The organisers of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity have announced a new individual award - 'Creative Champion of the Year'.

The first recipient of the award will be Shantanu Narayen, chairperson and CEO, Adobe.

The award is given to individuals and organisations in recognition of their long-term and meaningful contribution to providing creative people with the tools they need to truly express themselves.

Philip Thomas, chairperson, Lions, said, “While human imagination is almost boundless, turning visionary ideas into reality depends on partners who provide innovative tools, cutting-edge technologies, and bold collaborations. This new honour is dedicated to individuals or organisations that have not only innovated but have profoundly understood and supported the needs of creative people, driving the creative agenda across industries and around the globe.”

He added, “As we reflected on who should receive this inaugural Award, Adobe and Shantanu’s leadership stood out. Adobe has redefined how the world approaches creative expression, and Shantanu’s vision and dedication to enabling creativity in its many forms have empowered millions of people to imagine, create and achieve more than they ever thought possible. We’re delighted to be honouring Shantanu as our inaugural creative champion.”

According to a note from the Lions team, Adobe has democratised creativity across categories, enabling more creators to advance their craft and accelerate their success through technology. 

Narayen said: “It is truly an honour to be acknowledged by an organisation that has been instrumental in fostering creative excellence in advertising and marketing for over seven decades. This award is a celebration of the incredible team at Adobe whose passion, ingenuity and dedication have enabled us to deliver ground-breaking technology that expands opportunities for more people everywhere to bring their creativity to life.”

Narayen will be presented with the award on 17 June. He will be giving a keynote on 18 June.