By Oluwaseyi Lawal

These global awards recognize outstanding marketing campaigns that highlight the power of strategic thinking in driving significant results for brands and businesses worldwide.

The five appointed marketing leaders will oversee judging in their respective regions: Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and North America. They will be responsible for selecting the Bronze, Silver, and Gold winners across 12 different categories. Following this initial stage, the jury chairs will come together as a super jury to select the coveted Global Grands Prix, chosen from the Gold-winning campaigns, marking the pinnacle of marketing achievement.

John Bizzell, Awards Lead at WARC, expressed excitement about the appointed leaders, saying, “This stellar line-up of jury chairs represents some of the biggest global and local brands. Their expertise and passion for work that delivers impact will bring to the fore campaigns that can truly move the needle of the industry forward. We are delighted and honored to be working with them.”

The newly appointed jury chairs for the 2025 WARC Awards are as follows:

For the Asia-Pacific region, Matt Che, Chief Marketing Officer of Budweiser, APAC, will lead the judging process. Che oversees marketing operations across China, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia and is responsible for driving growth through leadership across brands like Budweiser, Corona, and Hoegaarden.

In Europe, Christoffer Rönnblad, Chief Marketing Officer for McDonald’s Nordics, will bring his extensive experience in creative effectiveness, technology, and customer experience to the judging panel. Rönnblad has earned international recognition for his work and is regarded as one of the top CMOs in his region.

Representing Latin America is Marina Prieto, Senior Director of Brand, Insights, Media, and Trade Marketing at PedidosYa. Prieto has successfully led the brand to win major accolades, including 11 Cannes Lions in 2023, and a Gold Creative Effectiveness Lion in 2024. Her vast experience at PedidosYa and Mondelēz makes her a significant figure in the industry.

For the Middle East and Africa, Nthabi Motsoeneng, Chief Marketing Officer of Pernod-Ricard, Africa and Middle East, will serve as jury chair. With over two decades of experience working with global brands such as Tiger Brands and Coca-Cola, Motsoeneng excels in portfolio strategy and purposeful marketing, guiding consumer engagement for brands like Jameson.

In North America, Diana Frost, Chief Growth Officer at Kraft Heinz, will oversee the judging process. Frost, who has been with Kraft Heinz since 2020, is known for her focus on disruptive innovation and global marketing excellence. Prior to her role at Kraft Heinz, she spent 13 years at Mars, further cementing her expertise in driving brand growth and collaboration.

The WARC Awards, in association with LIONS, are judged based on the rigorous frameworks of Creative Effectiveness and B2B Effectiveness Ladders, ensuring a consistent evaluation process. The 2025 edition promises to highlight marketing campaigns that not only demonstrate strategic brilliance but also showcase a profound impact on brand and business growth.