Cannes Lions has named Apple Inc. as the Creative Marketer of the Year 2019 in honor of its world-class creative communications and marketing initiatives.
The highly coveted award recognizes an organization that demonstrates sustained creative excellence in the marketing of their products across multiple platforms and distinguishes itself by embracing collaboration between partners and agencies to produce truly outstanding creative communications and marketing.
In 2018 the company won the Entertainment Lion for Music Grand Prix for “Welcome Home,” an ad directed by Spike Jonze of MJZ for Apple HomePod that featured FKA twigs dancing to Anderson Paak’s “Til It’s over” amid a riot of color. Apple also won the Brand Experience & Activation Lion Grand Prix and a Titanium Lion for “Today at Apple,” an in-store experience and community engagement campaign that reimagined the retail experience and provided education and product support. A further 5 Gold Lions, 9 Silver Lions and 8 Bronze Lions were awarded across 10 different campaigns.
Simon Cook, managing director of Cannes Lions, said, “Apple Inc. is highly deserving of the Creative Marketer of the Year award. The company’s marketing and communications consistently showcases creative excellence. Apple Inc. has created a culture that drives marketing strategies that ensure that its customers are true ambassadors for Apple brands.”
Tor Myhren, Apple’s VP of marketing communications, said, “We are humbled to receive this prestigious award. Apple has always believed creative, passionate people can change the world for the better. We make tools for those people, and we make marketing for those people.”
The Creative Marketer of the Year award was introduced in 1992. Past recipients include Google, Burger King, Samsung, Heineken, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Mars, IKEA and Unilever, each of whom have demonstrated that outstanding creativity drives business growth.
Defining Apple Inc. ads include “World Gallery,” part of the “Shot on iPhone” campaign which won 5 Gold Lions and a Grand Prix in 2015, “Dance,” from the awarded “Silhouette” campaign for iPod in 2004, and “1984,” for Apple Computers winning a Cannes Lions Grand Prix in 1984.
Apple Inc. will be presented with the award at the final Awards Show of the Festival on Friday, June 21; accepting the honor will be Myhren.
