Cannes Lions has named Jim Stengel as the inaugural recipient of the Lions Laureate for Marketing, a newly introduced honour celebrating individuals whose vision and influence have transformed the marketing profession and elevated creative marketing as a catalyst for business growth.
A marketing leader with a career spanning more than 30 years, Stengel is best known for his seven-year tenure as Global Marketing Officer at Procter & Gamble, where he helped shape contemporary marketing leadership. In 2003, he brought the first major client-side marketing delegation to Cannes Lions, contributing significantly to the Festival’s evolution into a global platform for marketers, brand builders and business leaders.
Beyond his corporate accomplishments, Stengel has spent nearly two decades nurturing future marketing talent through mentorship, teaching and authorship. He served as Dean of the inaugural Cannes Lions Creative Academy for Marketers in 2011 and went on to establish the CMO Accelerator Programme in 2013, an initiative that continues to develop senior marketing leaders. Stengel will deliver the first-ever Lions Laureate Seminar at the Debussy Theatre on 25 June before formally receiving the honour at the Cannes Lions Awards Show later that evening.
Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said: “Jim’s influence extends far beyond the marketing functions and organisations he has led. Through his leadership, mentorship, and unwavering belief in the power of creative marketing, he has shaped the thinking and careers of marketers across generations. His impact on our industry is both profound and enduring, not only through the brands and businesses he has helped build, but through the leaders he has inspired and developed along the way. We are delighted to recognise Jim as the inaugural Lions Laureate – for Marketing. I can think of no one more deserving of this honour, nor anyone who better embodies what it stands for.”
On being made aware of this honour, Jim Stengel said: “I am deeply honoured. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to learn from extraordinary colleagues, partners, and friends, and this recognition is really a reflection of those relationships. I have always believed that creativity is one of the most powerful forces for growth in business and positive impact in the world. If I have contributed anything along the way, I hope it has been encouraging marketers to think a little bigger about the role they can play, the value they can create, and the difference they can make. For that, and for the many people who have shaped my journey, I am profoundly grateful.”
