Spikes Asia appoints Fred Koblinger as jury president

Spikes Asia has appointed Fred Koblinger (pictured), CEO of PKP Proximity and BBDO Holding Austria, as jury president for digital, direct and promo jury.

Speaking about Koblinger's appointment, Philip Thomas, CEO of Cannes Lions said, "We are delighted to have Fred onboard for Spikes Asia this year. 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.”

Commenting on his new role, Koblinger said, “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 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.”

Koblinger is considered the pioneer of direct marketing in Austria and has been a jury member in Cannes twice as well as Direct jury president for Cannes Lions in 2005, Eurobest in 2007 and Dubai Lynx in 2007.

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 then 120 National DM Awards, 15 Best of Europe, more than ten Echo Awards, four Cannes Direct Lions). After selling PKP to BBDO in 2000, Fred Koblinger co-founded the Proximity network with the agency changing its name to PKP Proximity. He is a member of the Proximity worldwide board and since 2002 he has also became CEO of BBDO Holding Austria.