Five Croatian experts will take part in judging some of the world’s most effective marketing work at the Global Best of the Best Effie Awards 2026. Davor Bruketa (Bruketa&) will join the Global Grand Jury, while Lea Ileković Žigić (Kaufland Hrvatska), Krunoslav Stančić, Vanja Vaniček (Addiko Bank AG) and Luka Duboković (BBDO Zagreb) will participate in the first round of judging process.
Global Best of the Best brings together the very best from across Effie’s global network: eligible entries are projects that won Gold or a Grand Effie at national and regional Effie competitions around the world in the previous year. The competition therefore brings together work that has already proven its effectiveness, with the best projects receiving a Global Grand in their respective categories. Global Grand winners then compete for the Iridium Effie, awarded to the most effective project of the year.
Croatia will be represented on the Round One Independent Jury by Lea Ileković Žigić, Krunoslav Stančić, Vanja Vaniček and Luka Duboković. The four will join an international panel of experts responsible for judging the entries and deciding which projects will advance in the competition for the highest honors in the global Effie program.
In the final round of judging, Croatia will have another representative. Davor Bruketa will serve on the Global Grand Jury, which will meet in person in London on September 30th to select the winners of the Global Grand Effie Awards.
I’m glad that, with this invitation, the organizers of this global competition have recognized our efforts to always seek the most effective solutions to marketing challenges, approaching them in unconventional ways and using creativity as a business tool. This jury brings together some of today’s leading strategists and creatives, people whose campaigns we study at conferences and in classrooms. Sitting at the same table with them and choosing the best of the best together is a tremendous recognition, not only for me but for the entire team with whom I have spent years building the belief that creativity is not decoration, but the most powerful driver of business results, said Bruketa.
The participation of five Croatian representatives on the international juries is further recognition of the expertise within Croatia’s communications industry, as well as an opportunity for Croatian professionals to draw on their experience and help shape the standards by which some of the world’s most effective marketing projects are evaluated.
Effie Awards are among the world’s most prestigious awards for marketing effectiveness, honoring campaigns that have delivered proven results around the globe. In Croatia, the Effie Awards are organized by HURA and represent a key industry competition for local advertisers. Congratulations to this year’s jury members, and more information is available on the official Effie Worldwide website.
