Omnicom fended off both Interpublic Group and WPP to accrue 207 Cannes Lions at the International Festival of Creativity and retain the title of Holding Company of the Year, according to the 2019 Global Creativity Report 2019
The winner is the holding company whose member companies obtain the most points for shortlisted and awarded entries at Cannes Lions.
“It’s truly an honor to win the most creative holding company for the second year in a row,” says John Wren, chairman and CEO of Omnicom Group.
“However, it’s important to remember that holding companies don’t win awards, people do. I want to congratulate all of our people on their tireless efforts to create exceptional work for our clients.”
Interpublic Group moved up from third to second place in 2019 with 158 lions, after vital contributions from the McCann Worldgroup and FCB networks.
This year is Interpublic’s fifth in the top three Holding Companies.
WPP followed closely with another good year with wins from Grey, Ogilvy and VMLY&R.
The holding company rankings:
McCann Worldgroup was for the first time Network of the Year in 2019.
Network of the Year is awarded to the network whose member companies obtain the most points for winning and shortlisted entries. McCann Worldgroup rose from fourth-place in 2018.
“We are very proud to win this honour at Cannes this year recognizing our creative work from so many countries, clients and disciplines, across all platforms and Lions categories,” says Harris Diamond, chairman and CEO of McCann Worldgroup.
“Thanks to the inspired leadership of [Global Creative Chairman] Rob Reilly, our incredibly diverse and talented creative staff is driving our business, and that of our clients, forward with real results.”
The rankings:
Mindshare was Media Network of the Year for the first time, climbing from a third place in 2018 and 11th in 2017.
Winnings include Lions for The Infection Alert System for Lifebuoy and Hacking Prime Day for General Mills.
“Mindshare has had a great 2019 and winning the Cannes Media Network of the Year topped it all off," says Nick Emery, Global Chief Executive of Mindshare.
"Cannes remains the creative pinnacle and for a company founded on and rooted in creativity and invention in all its forms, we were over the moon to win and to celebrate excessively together. Thank you.”
Media Network rankings:
Independent Agency of the Year Award is Wieden & Kennedy, Portland.
The US West-Coast agency has finished within the top five for every year on record.
Droga 5 came second place to sustain an outstanding record in the award, having ranked in first or second place every year since 2015.
JohnxHannes, New York broke into third place after entertaining juries with the Super Bowl ad Expensify Th!$ for receipt app Expensify, picking up Gold in the Entertainment Lions for Music and Film Craft Lions.
The independent rankings:
Australia ranked fifth globally at the 2019 Cannes Lions, scoring 36 Lions overall.
The Lion's Share by Clemenger BBDO Melbourne and Finch scored the only Grand Prix this year, as well as a Silver Lion.
Clemenger BBDO Melbourne also won a Bronze Lion for its work Naughty or Nice Bauble for Myer. The Sydney agency won a Silver Lion for its work Extra Reminder for Wrigley's Extra.
Clemenger BBDO Melbourne topped the rankings:
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