MAD STARS 2026 CONFIRMS EXECUTIVE JURY LINEUP Five global experts to lead a jury of 350+ with global entries still open
MAD STARS has confirmed its Executive Jury lineup for 2026, bringing together five of the most accomplished and influential figures across global marketing, advertising and creative industries.
The Executive Jury will lead a judging process that ensures awarded work is evaluated with rigour and reflects evolving standards in creativity, effectiveness and innovation.
Newly joining the Executive Jury are Anny Havercroft, Global Head of Product MarComs at TikTok, and Sandipan Bhattacharyya, Chief Creative Officer at Monks. They join previously announced members Raja Rajamannar, Senior Fellow, Former Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at Mastercard; Tara McKenty, Chief Creative Officer at AKQA Australia & New Zealand; and Aurora Straton, Creative Lead at Google.
Together, they represent the next generation of leadership in global marketing and creative innovation.
A Rigorous, Multi-Stage Judging Process
The Executive Jury will lead a jury of more than 350 professionals from 75 locations, representing brands, agencies, digital content, media and innovation sectors.
The judging will proceed in three phases:
• Preliminary Judging: 1 – 15 July 2026 (Online)• Final Judging 1st Round: 24 July – 6 August 2026 (Online) • Final Judging 2nd & Last Round: 24 August 2026 (On-site in Busan)
The process is designed to ensure consistency and depth in evaluation across categories.
The Executive Jury will oversee each stage to ensure the highest standards of evaluation.
Introducing the Executive Jury
Anny Havercroft is a global marketing leader with extensive experience in product marketing and communications across leading digital platforms and media organizations.
As Global Head of Product MarComs at TikTok, she leads initiatives that educate, inspire, and connect businesses with TikTok’s products and ecosystem, supporting brands in leveraging the platform’s creative and commercial capabilities across global markets.
She is recognized for connecting brands with platform-driven marketing and for translating complex product capabilities into effective global communications.
Before TikTok, she held senior leadership roles at Yahoo and WPP, where she led digital transformation initiatives and developed integrated marketing strategies across the UK and Australia.
Beyond her corporate role, she serves on advisory boards, including SXSW Sydney, and actively mentorsfemale entrepreneurs to support innovation and leadership across the business community.
Her appointment reflects MAD STARS’ focus on the intersection of platform innovation, marketing effectiveness and global business impact.
Sandipan Bhattacharyya is one of the most highly awarded creative leaders in Asia-Pacific, with over 24 years of experience across global agency networks including Saatchi & Saatchi, BBDO and GREY.
He has played a key role in shaping some of India’s most iconic campaigns and led the transformation of GREY South Asia’s creative capabilities by integrating data, technology and creativity across the consumer journey. He is widely recognized for his leadership in delivering impactful work across global markets.
Under his leadership, GREY was ranked among the top creative agencies in India by Campaign Brief Asia, The One Club Global Rankings and the Cannes Global Creativity Report. He also led the agency to win India’s first Entertainment Lion and its first D&AD Yellow Pencil.
Currently Chief Creative Officer at Monks, he leads creative output across the agency’s portfolio, working with both Indian and global brands while advancing the integration of technology and creativity.
His work has earned more than 120 international and regional awards, and he has served on juries at leading global advertising festivals.
His campaigns for P&G Gillette, including ‘Barbershop Girls’ and ‘Man Enough’, have garnered over 110 million views globally and are recognized among the brand’s most defining work.
With his appointment, MAD STARS reinforces its dedication to creativity driven by innovation and technology.
Raja Rajamannar, Senior Fellow, Former Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at Mastercard, is widely recognized as one of the most influential global marketing leaders of the past decade. During his 12-year tenure at Mastercard, he helped transform the company into one of the fastest-growing global brands by integrating emerging technologies, advanced data analytics and inclusive design.
His participation further strengthens the festival’s mission to recognize work that advances creative standards while delivering tangible cultural and business impact at scale.
Aurora Straton is a Creative Lead at Google with more than 20 years of experience across the global creative industry, including over a decade within Google’s innovation ecosystem.
She is known for bridging creativity and technology to develop work grounded in human insight, and for championing the role of technology as a driver of meaningful and positive change.
Her presence signals a strategic pivot toward platform-driven creativity and the evolving role of technology in shaping how brands connect with audiences globally.
Tara McKenty is Chief Creative Officer at AKQA Australia & New Zealand, leading creative direction across the region.
Her work is defined by the integration of technology, craft and effectiveness, driving work that balances innovation with measurable impact.
By bringing her on board, MAD STARS showcases its drive to celebrate the synergy between creativity, technology and real-world effectiveness.
Entries Open as Early Bird Deadline Approaching
Following the confirmation of its Executive Jury lineup, MAD STARS 2026 continues to accept entries from around the world, with submissions currently in the Early Bird phase.
Entry Timeline (All times in KST)
1st deadline (Early Bird): 8 May 2026
2nd deadline (Regular): 29 May 2026
Final deadline: 15 June 2026
MAD STARS invites work that demonstrates creative excellence and real-world effectiveness in a rapidly evolving marketing landscape shaped by technology and innovation.
Entries can be submitted via www.madstars.org.
Under this year’s theme, “AMPLIFY,” MAD STARS 2026 will take place from 26 to 28 August in Busan, South Korea, showcasing ideas and creative innovation that amplify potential and expand impact across marketing and communications.