With less than a week to go until the annual festival of creativity, Cannes Lions has named former Procter and Gamble Global Marketing Officer Jim Stengal as the inaugural Lions Laureate for Marketing.
His distinguished career spans over three decades, shaping modern marketing leadership, as well as bringing the first major client-side marketing delegations to Cannes Lions in 2003, helping accelerate the festival into the global networking epicentre for brands and business leaders that it is today.
Beyond his extensive career, he has dedicated copious amounts of time to mentoring the next generation of marketers through teaching and writing.
In 2011, he served as the Dean for the inaugural Cannes Lions Creative Academy for Marketers, and then in 2013, established and pioneered the CMO Accelerator Programme, which continues to develop senior marketers to this day.
CEO of Cannes Lions, Simon Cook, spoke on Jim’s influence on the festival, reinforcing:
“Jim’s influence extends far beyond the marketing functions and organisations he has led. Through his leadership, mentorship, and unwavering belief in the power of creative marketing, he has shaped the thinking and careers of marketers across generations. His impact on our industry is both profound and enduring, not only through the brands and businesses he has helped build, but through the leaders he has inspired and developed along the way. We are delighted to recognise Jim as the inaugural Lions Laureate – for Marketing. I can think of no one more deserving of this honour, nor anyone who better embodies what it stands for.”
Stengel announced via LinkedIn that his fourteenth year as Cannes Lions CMO accelerator will be his final year alongside Steve Latham and Suzanne Tosolini. However, he will be going out with a bang as he will be standing alongside an array of brand leaders from companies such as Nestle, Coach, and Asahi.
Speaking on his appointment, Jim Stengal stated:
“I am deeply honoured. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to learn from extraordinary colleagues, partners, and friends, and this recognition is really a reflection of those relationships. I have always believed that creativity is one of the most powerful forces for growth in business and positive impact in the world. If I have contributed anything along the way, I hope it has been encouraging marketers to think a little bigger about the role they can play, the value they can create, and the difference they can make. For that, and for the many people who have shaped my journey, I am profoundly grateful.”
Jim will receive the award at the Cannes Lions Awards Show, as well as delivering the inaugural Lions Laureate Seminar in the Debussy Theatre on Thursday, 25th June.
