Though relatively small, the judges felt the agency out-gunned its bigger rivals on a pound-for-pound basis, in terms of creativity, effectiveness and business success. DDB SA used to be part of The Jupiter Drawing Room (South Africa) & Partners, but since the 49% WPP investment in the latter which occurred earlier this year, Jupiter shareholding in DDB SA has been released (the DDB brand is owned by WPP rival Omnicom).
DDB was the creator of the Cannes Lion Press Grand Prix print winner last year - the Energiser campaign which showed children getting up to mischief because the batteries in their electric toys had died. Other awards the controversial campaign has won include 2008 Creative Circle Magazine of Year, a 2008 Gold Clio, and a 2008 One Show Merit.
Other awards warranting a special mention were:
Media marketing solutions provider RadMark established new award Radio Campaign of the Year to recognise the medium of radio in a separate category. Says RadMark trade marketing manager Lisa Benporath, “We are seeking ways to develop radio in new ways and encouraging creativity in all spheres of radio. Radio works and those who get it to work best deserve to be recognised.
The industry landscape has evolved to produce an increasing number of small specialist agencies excelling in their niche areas. In recognition of this, a special award was made to Six Hotshops. According to AdReview, they may not be hotshops in the traditional sense of little agencies producing award-winning work, but they are blazing performers, sometimes in very difficult markets.
| 2009 AdReview winners | |
|---|---|
| Category | Winner |
| Ad Agency of the Year | DDB South Africa |
| Marketing Communications Group of 2009 | The Jupiter Drawing Room & Partners |
| Gauteng Agency of the Year | Ogilvy Johannesburg |
| Marketing Services Company of the Year | Exp |
| Advertising Person of the Year | Mike Schalit |
| Radio Campaign of the Year | Ogilvy Johannesburg (KFC) |
| Cape Agency of the Year | FoxP2 |
| Small Agency of the Year | DDB South Africa |
| Newcomer of the Year | Matchworld |
| The Big Idea | Ogilvy Johannesburg (KFC) |
| Media Agency of the Year | MindShare |
| Small Media Agency of the Year | Applied Media Logic |
| Campaign of the Year | Draftfcb (Vodacom) |
| Design Shop of the Year | Interbrand Sampson |
| Monitoring SA Public Relations Award | Magna Carta |
| Digital Agency of the Year | Gloo |
| The Baobab Award | TBWA\Durban |
| Commercials Producer of the Year | Keith Rose |
| Six Hotshops | MetropolitanRepublic, 34, Fine, Healthcare, Mediology, Mick & Nick,HDI Youth Marketeers |
Rose won on the success of Allan Gray “Beautiful” along with Sony Bravia “Pyramids” and Sasol “Questions” with a combined total of eleven awards including a Cannes Silver and the Loeries Grand Prix.
Ogilvy Johannesburg walked off with three of the awards, including "Gauteng Agency of the Year", "The Big Idea" award for its KFC Milkshake ad and the "Radmark Radio Campaign of the Year" for its KFC Manly Men campaign. Ogilvy South Africa media agency, Mindshare, won the "Media Agency of the Year" award.
According to Ogilvy South Africa CEO Nunu Ntshingila, it has achieved what no other agency has managed to do - consistently stay on top for the past five years. "As in previous years, this year's Finweek AdReview awards are highly satisfying as they speak to the professional and business performance of the agency, as well as its innovative achievement.
"Of critical importance is our focus on client and agency relationships. The KFC awards are just one example of a successful long-term relationship (15 years) and the consistency, trust, friendship, relevance and chemistry that stems from such a relationship."
Nearly 600 of the South African advertising world's glitterati gathered at The Theatre on the Track in Kyalami, Johannesburg, for the event, which had a circus theme. Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide CEO Kevin Roberts was the guest speaker. This innovative advertising figure, who has headed Saatchi since 1997, provided a vision for the future of advertising.
Six brands were announced as Saatchi Lovemarks in the first survey conducted in South Africa: Castle, Nokia, BMW, Cadbury, Edgars, BP and Vaseline Intensive Care.
Those who attended also received their copy of Tony Koenderman's AdReview, which goes on sale with every copy of Finweek dated 30 April 2009. The annual, now in its seventh edition, provides a snapshot of the advertising and marketing industry aiming to help clients make choices.
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