Hervé de Clerck

Hervé de Clerck

Founder at AdForum (Maydream)
Sierre, Switzerland

About me

Hervé founded Maydream in 1999 and launched Adforum.com as a Global Information and Resource Site for the Advertising Industry and have led it to be one of the world's most visited advertising website, the place to screen winning campaigns and the top destination for agency selection information. In 2013, Maydream acquired Epica, a leading european creative award and expanded it internationally.
He is also the initiator of ACT Responsible (Advertising Community Together) a non profit initiative whose aim is to show the positive role of advertising in today's world social and environmental issues.

Hervé has spent 15 years in the advertising industry: lately in the Havas Group, where he was member of the strategic committee and served as international director of Havas Intermediation, an advertising & media services company, CEO of IP France, the leading media sales house, President, CEO of Benton & Bowles France, now integrated in Leo Burnett (During his tenure the agency won the first ever French Grand Prix in Cannes) and Managing Director of Synapse, a consumer research company.
Hervé has also 10 years experience as an advertiser: COO of Lesieur, French competitor of Procter & Gamble and Unilever. He started his career as Brand Manager at Colgate-Palmolive.

In parallel, Herve has built HSM, a group of companies serving the marketing industry: Measina, a european marketing executive search firm, Marketing Mix, a trade magazine, Videotheque (now VT Scan) an agency search consultancy.

Hervé, French, graduated from ISC in Paris and Harvard Business School, Boston. He is a Vice President of the IAA - International Advertising Association and Chair of the Sustainability Global Council. He is also a French Foreign Trade Counselor. He is married to Christine, who is also his business partner; they are based in Switzerland, but spend most of their time world-commuting. They have two happily married daughters and six marvelous grandchildren scattered around the globe. 

Sector Experience

Positions

Dream Leader
Chalais, Switzerland
September 2001 - Present (23 years 2 months)
ACT Responsible is a Swiss-based not-for-profit organization created in 2001. For over 10 years, we have been gathering the best campaigns created by agencies all around the world to show that the Advertising industry is playing its role in today’ social and environmental issues.
The association mission is to federate the Advertising Communications industry around Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development and share good practices.

WHAT WE DO:
ACT Responsible is today the largest global source of content on the world’s best ads on social and environmental issues.
EURONEWS: A short program "One Minute of Responsibility" created in 2007 features public interest campaigns several times daily.
EVENTS: We produce conferences, projections and exhibitions for institutions, schools and companies to help their public to be aware of social and environmental issues and adopt responsible behaviors.
Founder
AdForum
November 1998 - Present (26 years)
With nearly half a million monthly users, AdForum.com is the leading information provider focused on the global advertising industry. Partner with the leading trade press worldwide, but also with the industry's top award shows, AdForum.com gathers information on 20,000 agencies and 150,000 campaigns (TV, print, interactive, etc.).

AdForum's Agency Gallery is used by advertisers, large and small, in the process of selecting a new agency or for other agency research needs.

AdForum's Creative Library is used daily by over thousands of industry professionals to keep on top of important creative work, prepare for client reviews and pitches, brainstorm new ideas and other creative research/monitoring needs.

AdForum originated out of Maydream, founded in 1999, with operations in New York, Paris and London.
Founder
Groupe HSM
1974 - 2016 (42 years)
(1974-2013): Maesina (formerly Self-Marketing), Marketing Executive Search, (Paris, London, Madrid, Milan)
(1989-2000): VT Scan (formerly Videotheque), Advertising Agency Selection (Paris)
MD/VP International
GROUPE HAVAS
1991 - June 1998 (7 years 5 months)
97- 98 VP International Director, Havas Intermediation
Despite a buying agreement with Katz Media Group, Havas decided to sell the company to RTL Groupe

91-96 : Directeur général IP France
Media sales operator selling on an exclusive basis the advertising space of sells of 2 TV channels, 6 Radio stations, 8 magazines and 52 inflight magazines.
Redefined totally the company strategy from a traditional radio dominated rep.house into a modern multimedia marketing company introducing audience oriented packages, multibrands salesforces, flexible pricerates. Led a strong lobbying effort and inspired a regulation ending the “black commissions” practices in the French media buying industry.
COO
Lesieur
1985 - 1991 (6 years)
88-91: Lesieur Alimentaire (French leader edible oil, Turnover USD 1bn, 2,000 employees, 7 Subs., 6 Factories. Profits tripled during the period)

85-88: Lesieur Cotelle (Bleach & Detergents, Profits doubled to US$ 30 Mns. Sold to Colgate 23+ earnings)
CEO
Benton & Bowles (France)
1977 - 1984 (7 years)
- Ranking from N°98 to N°19 French agency during the period.
- First French Film Grand Prix in Cannes (78)
- VP Benton & Bowles Inc.
(now merged with Leo Burnett, Publicis Groupe)
MD
Synapse Créativité
1975 - 1976 (1 year)
Life-styles, Consumer Research, Psycho-sociology, Creativity, Concept development.
Brand Manager
Colgate Palmolive
1969 - 1974 (5 years)
Nouveaux Produits (Division Détergents, Division Alimentaire)

Education

ISMP, Business

1985 (1 year)

Bachelor's degree, Business

1965 - 1968 (3 years)

Trade Organizations

International Advertising Association, New York

Vice President, Sustainability
2004 - Present (20 years 10 months)
The IAA is the world’s most influential network of marketing and marketing communications professionals. Established in 1938, the International Advertising Association is the only global association that represents all spheres of the marketing and marketing communications industry. For over eighty years the IAA has played a strong role in supporting key industry issues such as freedom of commercial speech, self-regulation, responsible advertising, education and professional development. On the ground, there are over 4,000 individual and corporate members spanning marketing, advertising, media, IT communications and academic sectors – all involved in the wide range of brand marketing and marketing communications disciplines. The IAA has presence in most markets through Chapters and education affiliates reaching across 56 countries where it serves the collective interests of the entire marketing communications profession, unlike other bodies that defend only the interests of the sector they represent.

Comite National des Conseillers du Commerce Exterieur de la France

French Foreign Trade Advisor
1998 - Present (26 years 10 months)
The Conseillers du Commerce extérieur de la France (French Foreign Trade Advisors or CCEs) voluntarily share their experience working for the development of France. They carry out concrete actions on a daily basis in partnership with public and private players who have a role in promoting and supporting the internationalisation of French companies. Appointed by the Prime Minister, CCEs are vested with four missions by public authorities: Advising Public authorities, Supporting Businesses in their international development, Training young pepople for the international stage, promote the attractiveness of France

Other professional activities

ACT Responsible, Chalais

Dream Leader
September 2001 - Present (23 years 2 months)

PHNX Tribute 2020

Awards Jury Member

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