• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, April 14, 2016

This year’s Cannes Lions Festival Of Creativity doesn’t begin for another two months but it’s already bestowed a couple of prestigious awards. 

Samsung Electronics will collect the coveted Creative Marketer of the Year award this year.  at Cannes Lions later this year. Also, a  few weeks ago the festival said that Brazilian ad executive  Marcello Serpa will receive the Lion of St Mark award in recognition for his contributions to creativity during his career. 

Samsung, the South Korean electronics giant, took home 27 Lions at last year’s festival and has won a total of 74 Lions since the Festival began. 

The Lions organization cited the company’s “Look At Me” campaign in 2015 (executed by Cheil Worldwide) as the kind of distinguishing work it looks for in determining its Marketer of the Year selection. 

“Look At Me,” collected five Lions and demonstrated the brand's customer-centric strategy by creating a mobile app that helps autistic children better interact with other people.  

Commenting on the Award, Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics, stated: “At Samsung, we know our products are about experiences – making life easier for consumers around the world…We believe our creative and bold approach to marketing captures that spirit in a unique and creative way.” 

Lee will receive the award on behalf of Samsung Electronics during the final Cannes Lions Awards Ceremony on Saturday 25 June.  

For Serpa, who has been with AlmapBBDO since 1993 the Lion of St Mark award is just the latest in a collection of Lions he has won over the years. He’s won more than 160 Lions during his career and is considered the most awarded art director in Brazil. His Lions include two Grand Prix for print campaigns in 1993 (Guarana) and 2010 (Billboard).