On the ground in Cannes: Editors' diary

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MONDAY, JUNE 17

Visit to the IPG Mediabrands villa, 3.30pm

Stopped by the IPG Mediabrands villa for an off-the-record chat with UM global CEO Daryl Lee to get the lowdown on his vision and future developments.

P&G and Thrive launch new partnership to encourage 'habit stacking', 2.45pm

Marc Pritchard, chief brand officer at P&G, said the partnership would link P&G's goal of making everyday life better to the aims of Thrive Global, a project started by Arianna Huffington designed to end the stress and burnout epidemic. 

L-r: Gayle King, co-host of CBS This Morning, Marc Pritchard of P&G, Ashley Miles, global chief business officer of Thrive Global and Bozoma Saint John, CMO of Endeavor

Giving examples of habit stacking Bozoma Saint John, CMO of Endeavor, described reciting an "affirmation" every day when she does something small like putting on deodorant or brushing her teeth. "Sometimes I say something to help build me up, like when I've got out on wrong side of bed," she said. "I say 'I'm really strong' or 'I'm really dope’ or ‘I'm badass today’." 

Rankin interview: 'Quitting harmful social made me more creative', 1.35pm

We caught up with Rankin after his session — in this interview he speaks about rediscovering the 'joy of missing out', boredom and greater creativity when he gave up his social media accounts. 

World-renowned photographer Rankin speaks about the dangers of social media on mental health, 11.00am:

Instagram was an “endless, scrolling back hole” that he found he had become “obsessive” about, says @rankinphoto in a session exploring imagery and #mentalhealth at #CannesLions2019 pic.twitter.com/4hJaM2huBI

— Olivia Parker (@OliveClare) June 17, 2019

Interview with Philip Morris COO, 1.00pm

Headed down to the ‘Open Mic Lounge’, Philip Morris International’s splashy Cannes beach house.  No PMI, Marlboro or even IQOS branding to be found however. Sat down with PMI’s COO Jacek Olczak to hear about why it’s so important for them to engage the creative community at Cannes, to get their story out. Read Robert Sawatzky’s full article soon. 

PMI talks about smoking alternatives, and brings out Wyclef Jean so you'll listen, 11.15am

If there’s one company trying to make a big splash at Cannes… yet again this year, it’s Philip Morris International.  Ironically, they’re trying to do so without putting their brand out there visibly. 

At this this session on Monday morning, PMI trotted out rapper Wyclef Jean to bring in a crowd to the Terrace Stage.  The crowd heard a very awkward panel that tried to weave the smoking alternatives message of PMI scientist Moira Gilchrist with Jean’s life story… that had nothing to do with smoking at all. 

China delegates caught out by France's continued reliance on cash, 10.15am

Kiki Fan at Cannes

Speaking in the first Palais session of the day, Kiki Fan, general manager of China's Tencent Marketing Solutions, related that when she arrived in Cannes late last night, she and her colleagues went out for a drink without taking any cash or credit cards with them. "This vividly illustrates that China has totally become a cashless market," Fan said.

Nick Law kicks off the stage sessions, 10:00 am 

Nick Law, chief creative officer at Publicis Groupe and president of Publicis Communications was the first to take the stage in the Palais on Monday.  His self-described ‘rant’ was about putting creatives back in control, by making sure they’re working as product people, not idea people. “We’ve got to stop doing stunts and start building capabilities,”  he said.

See Campaign's video with Nick Law here. 

Inside the Palais, 9.30am

Best posters so far - getting their #CannesLions2019 sessions out there pic.twitter.com/PKnmBtE3W5

— Olivia Parker (@OliveClare) June 17, 2019

Cannes is red carpet ready - almost, 9.15am

The red carpet, we can confirm, is sunglass-worthy bright. Looking glorious as it is rolled out down the famous Cannes steps this morning. 

SUNDAY, JUNE 16

Prepping the beach, 4:30pm

It always amazes how the beachfront along the Croisette is transformed so quickly. These workers were feverishly building in the hot sun on Sunday afternoon.  By Monday morning the beach houses were all built. 

Overheard at Cannes, 2.30pm

"We're gonna blow Nielsen out of the water!" 

The company whose employee made this enthusiastic exclamation shall remain nameless—we don't want to see a fight. (Not on the first day, anyway).