TBWA\HAKUHODO's Chris Iki Named to 2026 APAC Effie Awards Jury

TBWA\HAKUHODO Chief Operating Officer Chris Iki has been confirmed as a jury member for the 2026 APAC Effie Awards, marking his fifth participation in the program. The announcement was made on March 6, 2026.

Iki Returns After Serving as 2024 Head of Jury

Iki's 2026 appointment follows his role as Head of Jury for the 2024 APAC Effie Awards, where he led the panel's evaluation process before returning as a member this cycle.

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His career spans more than 28 years in marketing communications, including eight years as Global Account Director for Nissan across 14 countries. He has also worked on global accounts including American Express, Visa, and Apple.

"What I value about the APAC Effies is that they celebrate ideas that truly make a difference, not just creatively, but in how they move brands and businesses forward," Iki said. "Each year, I'm reminded that creativity and effectiveness must go hand in hand."

TBWA\HAKUHODO's Disruption® methodology, the agency's core strategic framework, is cited as the foundation of Iki's approach to evaluating marketing effectiveness.

2026 Jury Panel Draws From Client and Agency Leadership

The 2026 APAC Effie Awards jury is chaired by Danielle Jin, SVP and CMO of Visa Asia Pacific. Cheryl Goh, Group Head of Marketing, Sustainability, Loyalty and Support at Grab, and Dheeraj Sinha, CEO of McCann India, serve as Heads of Jury.

Jin also served as Head of Jury in 2024 alongside Iki, giving two of the panel's most senior figures direct prior experience leading the same program together.

The APAC Effie Awards program is now in its 13th year. Effie Worldwide operates more than 60 programs globally since its founding in 1968. The awards require entrants to submit documented proof of business results, including sales growth and market share gains, distinguishing them from creative-only recognition programs.

Program Roadshows and Past Winners Set 2026 Benchmark

The 2026 APAC Effie roadshows were held in Bangkok, Jakarta, and Ho Chi Minh City between January and February 2026. The sessions shared frameworks from past award-winning campaigns to guide this year's entrants.

VinFast's "VF3: From Hype to History in 66 Hours" was featured as a model case. The campaign won two Golds and two Bronzes at the 2025 APAC Effie Awards, demonstrating the type of time-bound, documented business impact the jury is tasked with identifying.

Football Australia's "Til It's Done" campaign won the 2025 Grand Effie, the program's highest honor, setting the evidentiary standard the 2026 jury will apply when assessing entries.

Timeline and Next Steps

The 2026 APAC Effie Awards Last Chance entry deadline falls on March 9, 2026. Judging is scheduled for April through May 2026, with the Gala set for September 2026.