Fred Koblinger, CEO of PKP Proximity and BBDO Holding Austria, has been appointed president of the digital, direct and promo award judges for the newly-launched Spikes Asia event.

A pioneer of direct marketing in Austria, Koblinger (pictured) has twice been a jury member in Cannes as well as the direct jury president for Cannes Lions in 2005, Eurobest in 2007 and Dubai Lynx in 2007. A frequent speaker at international marketing and advertising congresses, Fred was invited to Austria’s Direct Marketing Association’s Hall of Fame in 2004.

Philip Thomas, CEO of Cannes Lions – which, with Haymarket are joint organisers of the new festival – said: “We are delighted to have Fred on board for Spikes Asia. A professional through and through with great leadership skills, he is held in high regard by his peers and is an uncontested choice to lead this jury.”

Koblinger added: “For many years, direct marketing was mainly seen as a powerful sales tool. Thanks to Cannes Direct Lions, introduced only seven years ago, many people discovered the creative possibilities in direct communication to influence both behaviour AND image. Since then we have seen a tremendous growth of outstanding creative direct campaigns – off and online. I am very sure that Spikes Asia will prove that we have not seen the best yet. I am proud and honoured to lead the first Spikes Asia jury.”

After working in Paris for the Austrian National Tourist Office in charge of marketing and sales promotion, Koblinger launched his career in direct marketing in 1982 as managing director of Interhome Austria, after which he started up Ogilvy & Mather Direct. In 1991 he founded Palla, Koblinger & Partner, which has since been Austria’s number one relationship marketing agency with a strong focus on creativity (more than 120 national DM awards, 15 best of Europe, more than ten Echo awards, four Cannes Direct Lions). After selling PKP to BBDO in 2000, Koblinger co-founded the Proximity network with the agency changing its name to PKP Proximity. He is member of the Proximity WW Board and since 2002 he also became CEO of BBDO Holding Austria.

Entry deadline for Spikes Asia – the 1st Asian advertising festival celebrating and inspiring Asian creativity in advertising – is July 24 and the festival takes place in Suntec City, Singapore, September 16-18. More details here: www.spikes.asia