NABS Announces Its Ten 2014 Centurions at Stranger Than Summer

NABS’ new annual flagship fundraising event Stranger Than Summer, the reincarnation of its Big Bash, took place last night. The industry event of the year wowed the audience with a star-studded line-up of entertainment including Stephen Mangan as host for the evening and Craig David as the headline act courtesy of Global Radio.

NABS also revealed its ten NABS Centurions, the second year it has recognised the industry’s remarkable and un-sung heroes. The newly-crowned Centurions were feted by a 900-strong gathering of advertising and media’s finest at The Artillery Garden at The HAC.

The Centurions were chosen by a judging panel of senior industry figures, which included NABS luminaries: Jeremy Bullmore (WPP), Simon Daglish (ITV), Phil Georgiadis (Walker Media), Rosemary Gorman (dmg media), Naren Patel (Primesight) Cilla Snowball (AMV BBDO) and Stevie Spring (BBC Children In Need).The panel studied the nominations to find the industry’s inspiring individuals; those who constantly go the extra mile, show an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to giving back.

Named as NABS Centurions were:

- Izabela Taseki, Barclays

- Karen Landles, Exterion

- Nick Hodgson, M&C Saatchi

- Nicky Bradley, Maxus

- Oliver Walters, Exterion

- Rosalind Lee, AMVBBDO

- Rubbi Bhogal-Wood, Primesight

- Sarah Kay, Leo Burnett

- Shona Melvin, BGL

- Sophie Turner, PSI

Rubbi Bhogal-Wood was named as the overall winner and received a grant of £2,000 from award sponsor Daily Mail Group to help further her career within the industry.

Stranger Than Summer represents an evolution of The NABS Big Bash as part of NABS’ ongoing mission to remain a modern and relevant support organisation within an ever-changing and evolving industry.

Guests dressed in their ‘strangest summer finery’ enjoyed mesmerising circus acts alongside a summer funfair complete with Ferris wheel, dodgems and traditional stalls, as well as global entertainment acts.

Zoë Osmond, CEO, NABS, said: “The NABS Big Bash has always been a night to remember, and our brilliant new Stranger Than Summer concept took entertainment to new levels, with a creative approach that was in keeping with our most creative of industries.

“But amongst all the celebration, it’s important to remember too that NABS exists to support everyone at every stage of their career. As a case in point, our Centurions initiative, now in its second year, recognises younger practitioners who’ve been identified by their peers as inspiring individuals, whose commitment to our advertising and media community extends well beyond their day jobs.”

The event raised over £90,000 with The Money Can’t Buy auction led by auctioneer for the night, the ever-energetic Marc Mendoza, raising over £55,000 with the audience bidding for prizes such as:

- A trip for two to the Googleplex in Mountain View, California

- A  chance to ride with the Team Sky cycling team at their European training ground

- An evening for two with the talkSPORT team at an England International game at Wembley this autumn.