Campaign Global Agency of the Year: Winners’ reactions from awards night

As shops and individuals emerged victorious in more than 30 categories, they were applauded by over 160 guests from around the world at the inaugural Campaign Global Agency of the Year Awards ceremony one sunny evening last June.

Campaign's Agency of the Year Global Awards celebrate the world’s best agencies; Campaign caught up with them for their immediate reactions on the night.

This was Bradbourne’s reaction on the night: 

“When we started off, and why we called ourselves ‘Special’ really was to set that bar high. And to try and swing the bat at every opportunity, and create something quite extraordinary. And so it is somewhat fitting that 15 years later, we're here in London winning these top three awards in terms of people and agency of the year. It's quite staggering.

“I’m very proud, and I'm sure our teams waking up in New Zealand and Australia will be very happy as well. They are all really passionate about doing their best, not just for the for our clients, but for the for each other. It is a massive team effort and performance.

“It's especially important for us on the global stage, because of where we come from in the world, and that we are not a major multinational network, we have to do all we can to shine a light on the brand Special, the amazing work we do and amazing people we have. The more recognition like this, the better; the more our clients can see the incredible work we're doing, the more talent can see the incredible work we're doing and want to be part of it and come join us. It's really, really important for our profile.”

Here’s what Brimacombe had to say at the awards ceremony: 

“It's great to see growth and new business recognised as a really serious discipline in the business. VCCP has always taken this incredibly seriously, putting new businesses at the heart of the agency. This is a lovely recognition to the team, in terms of their success. Our quest is very much a global quest right now, and we are very much on a mission to grow ourselves globally. We’ve got this burgeoning global footprint, so hopefully this reinforces our global presence and profile.”

Here’s what Yılmazer had to say on the night:

“I've been in the business for almost 25 years. It's seems like this is the accumulation of everything that I've done. All the people that I've met, all the projects that I've been involved in. It's very meaningful—I’ve dedicated my life to advertising.

“As an agency from Istanbul, it’s very meaningful to be recognised globally for our success, and to be among all these groups of people from all around the world. It shows that we are not just a local agency; we are at the global level.

“Awards like this give comfort to clients that we can work with them—it is a reassurance for the client, even though they may have second thoughts. But with an award, it's so much easier for them to decide: It gives them reassurance.”

Eaves said on the night:  

“To be recognised among this incredibly esteemed group of peers is very special. I'm excited to be at an awards today. I flew in from New York this morning, and arrived at lunchtime to be here, which reflects the global nature of our business.

“Social is the fastest moving, fastest developing, fastest evolving bit of the whole industry right now. And so to be winning, and being recognised in the area that is driving the fastest change in the whole of our industry is something that we feel really proud of and I'm very privileged to be part of.”

Here’s what Kissell had to say on awards night:

“Agencies based out of Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) want to have global customers. They want to grow, they want to get access to the big budgets, and therefore do bigger, more exciting work. So having awards like this is really importantnbecause it's going to propel them onto that global stage.

Campaign’s Agency of the Year Global Awards are judged by a select panel of global and regional chief marketers; those in a position to hire shops and authorise budgets, with the process audited by MediaSense to ensure the highest standards of integrity and excellence.

Nominations to get involved in judging the awards are welcome from across sectors and continents. The final judging panel will be comprised of an inclusive range of brand-side individuals to fully represent the industry. Nominate a judge here.

There are more than 30 categories for agencies of every type and size, including some new categories for 2025. The early bird deadline is 21 January, with the standard deadline four weeks later on 18 February.

The shortlist will be announced in April 2024, before winners in June.

Winners will be revealed at Campaign’s Agency of the Year Global Awards ceremony at London’s Carlton Tower Jumeirah on 12 June; ideal timing for a pre-Cannes Lions Festival warm-up en route to the sunny Promenade de la Croisette.

The black-tie event will bring together judges and the world's top agencies, with a sparkling drinks reception followed by a three-course dinner, before the unveiling of the 2024 winners, with time to network and celebrate.

Entries are now open, so what are you waiting for? Enter here.

Need more persuading? See the full list of last year’s winners here: Campaign Agency of the Year Global Awards.