NEW YORK, July 17, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- David Lubars, chairman and chief creative officer of BBDO North America was named the fourth creative leader in the Creative Leaders Challenge by The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Lubars was chosen as part of the Journal's 2007 Creative Leaders series from a pool of nearly 40 entries by a jury of more than 25 previous creative leader alumni who are leaders in the advertising community.
Mr. Lubars' contest win was announced at a breakfast held at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) where Mr. Lubars was introduced by advertising icon Jerry Della Femina, chairman, chief executive officer and chief creative officer of Della Femina Rothschild & Jeary, who represented the jury of past creative leader alumni.
"I'm humbled that such a distinguished panel of alumni would think of me as someone who is helping to create the way forward," said Mr. Lubars.
For the Creative Leaders Challenge, the Journal accepted nominations online where agency professionals built an ad honoring their own inspirational creative leaders. A panel of creative leader alumni was recruited to judge the entries. The first ads featuring Mr. Lubars will appear, beginning July 21 and will be featured in The Wall Street Journal Weekend Edition and media and advertising trades.
"David continues to be one of the leading creative forces driving our industry for more than 25 years," said David Wachtel, vice president of marketing and business development for The Wall Street Journal. "The previous generation of creative leaders paved the way for David to bring creative forward and we are honored that his colleagues have bestowed this coveted honor to him."
The original campaign first launched in 1975 and ran through 2002, showcasing more than 95 creative leaders who are recognized leaders in their industry and support how business and the Journal play an increasing role in their lives during the week and on the weekend.
The Journal reprised the campaign in May with three new creative leaders including, Alex Bogusky, partner and executive creative director for Crispin Porter + Bogusky; Laura Desmond, chief executive officer of Starcom MediaVest Group, The Americas; and Lars Bastholm, executive creative director of AKQA.
Mr. Lubars joined BBDO North America in 2004 and has overseen the agency's transformation into a 21st century version of a 60's New York agency. He began his career in 1981 and has since won several major creative awards a number of times over, including Grand Prix Cannes, Grand Clio, Grand Andy, Best of Show One Show, Best of Show Radio Mercury, Gold Effie, British D&AD, Communications Arts and the EMMY four times. Mr. Lubars was named creative director of the year by Adweek; his BMW Films were made part of MoMA's permanent collection in New York City and it won the first-ever awarded Titanium Lion at Cannes. In 2006, he was chairman of the Titanium Jury at Cannes.
The creative leader alumni that attended the Journal breakfast at MoMA include:
* Allan Beaver, Beaver & Reitzfeld * Ron Berger, chief executive officer and chief creative officer, EURO RSCG New York * Stavros Cosmopulos, president, Cosmopulos Inc. * Pat Cunningham, president, Cunningham Group * Tony DeGregorio, president, Tony DeGregorio LLC * Jerry Della Femina, chairman, chief executive officer and chief creative officer, Della Femina Rothschild & Jeary * Frank DeVito, partner, DeVito Fitterman Advertising * Sean Fitzpatrick, president, seandotcom LLC * Gary Goldsmith, chief creative officer, North America, Young & Rubicam * Al Hampel, former creative director, Benton * Bowles * Penny Hawkey, former president and executive creative director, The Bloom Group * Harry M. Jacobs, chairman emeritus, The Martin Agency * George Lois, former president, Lois USA * Tom Messner, partner, Euro RSCG New York * Kevin O'Neill, chief creative officer, Brown Kelly O'Neill & Partners * Keith Reinhard, chairman, DDB Worldwide
For more information about the Creative Leaders advertising campaign, please go to http://www.wsjcreativeleaders.com
About The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal, the flagship publication of Dow Jones & Company (NYSE:DJ) (www.dowjones.com), is the world's leading business publication. Founded in 1889, The Wall Street Journal has a print and online circulation of nearly 2.1 million, reaching the nation's top business and political leaders, as well as investors across the country. Holding 33 Pulitzer Prizes for outstanding journalism, The Wall Street Journal provides readers with trusted information and knowledge to make better decisions. The Wall Street Journal print franchise has more than 600 journalists world-wide, part of the Dow Jones network of nearly 1,800 business and financial news staff. Other publications that are part of The Wall Street Journal franchise, with total circulation of 2.6 million, include The Wall Street Journal Asia, The Wall Street Journal Europe and The Wall Street Journal Online at WSJ.com, the largest paid subscription news site on the Web. In 2007, the Journal was ranked No. 1 in BtoB's Media Power 50 for the eighth consecutive year. The Wall Street Journal Radio Network services news and information to more than 280 stations in the U.S.
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