Google’s John Merrifield Announced as Speaker at LIA’s Creative LIAisons

John Merrifield, Chief Creative Officer of Google Asia-Pacific, has been announced as a speaker at the London International Awards 2015 Creative LIAisons program.

Merrifield is the latest name in the elite roster of speakers at this year’s event, joining Ted Royer, Matt Eastwood, Emad Tahtouh, John Mescall, Ralph van Dijk, Pum Lefebure, Taras Wayner  and Keynote Speaker Daymond John.

Merrifield is set to speak to the more than 100 young creatives attending the fourth annual Creative LIAisons program. Creative LIAisons (formerly known as ‘Creative Conversations’) runs concurrently with the LIA judging in Las Vegas and is LIA's way of giving back to the industry. This mentoring program is fully funded by LIA, encompassing travel, accommodations, rewarding speaker presentations, a peek into the statue deliberations and various networking opportunities with jurors and speakers in a relaxed social setting. 

Merrifield comments: "I can't ever remember attending an award show that didn't talk about the future and how they're giving the world a glimpse of it. One show is going beyond the rhetoric: LIA. Their Creative LIAisons is rather unique and could well end up doing more good for the future of our industry than the efforts of larger shows. They spend a great deal of time and money on the very people who'll be creating that future: one hundred of the world's brightest young creatives.

"LIA pays for them to fly to Vegas during the show's judging. They house them, feed them and inundate them with a week of inspiration. If only we were so lucky way back when! These passionate young creatives even get a chance to sit in and watch the juries deliberate the metal rounds. They're sworn to secrecy during the proceedings and get to question and comment after the fact. It's brilliant. Hats off to the dedicated folks behind the scenes making it happen. Any and all of us should support this show as much as we can."

Based in Singapore, Merrifield joined Google in late 2012 as Chief Creative Officer for Asia-Pacific and leads a team that is hubbed in Singapore, Tokyo and Sydney. He has won multiple gold lions at Cannes, multiple gold pencils at the One Show, the grand prix and multiples golds at the Clios, twice best of show alongside multiple golds at AdFest, multiple golds at Spikes Asia, multiple golds at AWARD and the ADC prize in Tokyo.

Merrifield is the only person to ever be named Asia’s Creative of the Year twice, in 2004 and 2008, and has been asked to judge and speak at almost every major award show on the planet.

The LIA 2015 Entry System is now accepting entries through August. Judging will take place from 1st October to 10th October. The shortlists will be announced as each judging session concludes, with winners being announced 10th November. For more information on submissions and eligibility please click here.