Oscar-winning film producer, Lord Puttnam, has been appointed chairman of the judges for the 2009 UK DMA awards. His interests span the creative industries, education and public policy. 

He is an established leader in advertising, having started his career at CDP, working with Charles Saatchi and Sir Alan Parker, before turning to film where he produced a host of award-winning films including Chariots of Fire, The Killing Fields and The Mission. He is deputy chairman of Channel Four, chancellor of the Open University and non-executive chairman of Profero.

Lord Puttnam (pictured below) will oversee the UK DMA judging process which involves more than 200 industry experts from client companies, suppliers and agencies. He will also lead the final Grand Prix judging, during which an overall champion is selected from among the Gold winners.

Lord Puttnam (David Puttnam, who was knighted in 1995 and created a life peer in 1997) said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been asked to chair the judges this year. I know just how much a DMA Award is valued by the winners. I’m really looking forward to engaging with the wealth of exciting creative work which always emerges during the DMA Awards. Given my passionate interest in issues relating to climate change and the role of advertising in helping to alter behaviour and attitudes, I’m especially looking forward to seeing the entries for the DMA Green Award.”

Mike Colling, chairman of the UK DMA Awards Committee, added: “It’s a great honour that Lord Puttnam has agreed to chair the DMA Awards judging. His outstanding creativity, insight and industry expertise mean that he is ideally positioned to guide and advise the judging panel.”

The 2009 UK DMA Awards are again sponsored by Royal Mail. Agencies and brands have until September 11 to submit their entries – to be judged in October by 200 senior professionals with judging teams of copywriters, art directors, data planners, media buyers, planners, clients and sector specialists. Each campaign is judged individually and then by group discussion on three key criteria: strategy, creativity and results.

For more information on the awards, visit: www.dmaawards.org.uk

Winners will be announced at the Awards Presentation Ball to be held at Old Billingsgate in the City of London on December 9.

Lord Puttnam