Kiwi agencies are celebrating after the winners of the Campaign Asia Agency of the Year awards were announced in Singapore on December 10.
Campaign Asia is judged by client marketers across the Asia Pacific region who review agency innovation, key work and recognition, business performance, client retention and relationships, culture and talent management and industry contribution.
Scoring a hattrick
Special has walked away with a trifecta of Agency of the Year titles, defending its position as New Zealand Creative Agency of the Year and Integrated Agency of the Year.
Colenso BBDO and Motion Sickness were both awarded silver in the Creative Agency of the Year category.
Its PR arm won PR Agency of the Year for the second year in a row and Matt Barnes, Client Partner in Special Wellington received a category commendation for Young Business Leader of the Year.
Tony Bradbourne, Special’s founder, says, “To win Creative Agency of the Year, Integrated Agency of the Year, and PR Agency of the Year for the second year running is a clean sweep any agency leader would be proud of.
“Campaign Asia is a prestigious regional award show, which sees our work judged by the best marketing and communication professionals across Asia Pacific – and I’m so proud to see Kiwi creativity continue to be recognised internationally.”
Kelly Grindle, Managing Director of Special PR, adds, “This caps off an incredible year, which continues to see Special PR recognised as the most effective PR agency in New Zealand by all major award shows.
“We have continued to add new clients to our portfolio, deliver some show-stopping PR campaigns and improve profitability – but most importantly, we’ve built an enviable team of the best PR practitioners in the country. They work hard every day to make Special a success, and I’m exceptionally proud of the work that they do.”
Special highlights
Key highlights from Special in 2024 include Cliché Codes from Uber Eats and the latest brand campaign for Contact– while also launching The Inclusive Code, a new set of tools to drive better disability inclusion in advertising.
From Special PR, highlights included the return of the Pizza Hut buffet for its 50th anniversary, the creation of the KFC Gravy Train for Super Rugby and the creation of “the restaurant with the most stars” to drive international appreciation for Kiwi cuisine for Tourism New Zealand.
Last month Special was also named ‘Agency of the Year’ by industry heavyweight B&T for the fifth year in a row, while Special PR continues to be the most awarded agency by the Pressies and has maintained its title as ‘Large PR Agency of the Year ‘by the New Zealand Public Relations Institute.
Lovely end to 2024
Together was named NZ Media Agency of the Year and also topped the rankings for Australia/NZ Programmatic Agency of the Year.
PHD Aotearoa took out silver and OMD the bronze award.
Together Co-founder and Managing Partner Rufus Chuter says the award win was a great way to wrap up 2024 for him and his team.
“Being named NZ Media agency of the year and top programmatic agency in Australia and New Zealand is a lovely way to end a big year. I’m very thankful and proud of the whole Together team, our brilliant clients and publisher partners for supporting us this year. We’ll be raising a glass together in our new office next week.”
PHD Aotearoa CEO Nikki Grafton says the Campaign Asia silver award is a brilliant way to round out the year.
“First Beacons Media Agency of the Year, followed by IAB’s Media Agency of the Year and now Silver in the Campaign Asia awards. We have had such a strong awards performance this year and I’m so proud of what PHD has achieved. The wins recognise our entire team’s delivery across leadership, management, business performance and our many achievements through our client work and our continued technology and data advances.
“I’d like to extend our congratulations to OMD and Together who join us in Campaign Asia-Pacific’s 2024 Media top three, as well as Special, Colenso BBDO, Motion Sickness and Track Tribal DDB who were also awarded through the wider industry’s award categories last night. It goes without saying that great work across the industry lifts everyone’s game”.
Big year for Motion Sickness
It has been a big year for Motion Sickness who was also recognised at the Campaign Asia Agency of the Year Awards.
The agency took out Silvers for both NZ Creative Agency of the Year, and AU/NZ Boutique Agency of the Year
This past year has seen the agency reach new heights, with significant growth in new clients, award-winning campaigns, top-tier talent, and industry recognition as well as being its 10th year in business.
As noted by General Manager Alex McManus, “Motion Sickness has had its best year on record, and I think it’s just telling of the exceptional talent in this team, and their ambition to make a real difference to our client’s businesses – this agency metal belongs to them.”
