New Chapter for Azerbaijan’s Creativity and Marketing

The Baku Flames International Festival of Creativity and Effectiveness is an international festival and awards platform that brings together professionals from the creative and marketing industries. Alongside recognizing outstanding creative and effective work, Baku Flames creates opportunities for professional knowledge exchange, new connections, and industry development.

Building on this mission beyond the festival itself, Baku Flames is introducing two new professional societies: Flames Creative Society and Flames Marketing Society. Both societies will bring leading industry professionals around the same table to exchange experience, engage in open and transparent discussion, support professional development, and contribute to real change across their sectors.

Flames Creative Society

Flames Creative Society is a professional community that brings together experienced creative leaders working across Azerbaijan’s creative industry. One of its main goals is to create an environment where shared industry challenges can be discussed openly and professionally. The Society will focus on topics including creative quality and professional standards, agency and brand relationships, the value of creative work, copyright, ethics, and other current industry issues.

Flames Creative Society will also place a strong focus on developing the next generation. Through mentorship, educational programs, workshops, portfolio sessions, and experience sharing, the community will support young talent entering the industry and developing professionally.

Other areas of focus will include the analysis of local work and real cases, creative strategy and effectiveness, the use of artificial intelligence in creative processes, international festivals, and stronger connections with global industry practices. The goal is to contribute to higher creative standards in the local market while helping Azerbaijan’s creative industry become more competitive internationally.

Applications to the creative society are primarily intended for creative leaders, art directors, strategists, and independent professionals with significant industry experience. Professional experience, leadership, reputation, and readiness to actively contribute to the community are among the key membership criteria.

Flames Marketing Society

Flames Marketing Society will bring together Azerbaijan’s leading marketing professionals and create a professional platform for sharing knowledge, experience, and real business cases.

Feedback from the first members has highlighted several key priorities for the marketing community, including strengthening marketing’s impact on business results, developing marketing talent, building stronger professional standards, and encouraging greater dialogue between companies.

Flames Marketing Society also aims to create a professional environment where real challenges and approaches that have not delivered results can be discussed openly. Through expert sessions, regular meetings, and perspectives from different industries, the Society plans to support marketing decisions that are increasingly based on data, results, and practical experience.

Flames Marketing Society is intended for experienced marketing leaders working as Marketing Directors, Heads of Marketing, or in equivalent decision-making roles.

The First Members of the Societies

Both societies will begin their activities with members representing a range of companies and agencies.

Flames Creative Society	Flames Marketing Society
Aliagha Sharafkhanli Creative Director, McCann Baku	Aliyar Huseynov Marketing & Commercial Director, Procter & Gamble
Burak Kayzum Chief Creative Officer, Maverick	Anton Panasenko Marketing Director, Carlsberg Azerbaijan
Elshanaga Jalilov Creative Director, Vibe&Wave	Aslan Hasanli Marketing Director, Baku Electronics
Farid Rzazada Creative Director, Kristal & A+Co	Emil Huseynov Chief Marketing Officer, McDonald's Azerbaijan
Ilham Akbarli Creative Director, Ağıllı Nağıllar	Emin Mahmudov Country Marketing Director, VISA
Orkhan Yusifov Founder & General Manager, Shamans	Eminbay Zeynalov Head of Brand & Marketing Communications, IDDA
Ronya Ismayilzada Founder, 19MBT	Esin Umut Chief Marketing Officer, Sirab & Badamli
Sabina Rustamli Creative Director, Endorphin	Gunel Mavliyarova Head of Marketing, PASHA Bank
Sinan Aghayev Head of Creative Studio, Bir Ecosystem	Jamila Ahmadzada Head of Brand & Marketing, PASHA Malls
Tural Namazov Creative Content Manager, Azerlotereya	Kemal Baştürk Chief Operations Officer, PASHA Malls
Ulviya Mutallimova General Manager & Creative Director, FCB Artgroup Baku	Laman Akbarova Consumer and Trade Engagement Manager, JTI
Urfan Orujov Head of Marketing Communications, Solomed Clinics	Nargiz Sailova Head of Marketing Communications, Azercell
Vassilis Panagiotopoulos CEO & Head Creative Director, BBDO Baku	Narmin Mustafayeva Franchise Director & Country Manager, The Coca-Cola Company
	Narmina Ismayilova Director of Customer Relations and Marketing, ABC Telecom (Kontakt)
	Nurana Teymurova Chief Marketing Officer, Azerlotereya
	Ruslan Alakbarov Marketing & Customer Experience Director, PASHA Insurance
	Sona Abbasova Corporate Communications Director, Azercell
	Vafa Safarli-Abdullazada Director of Marketing, ABB

 

Applications for both Flames Creative Society and Flames Marketing Society remain open. New applications will be reviewed according to the relevant membership criteria, and newly admitted members will be announced regularly.

Through Flames Creative Society and Flames Marketing Society, Baku Flames aims to create an ongoing platform for professional dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration beyond the festival itself, contributing to the continued development of Azerbaijan’s creative and marketing industries.

For more information and apply:

bakuflames.az/flames-marketing-society
bakuflames.az/flames-creative-society