The International Advertising Festival, also known as Cannes Lions, named Helmut Panke, chairman of German automaker BMW AG's board of management, as its advertiser of the year for 2004.
This award, presented annually, recognized BMW's innovative and creative advertising over the past few years, the London-based festival organizer said.
BMW has won several Lions for its global campaigns, including four gold Lions. Last year it took home the newly instituted President's Titanium Lion for its multimedia short film series called “The Hire.”
Panke will get the award June 26 at the culmination of the six-day ad competition in Cannes, France.
The upcoming festival is the 51st Cannes Lions. It is expected to draw 8,000 delegates from ad agencies and clients worldwide to salute 16,000 ad entries and to attend seminars and parties.
