First speakers announced for Cannes Lions 2011

Cannes Lions has announced the first set of speakers who are scheduled to speak at the 58th international advertising festival in the south of France this year.Speakers include thinker and well-known author Malcolm Gladwell who will deliver insights from social sciences that are transforming business and culture in the session titled ‘Kraft Food presents Malcolm Gladwell.’

Fresh from the $315 million purchase of the Huffington Post, AOL CEO and Chairman Tim Armstrong is joined by Arianna Huffington in a conversation at the festival. 

Hear from five of the top creative thinkers at the 2010 Interactive Agency of the Year, Crispin Porter + Bogusky: Chuck Porter; Andrew Keller; Rob Reilly; Jeff Benjamin; and Tiffany Rolfe in the session titled MDC Presents- Inside Crispin Porter + Bogusky.Join Sir Martin Sorrell for the Cannes debate, where the WPP chief executive brings James Murdoch, News Corporations' Chairman and Chief Executive for Europe and Asia, to discuss the state of the media industry.

Ford's newly appointed Group Vice President, Global Marketing, Sales and Service, Jim Farley, will hold forth on how the second largest car manufacturer in the US views communications in the modern world. 

Creative legends Sir John Hegarty and Nigel Bogle will discuss the changes needed to generate accelerated growth for brands.

The Guardian brings leading academic Dr Edward de Bono to Cannes to challenge the way delegates define what creativity is.

The 58th Cannes Lions international advertising festival will take place in the south of France this year between 19th to 25th June.