ADC Europe: Amir Kassaei becomes new president
Chief Creative Officer DDB Worldwide, Amir Kassaei, has been elected as the new president of the Art Directors Club of Europe ADC*E, the association of European creative clubs, by its board of directors.
Amir Kassaei has worked for brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Smart, Coca Cola, Allianz, Apple, Adidas, Reebok, Nike, Bosch, Volkswagen and McDonald's. He has won more than 4,000 national and international awards, including more than 60 Cannes Lions, which he picked up at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. According to the New York industry bible "The Big Won," Amir Kassaei has been among the top three creative directors in the world in recent years and was declared the best creative director in the world in 2009. With him, ADC*E is bringing one of the most renowned advertisers to its helm, according to an ADC release.
Amir Kassaei has big plans: He wants to make the club an active, driving force in the European creative business. First measure: Not only clubs can join the club, but actual creatives. "I want to gather the best of the best," Kassaei says. "Without ridiculous agency, category or border barriers." Also on Kassaei's agenda are the value of ideas and that creatives should see eye-to-eye with their clients. The goal is to create an influential club of creatives for creatives in Europe that brings real benefits to its members as an advocacy group as well as a platform for exchange and inspiration.
Kassaei's strategic approach is based on three pillars:
1. ADC*E as a club of champions: The best of the best in Europe's creative scene are to be united under the umbrella of ADC*E.
2. ADC*E as the qualitative benchmark: ADC*E should be a role model with the selection of award-winning works, with the selection of members, but also through its initiatives.
3. ADC*E as an innovative enabler: ADC*E should take its role as an enabler seriously and, on the one hand, advance the quality of creative communication with targeted programs, and on the other hand, as a representative of the interests of creative professionals in Europe, ensure more sustainable acceptance, but also constructive exchange, both with political and industrial institutions.
The Executive Committee of the Art Directors Club for Germany ADC is delighted with Kassaie's election as European Chief. "Having one of the world's creative stars at the helm is a great sign," said Hans-Peter Albrecht, ADC board member. He added that the initiative came from the Austrian ADC as well as the Swiss, the Italian and, of course, the German ADC. Kassei is a head that gives a face to the European club, Albrecht continued. The value of the idea, the value of the creative, the eye level with the clients - these are the topics that Amir has on his European agenda. Topics that he also already represented during his short term as board spokesman of the Art Directors Club for Germany ADC.
His term of office in Germany came to an abrupt end due to clearly differing views on the economic structure of ADC, as Albrecht continues to write. Whether the current reorientation of ADC - a presidium instead of a board of directors, a full-time board of directors, a personnel rochade - is ultimately also a result of this discussion is a matter for the attentive observer to draw his or her own conclusions. In any case, it is a great sign for creatives and customers alike that the ADC of Europe has one of the world's best at its helm in Amir Kassaei, who is actively helping to shape the direction of the European creative clubs.
Amir Kassaei, Chief Creative Officer DDB Worldwide
"Impossible is not a fact. Itʼs an opinion." - is Kassaie's motto. About the advertising industry, he says, "It is not just about advertising. Our business is to market products, companies and services - and one of our tools is advertising." Kassaei was born in Iran, grew up in Austria and studied in France. In 1997, he came to Germany to gain experience in various positions. Initially, he worked as an account manager, strategic planner, art director and designer at agencies such as TBWA, Barci & Partner and Springer & Jacoby. At Springer & Jacoby he was first Copywriter, then Creative Director and finally Executive Creative Director for the worldwide accounts of Mercedes-Benz and Smart.
From 2003, Amir Kassaei was Chief Creative Officer and Managing Partner of the DDB Group in Germany. When he joined, he was the youngest DDB Chief Creative Officer in Europe, the ADC release says. Under his leadership, DDB Germany ranked as the most awarded German agency in the Gunn Report. During his time at DDB Germany, Kassaei Tribal established DDB Germany as a multichannel agency.
Amir Kassaei is a member of ADC Germany, ADC New York, CCA and D&AD, was board spokesman of the Art Directors Club in Germany. He was jury chairman at Eurobest and Meribel in 2007 and juried the Dubai Lynx 2010. Kassaei has taught at universities such as the Miami Ad School, lectured at the Berlin School of Creative Leadership and held a professorship at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences. His best-known lectures include "Digital Thinking" and the "Manifesto of Successful Marketing.
