Just In: Lanre Adisa Takes Over Helm As 22nd AAAN President, To Steer Its Ship For The Next Two Years
Lanre Adisa, a creative leader, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Noah’s Ark Communications has assumed leadership of the oldest advertising sectoral body in Nigeria – Advertising Agencies Association of Nigeria (AAAN), following the conclusion of Steve Babaeko’s two-term tenure of four years that has been acclaimed by industry stakeholders as exemplary.
This is following his unchallenged candidacy and subsequent unanimous election at the ongoing 51st Annual General Meeting of the association at the rock city of Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
In this new leadership position, Adisa, widely recognized for his pioneering role in West Africa’s advertising landscape as the first West African to serve on the Cannes Lions jury, a feat he achieved in 2018, is expected to brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and a visionary approach to his new role. He is also expected to steer the association towards new heights, building upon the foundation laid by his 21 predecessors.
Industry stakeholders are expecting among others, that the new Adisa-led AAAN Excos will create greater collaboration among member agencies, advocate for industry standards and ethics, and promote innovation in response to evolving market dynamics. His leadership is expected to further enhance the influence and competitiveness of Nigerian advertising both regionally and globally.
Lanre Adisa’s journey in advertising spans over three decades, marked by a series of roles across leading agencies. His career began in 1990 at MC&A: Saatchi & Saatchi, Lagos, where he started as a Trainee Copywriter and swiftly rose to the position of Copy Group Head before departing in 1994. Adisa then honed his skills at Rosabel Advertising and Franchise Communications before joining Insight-Grey in 1997. His tenure at Insight-Grey culminated in his departure as an Associate Creative Director in 2003, after which he assumed the role of Creative Director at TBWA\Concept until 2008, when he founded Noah’s Ark Communications.
Under his leadership, Noah’s Ark has emerged as a powerhouse in the Nigerian advertising industry, renowned for its innovative campaigns and strategic insights. The agency has evolved into a group comprising Integrated Indigo (PR), The Red Wolf Company (Creative Digital), Underdog Productions (Content/Production), and Media Mast (Media Independent).
Beyond his professional achievements, Lanre Adisa is actively involved in nurturing the next generation of creatives within Nigeria. He served as Chairman of the Lagos Advertising & Ideas Festival (LAIF) Management Board and has been very prominent on the international scene having served as the President of the Heritage Jury of the debut Pitcher Awards. He was also on the jury of the African Cristals Festival in 2016, followed by his historic Cannes jury duty in 2018. In 2019, 2020 and 2021, he was on the jury of the Loeries in South Africa. He served as a mentor in the Loeries Students Portfolio Boot Camp in 2020. He is a member of the Loeries Committee, South Africa, one of the preeminent creative awards in Africa and the Middle East.
He holds a Combined Honours degree in Linguistics and English from the University of Ilorin. Complementing his academic achievements, he has participated in executive programs at the School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, and the London Business School.
Outside of advertising, Lanre Adisa and his wife have ventured into the food and hospitality sector with the establishment of Labule, a quick-service restaurant under the stables of Roots Foods Limited.