Cannes Lions organisers react to last year's tragedy with release of road safety campaign for delegates featuring Sir John Hegarty, Cindy Gallop, Tham Khai Meng, Susan Credle & David Lubars
Following last year's road tragedy, the organisers of Cannes Lions have commissioned a poster campaign featuring advertising heavyweights such as Sir John Hegarty, Cindy Gallop, Susan Credle, David Lubars and Ogilvy & Mather's chief creative Tham Khai Meng to remind delegates to cross Le Croissette safely.
John Hegarty poster - picture by Julian Hanford
The poster campaign has been created by McCann London following the untimely death of Google employee James Howard on the busy roads during the festival last year and features some of the industry's most recognisable figures advising attendees to be careful. It plays on the reputation of each subject for being risk takers.
Hegarty's poster quotes him saying "I always take the safe route" while Gallop's advises "stay on the well trodden path".
Security around the festival is noticeably higher this year than in previous years with barriers placed around Le Palais and security placed on each entrance in reaction to terrorism concerns within France. Indeed unconfirmed rumours have reached The Drum that at least one major advertising network has pulled out of sending staff as a result of such concerns.
Major names appearing at the festival this year include Hollywood actors Will Smith, Channing Tatum, Gwyneth Paltrow, Samsung's Marc Mathieu, WPP chief Sir Martin Sorrell and Publicis Groupe boss Maurice Levy.
For more news from Cannes Lions keep tabs on The Drum's dedicated news feed from the festival.