Havas Worldwide's Chris Johnson: Forty-year-old Cannes Virgin and loving it

I feel like the forty year old virgin. It’s my first time here at the festival of advertising in Cannes. People have told me over the years it’s a lot of hard work, a lot of networking, making sure clients are happy, reporting into regional chiefs and the rest of it. They are all lying. It’s nothing but fun. So far I’ve enjoyed a lot of lunches, met a lot of lovely people from all around the world, caught up with old friends, drunk enormous volumes of Rose and had not much sleep.

As always the Australian contingent seems to be punching above its weight with many shortlisted entries in Direct, Outdoor, PR, Mobile and Promo. Great to see as a proud Aussie. My agency is even continuing its great run here which makes the trip even more special. It’s not often your at an incredibly picturesque lunch in the hills outside of Cannes and you receive a phone call saying you must attend the ceremony tonight because you have won a gold lion. I dare say there might be a few more roses on the cards tonight.