The first Dubai Lynx Advertising Person of the Year Award has been awarded to Joseph Ghossoub for his outstanding work in promoting the Middle East’s advertising and media industry globally.

In his role as President and CEO of The Holding Group (THG) and also as outgoing Chairman and World President of the International Advertising Association, Joseph has been one of the sector’s most prominent champions.

He will be honoured at the 2nd Dubai Lynx Awards Dinner & Ceremony to be held on 2 April, the final evening of the 1st Dubai International Advertising Festival.

An annual Advertising Person of the Year Award will be introduced by the Dubai International Advertising Festival; based that person's efforts that have lifted the profile of the region in the international marketing community.

“This is an important award as it will reflect the need to drive a territory as a place of excellence and advancement in the creative and marketing arena,” commented Philip Thomas, Cannes Lions CEO, organisers of the Dubai Lynx Festival.

The first recipient of the award will be announced in two weeks' time and the trophy will be presented on 2 April during the 2nd Dubai Lynx Awards Ceremony.

In line with the theme of this year’s Festival – Learn to Win – which reflects the organisers desire to facilitate via the event the lifting of the creative bar and to advance creativity in the region, it was also announced at the press conference that Dubai Media City will sponsor 20 Academy students to attend the 1st Dubai Lynx Festival allowing them to benefit from the great learning opportunity the event will provide.

Commenting on the student sponsorship, Mohamed Al Mulla, Director of Dubai Media City, said, “These are advertising, marketing and communication students who are still in tertiary education and The Dubai Lynx Academy programme is all about developing the youth of the region and to enable them to understand and be enthused by Great Creativity - in fact, ‘Learn to Win’. At the Festival, these students will be able to draw inspiration by seeing the best work produced in the MENA region and listen first hand to global industry leaders.”