global launchpad kicks off in shanghai for future … china group park2space, 4th floor, building 2,...

DDB China Group

Park2Space, 4th Floor, Building 2, 169 Mengzi Road, Luwan District, China, 200023 China Tel: (8621) 6151 3300 Website: www.ddbchina.com

Global LaunchPad Kicks Off in Shanghai for Future Bernbachs

Date 4 February 2013 Location China

Shanghai – DDB Group Shanghai is pleased to announce the launch of LaunchPad for Future

Bernbachs, our inaugural 2013 talent development program for young graduates or soon-to-be

graduates. This is part of DDB’s global LaunchPad talent development program that is also

being rolled out across 13 other participating agencies: DDB offices in New York, Sydney,

Singapore, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco, Dubai, Istanbul, Helsinki, Johannesburg, Berlin,

Sao Paolo and Buenos Aires.

Amir Kassaei, Chief Creative Officer of DDB Worldwide said, “This marks the very first Class of

2013 as a key initiative for our Global Creative Hub here in Shanghai. Our focus is clearly on

training and providing a hands-on application to help budding creatives differentiate themselves

in this very competitive industry. I am grateful to my own mentors that helped me break into the

advertising industry and I echo our founder, Bill Bernbach’s words, “The people who are going

to be in business tomorrow are the people who understand that the future, as always, belongs

to the brave.”

DDB China Group

Park2Space, 4th Floor, Building 2, 169 Mengzi Road, Luwan District, China, 200023 China Phone: (8621) 6151 3300 Website: www.ddbchina.com

2

Our Future Bernbachs are lovin’ it!

The program is designed to help young talents get their first job in the industry and is a

testament to the agency’s commitment to bridging the gap between classroom education and

hands-on application, helping budding talent differentiate themselves within the competitive

advertising industry.

There are currently 28 Future Bernbachs on their three months LaunchPad internship in the

Shanghai office. They consist of a mix of locals from Tier 1 Shanghai to Tier 2 cities in Hefei,

Tangshan, Ningbo, Nanchang, Suzhou, Wuxi, Hangzhou, and Qingdao to Tier 3 in Yinchuan,

Shaoxing and from Tier 4 in Hainan. One international intern hails from Australia. Participating

local universities include: Shanghai LIxin University, Shanghai University, East China Normal

University, Tongji University, Shanghai Art & Design Academy, Shanghai University of Science

DDB China Group


3

and Technology, Shanghai JIanqiao University, China Academy of Art. Participants also

include graduates and undergraduates from Central Saint Martin College of Art & Design

London, Michigan State University and The University of Sydney.

“It’s in our nature and passion to nurture young talent and create a culture of inspired creativity.

DDB’s DNA and philosophy is always about Creativity. We believe creativity can come from

any discipline; be it creative, account, planning or data. This is not your typical run-of-the-mill

internship program, but one that is structured yet filled with creativity aimed to bring the best

out of each intern,” says Jimmy Lam, Vice-Chairman and Chief Creative officer of DDB Group

North China.

At DDB Shanghai’s Town Hall, Jimmy opened with warm and encouraging words to welcome

our Future Bernbachs on 29 January. Each Future Bernbach was given a t-shirt with ‘Hot Stuff’

on the front, ‘Future Bernbach’ and a unique, personal number at the back.

DDB China Group


4

“LaunchPad could not be a better head start for DDB’s Future Bernbachs where they bring their

energies, enthusiasm and fresh creativity to the teams here, and in return get mentorship and

inspiration from their respective immediate supervisors plus senior management team. We are

excited that the Shanghai program format is also being considered to other DDB offices such

as Dubai,” said Richard Tan, President and CEO of DDB Group North China.

Hermione Li, Future Bernbach with number 11 on the back of her T-shirt shared, “LaunchPad is

very inspiring and provides me the opportunity to meet with so many talented peers and

mentors. I am proud to be one of the first Future Bernbachs in Shanghai. What I like most is

that DDB is all about Creativity, and every one of us gets a chance to shine here.”

DDB China Group


5

LaunchPad Graduates Now Rising Stars of DDB

Past LaunchPad graduates, Matthew Knapp and John Downing had their first break in

advertising through DDB Sydney’s LaunchPad program in 2007. They recently moved to DDB

New York as Senior Art Director and Senior Copywriter. Matt and John’s work have been

recognized in major award shows such as Clio Awards, New York Festivals, Young Gun,

Cannes and One Show for McDonald’s and Telstra. Their career advice shared with

Shanghai’s Future Bernbachs: “Don’t worry about whether creative teams are busy or not. Just

go and talk to them. They will always have time for you. As cliché as it sounds, the more you

put into it, the more you get out. You have three months. It flies. Don’t waste a single day. Be

the hardest worker. Do something memorable.”

***

DDB China Group


6

About DDB China Group

DDB China Group http://www.ddbchina.com is united behind our founder, Bill Bernbach's belief that creativity is the most powerful force in business. Today, we use this creativity to develop ideas that people want to play with, participate in, and pass on. We call this social creativity. DDB China Group comprises DDB, DDB Guoan, Tribal DDB and RAPP with offices in Shanghai and Beijing. The agency is one of the most awarded agencies across Greater China, leading in creativity and effectiveness. The Global Effie Effectiveness Index ranks us the number one most effective agency office in Greater China 2012 and Campaign Asia Pacific has consistently placed the agency in the top of the Greater China Agency of the Year Awards.

*** About DDB DDB Worldwide (www.ddb.com) is one of the world’s largest and most awarded advertising and marketing networks. In 2012, DDB was named Advertising Network of the Year by Campaign, as well as Agency of the Year and Digital Agency of the Year by Strategy magazine. At the prestigious 2012 Cannes International Festival of Creativity, DDB won 82 Lions, the most ever for the network. In addition, The Gunn Report has listed DDB as one of the Top 3 Global Networks for the last 12 years. The agency’s clients include Volkswagen, McDonald’s, Unilever, Mars, Johnson & Johnson, and Exxon Mobil, among others. Founded in 1949, DDB is part of the Omnicom Group (NYSE) and consists of more than 200offices in over 90 countries with its flagship office in New York, NY. *** For more information please contact: Michelle Tan Director of Communications & Knowledge Management, DDB China Group Direct: (86 21) 6151 3653 Email: [email protected]

global launchpad kicks off in shanghai for future … china group park2space, 4th floor, building 2,...

Documents