In a historic first for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Dana Tahir, CEO of HAVAS Red Middle East, has been named Jury President for the PR Lions category. Tahir becomes the first Arab woman from the MENA region to serve as Jury President in the festival's history.

"This is a meaningful moment, both personally and for the wider industry," Tahir said of her appointment. "It's encouraging to see perspectives shaped in the MENA region increasingly contributing to global conversations around creativity, culture, and impact. The region has long been rich in talent and ideas, and it's rewarding to see that reflected on an international stage."

The Cannes Lions will take place from 22-26 June in Cannes, France. The festival remains the premier global gathering for creative communications professionals, celebrating excellence across advertising, marketing, and PR. The PR Lions category offers an opportunity to showcase campaigns that have driven measurable business impact through earned media, strategic communication, and reputation management. Entries are open to work that launched or ran between February 2025 and April 2026.

As to what Tahir is looking for when it comes to the awards, she said: "I look forward to working with an exceptional jury to recognise PR work that pushes boundaries, shapes reputation, and sets new standards for meaningful creative impact." 

Regional pride, global standards

Dany Naaman, CEO of HAVAS Middle East, said Tahir's selection is validation for the quality of leadership coming out of the region.

"Dana's selection as Jury President is a landmark moment for the PR industry in the Middle East. It speaks to the strength of leadership emerging from the region and the growing role it plays in shaping global industry standards."

Global CEO of HAVAS Red and Chairman of HAVAS PR Network, James Wright, echoed the sentiment. "Dana's selection reflects the growing importance of leaders who can navigate culture, creativity, and impact with equal fluency. Shaped by her experience in the MENA region, her perspective is both grounded and globally relevant."

For those looking to enter the prestigious awards, more information can be found here.

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