Mktg - Effies 2008: JWT is agency of the year

Savia Jane Pinto

JWT is smiling all the way to the end of the year. The agency that picked up roaring Lions at the Cannes this year, garnered a total of 100 points and took with them the Effie for the agency of the year. Last year the agency was at number 5 in terms of points.

Second comes in O&M with 80 points and third is Lowe with 45 points. Incidentally, in 2006, Lowe took away the agency of the year and in 2007, O&M was awarded the same. The tables have reversed this year for these agencies.

The hoots and chants would not stop as the team dressed in shirts that said J, W, T went up the podium to collect the award. JWT picked 3 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze. Each gold adds 15 points, the silver adds 10 points and the bronze adds 5 points. This way JWT’s total points was 75. JWT also won the final grand Effie also thus adding another 25 points to their kitty making it a total of 100 points.


JWT won the golds for Nike Cricket (consumer products category) and two golds for Lead India for The Times of India in the corporate advertising as well as integrated advertising campaign. The solo silver for JWT was for Kurkure – family face on pack in the consumer products category. JWT won its four bronze metals for Diamond Bride (De Beers Group Marketing), Sunsilk Red Ribbon Express (UNICEF, India & NACO) and Pepsi (Me on My Can).

O&M, picked 3 gold Effies as well, 2 silver and 3 bronze. Bingo picked 2 gold for O&M in the consumer products and integrated advertising campaign category. The third gold was for Vodafone in the services category for Vodafone alerts. O&M won two bronze metals for Cadbury Bournvita, and one for Hutch Caller Tunes.

O&M also picked 2 silver for MotoYuva and Vodafone.

Lowe won a gold for Idea, What and idea in the services category, a silver for Tata Tea and four bronze of which two were for ICICI Prudential, one for Havell’s cables and the other one for Tata Tea again.

Next with 20 points was McCann Erickson that picked two silver Effies for Saffola Gold and Saffola Life. Rediffusion Y&R came at No. 5 with 15 points having picked a silver and a bronze for Airtel.

Bates 141, won a silver for Virgin Mobile – Think Hatke. While Mudra Multiplier won a bronze for TVS Scooty and so did Mindshare India for HSBC Premier handset.