Howard Draft Named Honorary Chairman at China's ROI Festival

CHICAGO, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Draftfcb Executive Chairman Howard Draft has been named the first-ever Honorary Chairman of China's annual ROI Festival, now marking its third year.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100923/CG70480)

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100923/CG70480)

Judging took place last week in Shanghai where Mr. Draft expressed his enthusiastic support of the Festival at a press conference that attracted over 50 journalists.

"I strongly support the ROI Award Festival because it allows advertisers and agencies to establish even closer partnerships.  It's reassuring to see clients and agencies alike increasingly value the effect of ROI in advertising," said Mr. Draft.  "At Draftfcb we are all about creativity and accountability.  I am glad to see the rapid development and progress of the Chinese advertising industry, and its commitment to similar ideals."

This year's Festival received more than 2,000 entries submitted by 400+ Chinese agencies.  The winners will be announced at a ceremony on November 11th in Shanghai. That same evening, Mr. Draft will receive the Silver Medal Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chicago Advertising Federation to commemorate his 33 years in the industry and his contributions to the advertising scene in one of the world's largest advertising markets.

Mr. Draft will also be inducted into the Direct Marketing Association's Hall of Fame on October 12th in San Francisco.

About Draftfcb

Draftfcb is the first global, behavior-based, holistic marketing communications organization to operate against a single P&L.  In delivering its clients a high Return on Ideas(SM), the agency is driven by The 6.5 Seconds That Matter(SM), an operating system that recognizes the brief period of time marketers have to capture consumers' attention and motivate them to act. With nearly 140 years of combined expertise, Draftfcb has roots in both consumer advertising and behavioral, data-driven direct marketing and firmly believes there is no way to separate creativity from accountability. Part of the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG), the Draftfcb network spans 92 countries with more than 9,200 employees. The agency's corporate leadership team includes Howard Draft, executive chairman; Laurence Boschetto, CEO and president; Jonathan Harries, vice chairman and global chief creative officer; and Neil Miller, chief financial officer. For more information, visit www.draftfcb.com.

SOURCE Draftfcb