UPDATED: Adrian Botan, the only Romanian in the 1st Hall of Fame made by Golden Drum 2010

(adds Adrian Botan’s statement related to his presence in Golden Drum’s Hall of Fame and his photo)

Golden Drum organizers decided to make a Golden Drum New Europe Hall of Fame, according to festival’s site.

Adrian Botan (McCann Erickson Romania ) is described as “Golden Drum’s Orpheus”.  “His tunes are proof that creativity in advertising is a privilege of the rich – rich in stubbornness and in heart. His visual talent has won all awards at the Golden Drum, and his confidence in the Genius loci, the spirit of the place, has convinced the last doubters that the New Europe is to succeed in its own way”, Golden Drum organizers are saying about Botan.

“Wow. It is so strange to see your name on a wall. This makes you think you finished a stage. This thought is surprising. I think it is a bit unfair, because advertising is a team game and probably more names deserved to be there, next to mine. And I think mainly at Alexandru Dumitrescu – Tzugu (my creative partner), than to all people that were next to me in the creative and client service teams at McCann. They all deserve a big thanks and I think I will go and write this there, on that wall”, Adrian Boțan, Creative Partner McCann Erickson, said.

Adrian Boțan is Creative Partner McCann Erickson România and Regional Creative Director Central and Eastern Europe McCann Erickson. Also, he is a founding member of Art Directors Club Romania. At Golden Drum, he  served as juror and, last year, he was the president of the Advertising Campaigns category.

Along with him, in Golden Drum’s Hall of Fame there are also Ivan Čimburov – described as”Golden Baraban” -, that stepped on the winners podium 12 times and he also served as a juror.

Michael Conrad is another personality in the Hall of Fame and he is described as “Golden Drum’s Godfather” and the initiator of New Europe’s creativity. Also, he supported the home-grown creative energies of Leo Burnett’s Polish, Czech, and Romanian ad people and helped Golden Drum to raise the quality standard and thus its reputation.

The other personalities that complete this year’s Hall of Fame are Jan Mariusz Demner (Austria), Jirži Mikeš (Czech Republic), Milka Pogliani – Golden Drum’s First Lad, Daniel Ružička, Juraj Vaculik, Vital Verlič and Futura, Darek Zatorski – New Europe’s enfant terrible, with 49 Bronze, Silver and Golden Drums and Grand Prix in portfolio – , Jarek Ziebinski and the recently deceased Dragan Sakan.