Spikes Asia names Mars as advertiser of the year

ASIA PACIFIC - Spikes Asia has announced Mars as the 2016 Advertiser of the Year. The award honours brands that set themselves apart through the quality of their campaigns and recognises innovative marketing and inspiring creative communications.

Lions Festivals chairman Terry Savage said the award honours brands that are brave, embrace new ideas and truly make an impact on their customers.

“Mars has time and time again proved that they are worthy recipients of this accolade through their innovative marketing and creative executions across their diverse product range,” Savage said. “We are proud to present this honour and look forward to their continued success both here in Asia Pacific and globally.”

Mars was awarded the Cannes Lions Advertiser of the Year in 2012. Notable wins across the festival over the past five years have included Pedigree’s radio station for dogs ‘K9FM’ winning a Grand Prix in the Radio category and the ‘Doggleganger’ campaign for the Pedigree Adoption Drive in New Zealand, which won a Grand Prix in the Digital category.

An additional 26 Spikes awards, including eight Gold Spikes, have proved the consistent creative excellence of Mars across the region.

Nicole McMillan, VP of marketing for the Asia-Pacific region with the Wrigley Company, a subsidiary of Mars, will accept the award at the Spikes Asia Awards ceremony on 23 September.

McMillan said Mars has an "unwavering commitment and belief" in the power of creativity.

“Across all of our segments, Chocolate, Food, Petcare and Wrigley, we have been able to unlock the potential of our brands by telling universal brand stories that excite and inspire consumers,” she said. “So it’s with tremendous pleasure that Mars are being acknowledged as Advertiser of the Year for our creative excellence in the Asia Pacific region.”

Taking place at Suntec Singapore, Spikes Asia runs from 21 through 23 September. Delegate registration is open and anyone wishing to attend the Festival and Awards can register via the website.