Haddad urges the ad industry to regain its value

The Dubai Lynx Advertising Person of the Year 2013 was awarded to Roy Haddad, WPP director for MENA.
The award is presented to an individual who has made significant contribution to advancing the reputation and profile of the advertising communications industry in the Middle East and North Africa.
Presenting the award, Terry Savage, chairman of Cannes Lions, said: “Roy Haddad has worked tirelessly and motivated all those around him to achieve great success, introducing many industry-wide initiatives that have radically transformed standards in the business for the benefit of the entire region.”
Accepting his award, Haddad expressed his satisfaction with the exponential growth in the industry over the years and of WPP Group CEO Sir Martin Sorrell’s unfailing belief in the Middle East.
He also spoke of the exciting time the industry is experiencing and that the future will prove to be even greater.
He reminded the audience of communication professionals that, in our “world of parity the difference in communication can only come from the creative idea” adding “we have all the tools we need to make that happen.”
Speaking to more than 1,800 guests at the Dubai Lynx gala dinner, Haddad clearly indicated how the industry could regain its value and self respect “We help create the most valuable asset on the balance sheet: Brand Equity.”
Haddad summed up how agency depreciation had come about “The way we treat ideas. Nothing is more fragile than an idea but also nothing is stronger. All that is required is a little bit of courage and a leap of faith … data deluge and paralysis by analysis is not the solution. It is not about logic or magic, it is both, fueled by intuition for real decision making.”