In a decidedly upbeat ceremony attended by more than 1,300 industry delegates at the Grosvenor House, the Publicis Groupe agency fended off strong competition from WPP’s 2009 winner MEC and Omnicom’s PHD. Aegis Media’s Carat was also shortlisted.
ZenithOptimedia’s case was bolstered by no account losses and £175m worth of new-business during the last year.
The agency also provided a strong presentation to Media Week’s industry judging panel, led this year by Linda Smith, former Starcom MediaVest chief turned chair of the Radio Advertising Bureau.
The agency was also recognised as having successfully developed its client offering and revenue streams beyond the traditional media model, with the likes of O2’s Load and Go campaign for example, which created a contextual TV campaign around Hollyoaks.
Led by chief executive Gerry Boyle, ZenithOptimedia has bounced back from the substantial loss of Lloyds, worth 5% of the entire business, to lay a strong claim to its 'best year ever'.
Global Radio pushes the boundaries
Stephen Miron's Global Radio was also among the winners last night, being named Sales Team of the Year after being credited with doing nothing less than changing agencies' perceptions of radio.
Market leader Global, which commands about 60% of all radio ad revenues, was judged to have used its position to set the agenda in terms of engaging with clients, producing outstanding creative, launching new products, increasing audiences and producing effective advertising solutions.
Paul Davies, director of marketing communications at Microsoft, said: "Their positive, can-do attitude will see us coming back to Global Radio again and again."
Early success for Alexander Lebedev
The Russian billionaire turned British media mogul has landed Media Week's Grand Prix in his first year as the new owner of the London Evening Standard.
Since the London newspaper stunned the market by moving from paid-for to a free model last October, its circulation has more than trebled, display advertising is up 160%, classified revenue is back in growth and there have been further increases in digital and B2C revenue.
The newspaper that continues to buck the trend was judged to be a rare success story in the past year, and one that has changed people's perceptions about what is possible.
Full list of winners at Media Week Awards 2010
Grand Prix: London Evening Standard
Agency of the Year: ZenithOptimedia
Sales Team of the Year: Global Radio
Media Idea (over £1m):
Gold: MPG Media Contacts for EDF Energy
Silver: PHD Media for Cadbury Wispa Gold
Bronze: ZenithOptimedia for O2/Telefónica
Media Idea (£250k - £1m)
Gold: ZenithOptimedia for Carling
Silver: MEC for Wrigley
Bronze: ZenithOptimedia for O2/Telefónica
Media Idea (under £250k)
Gold: Carat for Royal Navy
Silver: Carat for Santander Abbey
Bronze: MEC for Specsavers
Sales Pitch (over £1m)
Gold: ids for Greene King: Old Speckled Hen
Silver: talkSPORT for World Cup Sponsorship
Bronze: CBS Outdoor
Sales Pitch (£250k-1m)
Gold: Primesight for Vectone Mobile
Silver: Bauer Media for Blackberry
Bronze: last fm for Sony Consumer Electronics
Sales Pitch (under £250k)
Gold: Channel 4 for Orange
Silver: talkSPORT for Rileys
Bronze: Absolute Radio for The Wadworth Brewery
Media Innovation
Gold: Channel 4
Silver: Global Radio
International
Gold: PHD for Canon
Finalists:
MediaCom for P&G - Hugo Boss Orange
Starcom MediaVest Group for Oracle
Best Research Initiative
Gold: Radio Advertising Bureau (Radio: The Online Multiplier)
Silver: Radio Advertising Bureau (RadioGauge)
Bronze: MPG Media Contacts
Collaboration
Gold: Channel 4 television for O2
Silver: UM London for XBOX
Bronze: Carat for Diageo Gordon's Gin
Media Brand of the Year
Gold: London Evening Standard
Silver: Spotify
Bronze: talkSPORT
Rising Star: Andrew Nicholls, Dennis Publishing
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