Vladilen Sitnikov

Vladilen Sitnikov has been in advertising since 1999. From 2004 to 2012, he founded Hungry Boys agency (later acquired by WPP), became a partner at GRAPE/WT Russia, and launched Skillbox English School. In 2018, he founded StartRocket, unveiling the groundbreaking orbital display—a space-based advertising system that garnered global media attention.

He has held creative leadership roles in Moscow and later became Executive Creative Director and Head of Entertainment at White Rabbit Budapest. Vladilen was named among the top‑25 creative directors worldwide and has won awards at Cannes Lions, Red Dot, The One Show, Webby, The FWA, and Awwwards.

His jury experience includes One Show, New York Festivals, ADC Europe, Epica, Webby Awards, Kiev Int’l Advertising Festival, Red Jolbors, AD STARS, White Square, and more. He has spoken at over 100 conferences, leading discussions on the future of advertising and digital transformation, and lectured at institutions such as HSE, Skolkovo, IKRA, and the British Higher School of Art & Design.

In January 2018, he was inducted as an Academician by the Russian Advertising Academy in recognition of his contributions to the industry.