Romania earned both its first and second ever Grand Prix wins at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity as an “American Rom” campaign for Kandia Dulce’s Rom chocolate bars out of BV McCann Erickson, Bucharest, took the Grand Prix honor in both the Promo & Activation and Direct Lions competitions last night.
Meanwhile the Grand Prix for PR went to ad agency Clemenger BBDO Melbourne for National Australia Bank’s “Break Up” campaign.
The Rom work stirred the pot by replacing the candy bar’s Romanian flag-themed packaging with one featuring the USA’s stars and stripes. This raised the patriotic ire of many in Romania who came to the defense of the chocolate’s Romanian heritage, sparking news coverage and grass-roots protests. After a week of objections and debate, BV McCann Erickson as planned brought back the original home country packaging.
As for the PR Grand Prix winner, National Australia Bank also disassociated itself–not from a candy wrapper but from the bad rap of big banking. National Australia Bank had been known as one of Australia four major consumer banks in Australia, a distinction which had an inherent stigma attached given the global economic meltdown. So Clemenger BBDO Melbourne launched a 24-hour PR blitz which heralded National Australia Bank’s breaking away from its three major competitors. The campaign began with what appeared to be an accidental tweet about a pivotal decision about to be made by National Australia Bank. The PR initiative distanced National Australia Bank from the undesirable big banking label and differentiated it from the country’s other big three.
Now into its third year, the PR category received 819 entries, up 43 percent from 2010. The jury, chaired by Dave Senay, president/CEO of Fleishman-Hillard, shortlisted 105 and went on to award 10 Gold, 13 silver and 15 Bronze Lions.
Of the 2,125 entries submitted in the Promo & Activation category, a 33 percent increase versus last year, 175 were shortlisted from which 55 were selected as winners by the international jury led by Warren Brown, creative founder of BMF. Along with the Grand Prix a further five Gold, 17 Silver and 32 Bronze Lions were also awarded.
Of the 1,858 entries submitted in the Direct Lions category, an increase of 29 percent compared to 2010, 204 went on to make the shortlist of which 10 Gold, 15 Silver and 31 Bronze Lions were awarded. Presiding over the Direct Lions Jury was Alexander Schill, global chief creative officer and partner of Serviceplan Group.
The prestigious Direct Agency of the Year award was won by Ogilvy Argentina, Buenos Aires.
All of the Promo & Activation, PR and Direct Lions winners along with their credits can be viewed here.
Britt Nolan Named CCO For McCann Worldgroup, North America
Britt Nolan has been hired as chief creative officer at McCann Worldgroup, North America. He will report to Javier Campopiano, global chief creative officer of McCann Worldgroup and McCann.
Nolan will work directly with the network’s creative leadership in the U.S. and Canada to lead the development of ideas that solve clients’ business challenges, guided by the creativity of the network’s founding philosophy of “Truth Well Told.” Key to this effort will be fostering collaboration across capabilities and agencies, leveraging the network’s talent and expertise in strategy, design, commerce, branding and production to bring its best-in-class offerings to bear for each client.
“Britt is without a doubt a leader and a point of reference for excellence in our industry,” said Campopiano. “He has led some of North America’s very best work in recent years with incredible range--creating eye-catching, smart, authentic, and funny ways of connecting brands with people. He has a rare track record of success across both creative and business, with a unique understanding of how they power each other. And most importantly, we share a common belief that brand-building is right now more important than it ever was, and the only way to do it is through radical creativity based on human truths. He embodies the very essence of our Truth Well Told philosophy.”
Most recently president and chief creative officer of Leo Burnett Chicago, Nolan comes to McCann Worldgroup with a track record of creative achievement and business impact, both for his clients and the agencies at which he’s worked. Over the years, his work has won Grand Prix or Best in Show at every major international award show, including over 50 Cannes Lions, as well as recognition... Read More