A wrap up of result from recent global creative and effectiveness awards and rankings programmes; WARC, Campaign Asia and Adweek, which have all seen Kiwi agencies shine.
Last week, the The WARC Creative 100, Effective 100 and Media 100, a suite of global rankings and the ultimate independent gold standard for marketing communications, were released featuring the most awarded campaigns, agencies and brands in the world for 2020.
Locally, Colenso BBDO took out one top spot and a second place.
The Auckland-based agency was named #2 creative agency in the world in the Effective 100 rankings, beaten only by FP7 McCann Dubai. Cloenso BBDO also received a nod for #1 campaign in the world for its work withDB Export on ‘I’m Drinking it for you’, which nudged out work from Goodby Silverstein & Partners San Francisco, and Ogilvy Sydney.
WARC celebrates excellence in creativity, media, and effectiveness. The Effective 100 rankings are determined by combining the results of all global shows in strategy and effectiveness.
“The results of the WARC Rankings 2021 bring together the most awarded campaigns and companies of 2020 and are a fantastic showcase of a combination of the best work the industry produced pre-pandemic as well as exceptional work notable for its response to the volatility caused by Covid-19. Not only do these Rankings provide inspiration, but they bring recognition to outstanding campaigns and the talent of our industry,” says Amy Rodgers, Managing Editor, Research & Rankings at WARC.
Rob Campbell, Chief Strategy Officer at Colenso BBDO says: “What a bloody great way to end the year. This not only celebrates the brilliant people of Colenso, but also our wonderful clients who are the reason it happens. And given the #1 most effective campaign in the world is a couple singing a love song about what they can do with their other hand while holding a beer, we’re pretty chuffed we’re proving the commercial effectiveness of creative ridiculousness.”
Special achievement
Special retained its ‘New Zealand Agency of the Year’ title they won at Campaign Asia last year, this year beating DDB and TBWA who came second and third respectively.
Judges noted “Special has had its best ever year – in one of the toughest of years… Special’s award-winning creative work even changed the makeup of the NZ Parliament via a cheeky campaign fronted by a meddling Russian. And if that wasn’t enough – incredibly Special was named both the ‘Best Creative Agency in the World’ by Campaign UK, and ‘APAC Agency of the Year’ at the APAC Effies. All with an amazing team of people, and a culture and contribution that is, well… Special.”
“This award is for everyone at Special who has kept focused on creating and delivering incredible work against all the odds and all of the Covid distractions of 2021. This is also an award for our incredible clients who have believed in us, and inspired us to create this body of work. Winning once is a huge achievement, winning ‘New Zealand Agency of the Year’ twice in a row is unbelievable and a great way to finish the year,” says Special founder and CEO/CCO Tony Bradbourne.
Special continued its winning streak by taking the title of ‘Australian Agency of the Year’ (beating Ogilvy Australia and The Monkeys Australia), ‘Independent Agency of the Year’ and ‘Content Marketing Agency of the Year’ in an incredible result for the New Zealand founded independent.
OMD won ‘New Zealand Agency of the Year’ edging out Dentsu and PHD, Tribal DDB won ‘Digital Agency of the Year’ and Motion Sickness won ‘New Zealand Production Company of the Year’.
Special’s GM John Marshall was named ‘Australia / New Zealand Young Business Leader of the Year’, and Priyanka Patel received a commendation for ‘Australia / New Zealand Account Person of the Year’ and Special CSO Rory Gallery received a commendation after following on from winning ‘Australia / New Zealand Brand Planner of the Year’ last year.
Special founder and CEO/CCO Tony Bradbourne was named ‘Australia / New Zealand Agency Head’ – for the second year in a row.
Special and Optus took home all of the Agency and Brand awards – winning ‘Australia/New Zealand Agency Marketer Partnership of the Year’, Optus was named ‘Australian / New Zealand Brand of the Year’ and Melissa Hopkins was named ‘Australian / New Zealand Marketer of the Year’.
Global claim
TBWAWorldwide was today named 2021 Global Agency of the Year by Adweek, the United States-based publication covering the brand marketing ecosystem.
TBWA was recognised for an exceptionally strong business year across a large range of global markets and its ability to drive Disruptive, transformative growth for its clients. The publication also highlighted its body of creative work for clients including Apple, Nissan and PepsiCo, among others, its focus on innovation and the progressive evolution of the company’s Disruption® methodology.
“In one of the most competitive years Adweek’s selection committee has ever seen, TBWAWorldwide was unanimously selected as 2021’s Global Agency of the Year,” said David Griner, International Editor, Adweek.
“Our editors were impressed not only with the network’s business growth and consistently high bar for creative, but also by its clear focus on developing strong talent and elevating a new generation of innovative leadership for the industry.”
“Being named Global Agency of the Year – again – is a tremendous honour and a testament to the 10,000+ creative minds in our collective whose talent, perseverance and ingenuity made this recognition a reality,” says Troy Ruhanen, CEO, TBWAWorldwide.
Catherine Harris, TBWANZ Group CEO added: “This is an amazing way to end the year. Despite all the challenges 2021 has thrown at us TBWANZ Group has had an outstanding year of growth and momentum. Being part of such collaborative and strong Global Network means we can apply the best thinking from around the world, while also contributing the best thinking and work that New Zealand has to offer, back into the network.
“A massive thank you to all of our incredible pirates who have given their everything once again this year. And a big thank you to our client partners for their support and bravery as we continue to use creativity to drive disruptive growth.”
