Leo Premutico, co-founder and chief creative officer of advertising agency Johannes Leonardo, has been appointed chair of judges for the 40th AWARD Awards.

AWARD, the Australasian Writers and Art Directors Association, powered by The Communications Council, is a non-political, non-profit organisation that aims to set standards of creative excellence, to promote creativity in the business arena, and to educate and inspire the next creative generation.

Premutico’s list of accomplishments include being named best young creative UK by Campaign Magazine, receiving the Ansett Encouragement Award for Young Creative of the Year and becoming youngest-ever ECD at Saatchi & Saatchi New York, Leo co-founded Johannes Leonardo at just 29 years of age.

In 2018, the independent New York-based agency was ranked in the top four of America’s top 10 advertising agencies by Ad Age.

Premutico has twice been featured in Creativity’s 50 Most Influential People, and his Tide ‘Talking Stain’ commercial was nominated as one of the top twenty Super Bowl ads of all time.

AWARD chair Mike Spirkovski said of the appointment: “We are excited to welcome Aussie expat Leo Premutico as our chair of judges for the 40th AWARD Awards.

“Leo’s experience, influence and impressive body of work made him a natural choice for the role, and we look forward to hearing from one of industry’s most highly regarded and awarded creatives”.

 

Premutico added: “If someone told me when I was pounding the pavements, portfolio in hand, that I’d chair AWARD one day I’d have laughed at them.

 

“To me, AWARD is so much bigger than an award show. It’s a reminder that ideas will always be our most powerful business tool. Proof that a love for what you do will always prevail over inexperience and self-doubt.

“But most importantly, AWARD is a community of people very generous with their time because they themselves experienced first-hand the difference encouragement and guidance can make as you’re coming up through the ranks”.