ALONE announced as the charity
ALONE announced as the charity

ALONE Ireland, the incredibly hard-working organisation that 'support older people to age at home,' were announced as the charity at Cannes Grey Lions launch at the Teeling Whiskey Distillery.

ALONE pitched their brief to the competitors - all advertising, marketing and media professionals over the age of 50 who spent the following 48 hours formulating their creative campaign idea for charity.

This inaugural Cannes Grey Lions initiative by IAPI, sponsored by Standard Life, was brought about to highlight and tackle ageism in the industry. The winning entry, selected by a panel of judges, will receive a full-pass and expenses-paid trip to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, 2020.

The judges have now selected a shortlist who will now go on to present their creative idea to the jury...

Congratulations to the 6 shortlisted entries:
Congratulations to the 6 shortlisted entries:
  • Adrian Fitz-Simon, Havas
  • Michael Walsh & Gerry Kennedy, Bloom
  • Steve Payne & Simon Richards, RichardsDee
  • Thomas Ryan & Sean Boyle, In the Company of Huskies
  • Mark Nutley & Dave Kelly, Goosebump
  • Brian Carolan & Terry Pattison, PHD Media; Publicis

The shortlisted will present to the judges on Monday, 14th October and we would like to wish all of them the very best of luck!

Madeleine Morris on Cannes Grey Lions
Madeleine Morris on Cannes Grey Lions

Madeleine Morris, Founder of the Society of Very Senior Creatives, Cannes Grey Lion judge and massive supporter of this initiative is on a mission to "raise the profile of how brilliant the over 50s are and how undervalued they are."

"The fact that only 6.2% of advertising employees are over 50 is evidence that older people are most definitely not valued in Adland. That’s 6.2% across all the departments. So, the percentage of creatives over 50 is tiny."

Madeleine’s article, ‘Why we need Cannes Grey Lions,’ was published this week in the Marketing Society, where she outlines why she believes the new Cannes Grey Lions is such a good idea, as it will:

1. raise awareness

2. stamp on stereotypes

3. encourage creative comebacks

4. celebrate being over 50

5. encourage change

6. ‘Draw attention to age as an Unlimiting factor’

Madeleine goes through these 6 points in more detail in her brilliant piece - check it out here.

Madeleine Morris speaking at Cannes Grey Lions
Madeleine Morris speaking at Cannes Grey Lions
Check out our video from the inaugural Cannes Grey Lions launch 2019
Check out our video from the inaugural Cannes Grey Lions launch 2019