Dadis 2015 launches with new categories and Virgin Media, Visa and Bacardi among judging panel

The awards cover all areas of digital and this year two new categories have been introduced to recognise the best uses of branded content and data, acknowledging the increasingly important role each is playing in the digital marketing mix.

Rhona Bradshaw, director of digital at Virgin Media; Andy Donaldson, senior digital manager at Visa Europe and Nick Stewart, global head of digital at Bacardi will be among the judges presiding over this year’s entries, with the panel once again chaired by Podge founder Phil Jones.

Of his involvement Jones commented: “One of my highlights of the year is chairing the Dadis. It’s a bit like being the England football team manager where I get to choose the best players from each club and put together a team of worldbeaters (well, let’s change England for Brazil, but you know what I mean).

“Some of the biggest names in the industry come together once a year to judge the work submitted and to bring smiles to the faces of the winning agencies at the big awards evening in October.”

And on the night Shazam will be revealing the winner of the UK Top Shazamed Ads Chart which runs on The Drum website each week.

Joanna Betes, marketing manager EMEA at headline sponsor Workfront, said: “Workfront (formerly known as AtTask) are excited to be sponsoring this year’s Dadis, to help support the UK creative industry in recognising some of its top talent.”

Recognising the vibrancy of the UK’s digital scene, 2014 was the biggest year in the Dadis’ history with a record number of attendees and entries.

For details on how to enter this year, visit the newly launched dadiawards.com website. Entries close on 5 June.