Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, Colenso BBDO Auckland and BBDO Proximity Singapore all featured in the 20 highest-ranked agencies in Asia-Pacific, according to their performance at Cannes this year. BBDO and Ogilvy were the only two networks to have three offices in the top 20.
Geographically, Japan leads the way in Asian creativity. Japan is ranked sixth in the world by winning a total of 31 Lions as well as two Grands Prix, in media and promo. India ranked next with 25 Lions, making India the ninth most successful country at Cannes Lions this year.
The report shows how Asian agencies perform against other agencies from around the world, as well as their competitors within the region - with Dentsu Tokyo and JWT Singapore dominating, just ahead of Ogilvy & Mather Mumbai and JWT India Mumbai.
Four of the five most awarded Asian agencies at Cannes Lions this year are from Australia, a market that makes up less than eight per cent of the region’s advertising economy. CumminsNitro, until this year only half-owned by Nitro Group, which took a 50 per cent stake in Cummins & Partners in 2007, won three Grands Prix – unprecedented in Cannes Lions history.
BMF Advertising, Saatchi & Saatchi Australia, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne and Leo Burnett Sydney also flew the Aussie flag in a spread of categories that echoed Australia’s natural bent for integrated work.
China has further to go with only Ogilvy Shanghai featuring in the top 20. Thailand was conspicuous by its absence this, year with industry sources citing the political and economic turmoil as a barrier. Another weaker force was Singapore.
The Cannes Report provides the rankings of agencies, regions, countries and even cities based on their performance at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. The ultimate guide to the 2009 Festival also reveals seminar analyses and jury presidents’ insights. Copies of the Cannes Report can be ordered here.
The top 10 agencies in Asia were as follows:
1 CumminsNitro, Brisbane
2 Dentsu, Tokyo
3 Saatchi & Saatchi, Sydney
4 Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne
5 Leo Burnett Sydney
6 Saatchi & Saatchi, Auckland
7 JWT Singapore
8 Colenso BBDO, Auckland
9 Ogilvy & Mather, Mumbai
10 BMF, Sydney