Impact BBDO Dubai has been named agency of the year for the second year in a row at the annual Dubai Lynx awards, with BBDO Worldwide named network of the year.
It is the third time in the awards’ history that an agency has won both titles on the same night, but only the first time that grands prix have been awarded in all categories.
The double-whammy for BBDO was won on the back of a host of golds, silvers and bronzes, but no grands prix. Ogilvy & Mather, which won three grands prix on the night, was placed second in both agency and network of the year behind BBDO.
J.Walter Thompson, which was named network of the year in 2016, failed to make the top three, despite winning the most grands prix on the night (four), including a rare radio grand prix for client Kinokuniya.
Leo Burnett, Memac Ogilvy and Y&R won three grands prix apiece, while Grey Dubai, TBWA\Raad, The Classic Partnership Advertising, FP7 and Blue Barracuda took home one each.
It was Blue Barracuda that caused the biggest upset of the night, walking off with the grand prix in film for Zespri Kiwifruit’s ‘Can you get home before your Zespri Kiwifruit?’. It was a decision that was met by boos from sections of the crowd.
Meanwhile, Memac Ogilvy Dubai took home the inaugural innovation grand prix for ‘Spuble’ and Leo Burnett Beirut won the grand prix for good thanks to ‘Legally Bride’ for client KAFA.
Elsewhere, Kairo was named independent agency of the year, OMD media agency of the year, and Good People production company of the year. The Dubai Lynx advertising person of the year was Pierre Choueiri, while Coca-Cola was named advertiser of the year.
“We are extremely happy with the outcome of the Dubai Lynx,” said Dani Richa, chairman and chief executive at BBDO Middle East, Africa and Pakistan, Impact BBDO Group. “Competition is getting tougher every year and the work is getting better. To shine on that stage puts us in a good spot for global shows. Our region continues to raise the bar and that’s only possible because there are more than five agencies/networks constantly doing great work. I am delighted the hard work and talent got the recognition it deserved.”
Terry Savage, chairman of Dubai Lynx, added: “The Dubai Lynx awards exist to celebrate and champion creativity, while reflecting the ever shifting branded communications landscape. This year saw submissions from 22 countries, including a first from Sudan and an increase in some of the more traditional categories such as print and outdoor.”
The awards received 2,632 entries across the 17 Lynx categories, up 4.5 per cent on last year.
For the full list of winners, log on to www.dubailynx.com/winners/2017
