Cannes Lions 2016: Holding Co to WPP, O&M is Network of the Year

The 63rd Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity saw over 15,000 attendees. The Festival this year included eight days of content, over 43,000 entries, seven awards shows, two galas and networking opportunities throughout.

The Network of the Year award was presented to Ogilvy & Mather, which had total tally of 120 Lions across 31 offices. This is the fifth consecutive Network of the Year award for Ogilvy & Mather at Cannes Lions. BBDO was second, followed by Y&R.

The Holding Company of the Year award went to WPP. Second to Omnicom and third to Interpublic. This is for the sixth consecutive year that WPP has been named the world’s most creative holding company at the Cannes Lions.

As per a release issued, WPP agencies from 46 different countries took home Lions. Winning work included: Y&R Auckland’s “McWhopper” for Burger King; “The Swedish Number” by Ingo Stockholm (Swedish Tourist Association); J. Walter Thompson Amsterdam’s “The Next Rembrandt” (ING); “Breathless Choir” by Ogilvy & Mather London (Philips); David Buenos Aires’ “Man Boobs” for MACMA (Breast Cancer Help Movement); “The Everyman Meal” by Ogilvy & Mather Johannesburg (KFC); J. Walter Thompson Costa Rica’s “The Second Scoreboard” (Teletica, Inamu, Fedefutbol); “Behind The Leather” by Ogilvy & Mather Bangkok (People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals); Grey San Francisco’s “The Most Dangerous Town On The Internet” (Norton By Symantec); “Beauty Tips By Reshma” by Ogilvy & Mather Mumbai (Make Love Not Scars); “Man, Lady, Office” by Monday Bangkok (Dutch Mill Co); Ogilvy & Mather London’s “Tongue, Breathing, Blinking” (Unilever); Memac Ogilvy’s “Lamp, Table, Bookcase, Bed, Nightstand” (IKEA Saudi Arabia); and “Paper Glasses” by Grey Mexico (Save The Children and Santillana).

The release quoted Sir Martin Sorrell, Founder and CEO of WPP, as saying, “In my cricketing career I have rarely, if ever, hit a six. This is the most gratifying one of the few. Although this award is handed to WPP, it is really testament to the ability, effort and success of the people within our agencies all around the world, and the good judgement of the clients who commission the work. So congratulations and thank you to them. I would also like to say, for the benefit of our colleagues across Europe, both within and beyond WPP, that although the UK has voted to leave the EU, WPP has not. We are as European as ever, and will become even more so.”

John O’Keeffe, Worldwide Creative Director of WPP, added here, “Amid, sadly, much heightened security this year we saw the true face of humanity, with fierce competitors putting aside any differences to pledge, as an industry, to work together to help bring the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to fruition. As we look across all the wonderful work that has rightly been recognised this week, I can only think, what a force for persuasion we make. Note to self: the competition for the coveted Creative Holding Company of the Year award gets more intense every year. My congratulations to all the winners and indeed all the great clients who bought this brilliant work. As ever in Cannes, The Big Idea is The Big Winner. And always will be.”

Samsung Electronics was named Creative Marketer of the Year for their commitment to customer-focused, creative communications work. Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, Mobile Communications Business, Younghee Lee, collected the award.

Agency of the Year was given to AlmapBBDO Sao Paulo. Grey New York came second and INGO, Stockholm third.

Independent Agency of the Year went to Droga5, New York. Second place to Jung von Matt and third to Wieden+Kennedy, Portland.

The Palme d’Or, given to the most awarded production company, was presented to Tool, USA. Epoch Films, USA came second and Stink, United Kingdom third.