Founder/ECD Sam Stuchbury achieved an impressive hattrick of individual Gold awards, claiming the titles of AU/NZ Agency Growth Leader, Young Business Leader and Young Creative Person of the year.
“We are stoked to see Sam take out the trifecta at AOY 2024”, says McManus. “His relentless commitment to Motion Sickness delivering the best creative in the world is receiving the credit it deserves – and after a brief summer break, we can’t wait to build on this momentum in 2025”.
Seven year streak
DDB Group Aotearoa is celebrating Track Tribal taking out Digital Innovation Agency of Year at the Campaign Brief Asia awards for the seventh year in a row. They have not been beaten since 2017.
This year’s success was the only Gold in the Digital Innovation Category.
“It nearly didn’t happen,” says James Blair, Managing Director Track-Tribal Aotearoa. “It’s no secret that it has been a tough year for business in New Zealand, but when we saw that the award had changed include Digital Innovation, we knew we had a compelling reason to enter.”
The award reflects Track Tribal’s shift into the development of products for clients around the world. Highlights include:
- Fake Proof – Winning a grant from a Google.org APAC, the agency is working with Netsafe to develop an AI tool that helps tackle the 1.4 trillion scamming issue – Launching 2025
- Samsung Try Galaxy – Working with Samsung Global, the agency developed new ground-breaking features to make this switching platform more powerful than ever
- AI tools – Developing a new tool set for clients globally, putting AI at the heart of the workflow – Launching 2025
- Analytics – the expanded analytics team works with The Warehouse Group, ANZ, New World, AA Insurance and McDonald’s, where their impact is measured in the hundreds of millions.
“The pressure of 2024 was a driving force behind our work” continues Blair. “We simply had to find new ways the create campaigns that opened up new revenue streams. This has been the year of product development and the team have put a huge amount of effort into finding new ways of working with clients here and abroad.”
“Our digital campaigns continue to push creative excellence and experimentation,” says Priya Patel, Group CEO DDB Group Aotearoa. “This was the only award we entered at Campaign Asia Awards for 2024, as it felt significant to win seven years in a row. We are delighted and incredibly proud of the team.”
Head of Year commendation for Spencer
Melanie Spencer, CEO and co-founder of independent agency Thompson Spencer, was honoured with a Commendation in the hotly contested Agency Head of the Year category. She was the only person across New Zealand and Australia to be recognised in this category.
The commendation highlights her leadership on a global stage as well as her transformative impact on Thompson Spencer and the advertising industry as a whole.
Over the past year, she has scrupulously spearheaded the integration of five specialist offerings under one Thompson Spencer brand as well as the opening of London and Sydney offices, creating a socially-led, full-service, international entity.
Under Spencer’s guidance, Thompson Spencer has experienced significant growth in both team and client rosters, with key client wins including Honda NZ, Goodman Fielder, Wattyl Australia & NZ, Auckland Transport, El Jannah Australia, and Noel Leeming… with more wins to be announced soon.
Thompson Spencer’s Co-Founder, Wendy Thompson, celebrated Melanie’s recognition stating, “The wins just keep coming! Can I please get a big round of applause for our fearless leader, Melanie Spencer, who received a Commendation for Australia/New Zealand Agency Head of the Year in the important Campaign Asia Awards. She was the only person singled out in this category across NZ and Australia – which is a big deal! We see how hard your work and how much you put into growing this company and all of us humans along the way, Mel, and we thank you. We couldn’t be prouder.”
Spencer’s leadership philosophy is rooted in fostering long-term, trusting relationships within her team and with the agency’s clients. She has been instrumental in driving innovation, creativity, and growth, always with community building at the heart, delivering not just commercial success, but a culture where collaboration and human connection flourish.
Spencer says, “This is special, really REALLY special but I have to say, I feel somewhat uncomfortable to be singled out here! I have my biggest supporter, Wendy Thompson as my running mate, Brent Impey as our incredibly smart and level headed Chairman, the most talented Senior Leadership team – Carlene Managh, Olivia Thompson, Nick Fleming and Chandni Patel – all alongside a combined team of the most astounding people I admire (and am in awe of!) every single day. This recognition is for all of us.”
Read the full list of award winners from Aotearoa and Australia on the Agency of the Year Awards website.
