MediaReach OMD Global Affiliate Emerges Best Agency in 2011

OMD Worldwide, the international affiliate of Nigeria’s MediareachOMD, has emerged as the number one global media agency at the 2011 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, making it the most medaled media network at the fiesta. ‪

The global agency network was a winner in every category of the festival, including one gold lion, two silver lions and five bronze lions in the competition that was characterized by an ‘explosive increase’ in media entries. .  ‪ 

‪On the whole, OMD Worldwide won a total of eight media lions – both as the submitting agency and as the credited media agency.

A breakdown of the awards shows Manning Gottlieb OMD, London took the Gold Lion in the Best Use of Branded Content category for its “GT Academy” for Nissan and Sony PlayStation®.   As the credited media partner for Renault’s “The Megane Experiment” submitted by Publicis, Manning Gottlieb also scooped up two Silver Lions in the categories of Best Integrated Campaign and Best Use of Integrated Media.

  

‪Also OMD agencies also took five bronze lions for spreading wealth across the network in fast moving consumer goods: OMD UK, “Rainy Days” for Walkers and PepsiCo and in corporate image and  information: OMD Sydney, “One Laptop Per Child” for Telstra

Others are charities, public health & safety, public awareness messages: OMD Dominica, Santo Domingo, “I Swim with Marcos” for the United Nations Poverty Awareness campaign.

The medals also include best use of sponsorship: OMD New York, “Changing the Game” for Doritos (submitted by Goodby Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco) and best consumer engagement: OMD Puerto Rico, “Heart of Puerto Rico” for Gatorade, PepsiCo (submitted by JWT San Juan). 

Speaking on the medals, an apparently impressed Mainardo de Nardis, CEO of OMD Worldwide said, “This would be an impressive showing in any year,” considering the 34 per cent increase in the number of media entries this year, we are doubly proud of the recognition, the work that earned it, and the people who made it happen.”

He said perhaps the most notable – and most gratifying – aspect of those wins is that they were earned by agencies all across their network – in markets big and small, established and emerging, remarking that this consistency across regions reflects the company-wide commitment to ensuring that their best work is recognized on the global stage – a mission that is being carried out each day by their newly formed Light Team, which is charged with seeding and nurturing a culture of brilliant ideas within OMD.

Nardis said this outstanding showing at Cannes affirmed the value of investing in creativity, nurturing top talent and challenging their teams to deliver the very best for clients, adding that with the LIGHT Team supporting this mission, they can look forward to more outstanding outcomes like Cannes 2012. ‪