Observed Signal · Apr 21, 2026 · Judging Panel Announcement · Source: ExchangeWire · Impact: 1/5 · Sentiment: Positive
ExchangeWire Names Final Judges for The Wires 2026
ExchangeWire has revealed the final judging panel for The Wires 2026 and summarised what judges will be looking for in entries. The panel includes senior brand, agency and publisher figures who emphasise creativity anchored in measurable commercial outcomes, cultural relevance, strong strategic thinking and thoughtful execution. Judges highlighted ethical uses of AI, proof of AI in practice rather than theory, robust measurement and attribution (noting CTV measurement interest), and the importance of human-centred insight. The announcement names individual judges and captures their evaluation criteria ahead of The Wires awards submission period and ceremony.
Announcement of The Wires 2026 judging panel and criteria highlights industry preferences (AI ethics, measurement, CTV) useful for entrants and practitioners but is a routine awards-related update with limited market impact.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- ExchangeWire revealed the final judging panel for The Wires 2026 awards.
- Named judges include Steve Challouma (Consumer, Brand and Commercial Strategy, Freelance), Poonam Lakhani (Regional Strategy Director, UM Worldwide), Adip Agarwal (Global Brand Director - Malts & Irish, Brown-Forman), Fran Hale (Senior Director, Ad Sales & Brand Partnerships, EMEA & APAC, Moonbug) and Nick Walsh (Founder & CEO, Migrate).
- Judges said winning entries should combine ingenuity and originality with clear strategic thinking, measurable commercial impact and cultural relevance.
- Panel members emphasised ethical use of AI, demonstrating AI in action (not just theory), stronger measurement/attribution (including CTV) and the continued importance of human creativity.
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The Wires 2026 Announces New Judging Panel
ExchangeWire has revealed the newest members of The Wires 2026 judging panel as the awards reach their tenth year. The panel spans EMEA, APAC, MENA and the US and includes senior media, agency and commerce leaders from organisations such as Publicis Groupe, Spark Foundry, SG retail, Carwow Group, Omnicom for Philips, UM Indonesia and Heroiks. Judges said they will prioritise entries demonstrating authentic storytelling, measurable business outcomes and clear use of technology — calling out practical AI, programmatic excellence, retail media innovation, robust measurement and first-party data use. Ieva Butenaite returns for a third year. The announcement frames this year’s awards as focused on demonstrable impact, creative rigour and real-world commercial value rather than hype alone.
Judges Reveal Criteria for The Wires 2026 Awards
ExchangeWire published judges' perspectives for The Wires 2026 awards, collecting criteria that the jury will use to evaluate entries. Judges from IBM, UM Qatar, Currys, Marriott International and independent consultancy emphasize clarity of purpose, innovative and outcome-driven use of data and AI, measurable business results, human-centric design, and responsible AI governance. They seek work that blends creativity with operational efficiency, demonstrates scalability and market relevance, and reflects cultural nuance and cross-functional collaboration. The piece is intended to guide submissions and highlights the awards' focus on measurable, trustworthy, and ethically designed marketing and technology work.
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