The Stevie® Awards (www.StevieAwards.com), organizers of the world's premier business awards programs, and AD STARS (www.adstars.org), one of Korea’s major international advertising festivals, signed a memo of understanding (MOU) on June 2 to mutually expand their influence in the Asian region and global markets.
The Stevie Awards receive more than 10,000 entries each year to their seven awards programs from companies and organizations in more than 60 nations. Among the programs are the prestigious International Business Awards®, American Business Awards®, and the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards. This year marks the 11th anniversary of AD STARS, which aims to grow the reach of its international advertising festival beyond Asia. The annual festivals serves as a platform to share diverse creative solutions including digital marketing and advertising. The two organizations are planning to cooperate in various areas to help each other host international events through this strategic partnership.
The signing ceremony of the MOU, held at the Mira Hong Kong on June 2, was attended by AD STARS representatives: Advisor Eui-ja Lee, Chairperson Choi Hwan-jin; and Stevie Awards representatives: President Michael Gallagher, Communications Director for Asia Clara Im, President of the Stevie Awards Rep. in Korea Bae Seok-bong, Korea Business Communicators Association President Kim Hungki and BRComm CEO Park Jong-sun.
"AD STARS has signed MOUs with a number of companies. But this case the MOU is between global awards programs, and we expect to create new synergy effects," said Choi Hwan-jin, Chairperson of AD STARS Executive Committee. "We will make a concerted effort to maintain close cooperation with the Stevie Awards because advertising and business outcomes are an inseparable relationship."
"I am very pleased to have a signing ceremony of the MOU with AD STARS in Hong Kong, where the fifth Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards were held," says Stevie Awards President Michael Gallagher. "I think through this MOU, we can meet more business communicators in the Asia-Pacific region, which is emerging as a new axis in the global economy. I also look forward to contributing to helping AD STARS and its winners become more successful and recognized globally."
The two organizations are establishing cooperation channels in various areas, such as entry, observation, booth management, lecture, advertising and promotions, while planning promotional programs.