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Cannes Jury Spotlights: Debbie Ellison of VMLY&R COMMERCE

31/05/2023
Advertising Agency
New York, USA
133
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As global CDO, Debbie sits on VMLY&R Commerce’s global growth committee as well as the UK EXCO

At Cannes Lions, the world’s premier festival celebrating creative excellence, thousands of entries pour in from countries worldwide. Behind the scenes, a carefully selected panel of judges review the work and determine which will ultimately take home a coveted Cannes Lion.

Little Black Book is spotlighting creatives across the VMLY&R network who are joining the ranks of the industry’s most recognized and respected creative professionals to judge top-tier work at this year’s Cannes Lions Festival. 

Debbie Ellison is one of a handful of female global chief digital officers in the industry and an inspirational leader with extensive experience with digital innovation in business. This year, she will be representing VMLY&R Commerce as a Creative Commerce Lions juror. 

As global CDO, Debbie sits on VMLY&R Commerce’s global growth committee as well as the UK EXCO, leveraging her 20 years’ experience in technology and digital commerce to pioneer transformational business change and growth through people-first technology solutions.

As a business leader, Debbie has been integral in developing new commercial business models to help future-proof the business and its growth. She has focused the business to deliver across key digital pillars: Innovation@Retail, Ecommerce (non-owned, owned, and marketplaces), and Social Commerce.  

Last year, Debbie launched global gen z research across five cities in markets that have some of the fastest-growing economies and highest gen z populations, giving clients insight into how this powerful demographic places such importance on the purpose and values of brands and its influence on their buying behaviour.

Debbie was also integral in the launch of the Inclusion Experience (IX), a consultancy practice that helps brands develop more inclusive communications connected with inclusive business transformation and boasts global clients such as InterContinental Hotels & Resorts.  

She most recently launched The Home of Connected Brands. Situated in the WPP Sea Containers UK campus and covering over 300 square metres, the space is a fully immersive physical manifestation of the agency's belief that connected brands are more powerful brands. This environment helps clients reimagine what it takes to build successful brands today through best-in-class brand, customer, and creative commerce experiences.

Debbie’s innovation and professional leadership has landed numerous recognitions at prestigious industry festivals such as Cannes Lions, Oystercatchers, Empower/Yahoo Finance, and Campaign.


Q> How do you spot Cannes-winning work?

Debbie> I’m excited to see innovative creativity that helps brands play a more meaningful role in people’s lives. Work that doesn’t play by the rules set by a traditional marketing funnel, but converges brand, customer, and commerce experiences in new and unique ways — where technology isn’t just an enabler, but a differentiator.   

 

Q> What makes you passionate about the category you are judging?

Debbie> I have long believed there is no greater sign of brand love than purchase, and we should never shy away from the positive commercial impact of creativity. In a world where the points of inspiration and purchase have converged, creative commerce has the power to both build brands AND deliver growth. As one of Cannes’ newest categories, we’re already seeing how innovation and creativity in commerce are adding value to people’s lives and business too.

 

Q> What do you hope to take away from judging at Cannes 2023?

Debbie> I hope to take away admiration of what our industry can achieve in connecting purpose and values to profit and business growth. The two things aren’t mutually exclusive and nor should they be.

 

Q> What do you think will be the biggest themes at this year’s festival?  

Debbie> Closing the values-action gap, helping brands not just communicate purpose but deliver tangible action and results for people, society, and the planet. And of course, AI. Its accessibility has seen our creative communities play, and I can’t wait to see how it will impact work.

 

Q> What does creativity mean to you? OR what does the future of creativity look like?

Debbie> Purposeful. Valuable. Profitable. Scalable.

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