Aidan Sullivan, vice president of photo assignments for Getty Images, will chair the 2012 World Press Photo Photo Contest jury . He takes over the task from David Friend who has been forced to pull out for medical reasons.
Aidan Sullivan started his career as a staff photographer for a local newspaper in the UK at the age of 18, and then freelanced as a news photographer in Fleet Street, covering events and conflicts around the globe. He later joined The Sunday Times in London as deputy picture editor, soon becoming the picture editor and subsequently joining The Sunday Times Magazine as assistant editor responsible for photography. In 2005, Sullivan joined Getty Images and relocated to New York. He created Reportage for Getty Images in 2009, representing some of the leading international photojournalists and documentary photographers in 2009. Sullivan is currently based in London. He was previously a member of the 2011 World Press Photo contest jury.
World Press Photo managing director Michiel Munneke comments: “We were looking forward to welcoming David Friend to head this year’s jury and we wish him a speedy recovery. At the same time, we are thrilled that Aidan Sullivan is able and willing to replace him at such a short notice. Aidan’s association with World Press Photo goes back a long way, and having participated in last year’s contest jury, Aidan has the right experience to tackle the demanding task of the jury chair.”