Chief Creative Officer, Grey Group, South East Asia has today stepped down as Outdoor and Radio Jury President at this year’s Spikes Asia. Stepping into the role as replacement is Danny Searle, Vice Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, BBDO Asia, Asia Pacific.
Shabaz has stepped down due to the recent diagnosis of a critical illness of a family member.
Joining the jury to replace Searle on the jury is Sandipan Bhattacharyya, Chief Creative Officer, Grey Group, India.
Commenting on the news, Terry Savage, Chairman, Spikes Asia said, “We are deeply saddened to hear the unfortunate news and wish Ali and his family all the best at this difficult time. The mantle of presidency has been passed to Danny and I have no doubt that he will be a fantastic representative, guiding the jury members to award the best work from the past year.”
While extremely sad for Shabaz on a personal level, this development is opportunistic for the Spikes Asia organisers who will now not have to face the possibility of the much publicised Cannes Lions “I Sea” app controversy hanging over this year’s Festival.
7 Comments
And here I thought he stepped down due to extreme embarrassment at being the top figure implicated in the worst scam scandal at Cannes 2016.
Jerry, you’re a total fool. Ali is going through some pretty serious personal trauma and all you can do is stick a dagger in his back through your snide comments. Now is not the time and place for comments on scam…you had that opportunity when it happened months ago. Show some respect numbnuts.
Putting aside the bleeding hearts for a second…
Im a little unclear as to the motivation of this announcement. If a guy cant judge a award show, the usual reason given is that there is a ‘scheduling conflict’ or it is ‘due to another unavoidable commitment’.
Is there really need to make it so personal by mentioning family and critical illness….by doing that the person draws suspicion that they are playing the sympathy card….which is understandable because this person has been under fire for his involvement in Singapores biggest scam scandal… without any professional consequences whatsoever. Sending the message to everyone that it is fine to do this.
I am also wondering whether this illness in the family will keep this person only from judging this award show but also from attending office. Now that they have chosen to reveal such personal details, i guess it is not rude to ask.
Read my comments @Jerry. Another fool. (BTW, I used a stronger word than fool but was censored.)
Spot on Lee. Exactly what many of us are thinking.
Hey @jerry, you said “Show some respect numbnuts”
I dont know about you, but I dont believe that someone who scams in such an offensive way deserves “respect”…in fact I dont even know how they are allowed to keep their job.
Many people might have softened their stance if the individual concerned had made a sincere apology since everyone makes mistakes…but putting out this whole family sickness story to gain sympathy is a desperate move and a new low .
@jerry – you are being taken for a ride, just like the Cannes judges.
I happen to know that Spikes were looking to drop Shabaz one week before this was announced. if a family illness came up, then that is a huge coincidence. And if so, he has decided to bring this illness to public attention, which is again a huge red flag. ‘Personal reasons’ would have been enough.
Like Jerry says, this is a new low.