During this time of year, it’s not hard to find something to be jolly about. But this year, we’re extra jolly.
What’s making us so happy? Five of our independent agency partners have been named Independent or Small Agency of the Year by leading organizations around the globe! A joyful time, indeed!
Read on to learn more about each of the winning partners.
Rosbeef! – Independent Agency of the Year
Rosbeef!, based in Paris, France, was awarded Independent Agency of theYear at the Grand Prix Les Agences de l’Année. The jury was presided by Jacques Séguéla, the “French Pope of Advertising,”. The institution, partnering with the Ministry of Culture and all major communication-focused medias (press & websites) is celebrating its 39th anniversary.
“We’re obviously very honored. It’s the only award celebrating agencies as a whole and the real collective work beyond this or that very specific successful or fancy campaign,” says Antoine David, Founder and Head of Strategy at Rosbeef! “It means a lot to us to be highlighted as a proud growing actor in this business with strong entrepreneurial values and independent mindset. It’s an encouragement to push it always further, to keep dreaming, to keep showing ambition.”
Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners – Small Agency of the Year
BSSP, based in Sausalito, California, USA, was named Small Agency of the Year by Ad Age. The media organization selected BSSP for several reasons: expertise in data analytics, stand out creative, strong culture and brand-building acumen. Winning Mitsubishi, along with standout creative work for Michael Angelo’s frozen meals and an identity overhaul for Blue Shield of California.
“We were thrilled and honored to win Ad Age’s 2018 Small Agency of the Year Gold Award,” says Patrick Kiss, President & Partner at BSSP. We’re an independent agency that’s been around for 25 years. The word independent is important, as it’s more than a word; it’s a spirit. It attracts a particular type of person – fierce, driven and relentless. And being small, nimble and agile is a great thing for marketers as we head into 2018. It allows us to move at the speed of culture and tackle big marketing challenges.”
relativ* – Independent Agency of the Year, Campaign Asia
relativ*, a marketing consultancy agency based in Tokyo, Japan, received Bronze as the Japan/Korea Independent Agency of the Year award from Campaign Asia. This marks the second year in a row that relativ* has received this honor.
“It’s great recognition for what we have accomplished in three and a half short years, but also a great motivator or reminder for where we actually would like to go,” says Cairo Marsh, relativ* Founder.
Propaganda India – Spikes Asia Independent Agency of the Year
Propaganda India, a data-driven creative agency with offices in Bangalore and Delhi, was named the Spikes Asia Independent Agency of the Year, along with winning a Grand Prix in Music for #Giveabeat – a song for heart disease driven by the percussion of heart beats done for Max Healthcare.
“This win comes at a moment when independent agencies operating in the new digital landscape are becoming change agents in advertising operating at the cusp of art, content and code,” says Priya Jayaraman, Founder and CEO of Propaganda India. “We are so charged up as an agency for Dreaming Big and can’t wait to show you what more we have in store.”
Ardmore Advertising – The Drum, UK’s Top 100 Independent Agencies
Belfast-based Ardmore Advertising also received high honors this year. They were named one the U.K.’s Top 100 Independent Agencies by The Drum, and the only agency in Northern Ireland to make the list. Ardmore Managing Director Mark Irwin shared: “Being named amongst our peers in the Top 100 is a brilliant achievement for our entire team and a lovely way to round off another fantastic year at Ardmore.”
Please raise a toast to these partners for all the incredible work that earned them these recognitions. Cheers to Rosbeef!, BSSP, relativ*, Propaganda and Ardmore!