Kim Shaw

Day one at the annual MadStars Festival in Busan, South Korea, saw over 40 international judges come together to tackle the serious business of deciding this year’s winning work – followed by an evening of Korean food and festival hospitality. This is the 18th year of MadStars and the 14th year Campaign Brief Asia has attended.

The Hong Kong advertising community is mourning the sudden and tragic loss of Kitty Lun, one of the region’s most respected and influential creative leaders. A pioneering creative, business leader and champion of young talent, Lun built an extraordinary career across Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China before taking her experience into the digital world with Facebook and Meta. Her work earned recognition on the global stage, while her leadership and generosity left an equally lasting impression on the many people she mentored and worked alongside. To mark her passing, long-time colleague and friend Chris Kyme has written this personal tribute to her, remembering the fiercely ambitious young creative he first encountered at Leo Burnett Hong Kong, the industry powerhouse she became and the warm, generous person she remained throughout her remarkable career.

The winners of LIA set the bar for creative excellence each year. Winning a LIA statue has opened doors and earned winners worldwide accolades and recognition by their peers and clients.

Manila independent creative agency Lennon Group and entertainment marketing agency Lunchbox have taken home the Grand Kidlat for Most Creative Marketing Stunt at the 2026 Philippines Kidlat Awards for an unconventional campaign promoting Petersen Vargas’ queer indie film Some Nights I Feel Like Walking.

M+C Saatchi Group has today announced that, following an extensive review of strategic options for its Australia and New Zealand advertising agency, the previously announced management buyout of the business, backed by private equity, will not proceed.

Today, a compelling campaign message alone is no longer enough to engage consumers – especially in a low-involvement category like bottled mineral water. That was the challenge The Purpose Group Vietnam set out to solve when partnering with La Vie to launch La Vie Light – a mineral water with a lighter taste and natural minerals.

The hook Every great advertising story starts with a proposition. Or at least a seduction dressed up as opportunity.

LIA brought together its world-class jury and Creative LIAisons for a networking party at the Neon Sign Museum in Las Vegas, providing an evening for jurors and the next generation of creative talent to connect in a relaxed setting outside the judging room.

Leilani Horthy Banks, Junior Art Director, Clemenger BBDO, Sydney (formerly DDB Australia) ~ current CB Australian 2025 Agency of the Year ~ is representing Australia at the 2026 Creative LIAisons program in Las Vegas, featuring some of the world's most respected creative directors as speakers. Here, Leilani reports exclusively for Campaign Brief.

Sadly, one of Perth's most loved industry personalities, Ken Walther, passed away early last week. Perth's much-loved Jingle King, Ken Walther was an extraordinary talent who charmed everyone he met. Throughout the '80s and '90s, Ken gave Campaign Brief incredible support and friendship. He was our piano man at many of our legendary Campaign Brief Christmas parties, and we'd sing along to his songs on Friday nights at Perth's advertising hangout, The Blue Note, and later, its next incarnation, Madisons. In the late '80s and early '90s, Ken even became our landlord for a few years. In this affectionate tribute, Richard Clarke celebrates his more than 40-year friendship with Ken. With characteristic humour and admiration, he reflects on Ken's extraordinary musical talent, infectious personality and enduring legacy in Western Australian advertising – and why his jingles, like the man himself, will never be forgotten.