Cannes Lions to honour Anglo-Dutch giant Unilever with Advertiser of the Year award

| | No Comments

Keith-Weed-photo.jpgKEITH WEED, CHIEF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, WILL ACCEPT THE AWARD IN CANNES

Theorganisers of the 57th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festivalhave announced that this year’s prestigious Advertiser of the Yearaward will be given to the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever,owner of many of the world’s best-loved foods, beverages, home andpersonal care brands.

This important accolade is presented toadvertisers who have distinguished themselves for inspiring innovativemarketing of their products and who embrace and encourage the creativework produced by their agencies.

Known around the world for its thought-provoking yet entertainingadvertising campaigns, Unilever won its first Cannes Lion for OMOwashing powder back in 1961. Since then, Unilever brands have gone onto win close to 200 Lions over the years, including the Media GrandPrix in 2002 for ‘Magnum 7 Deadly Sins – Give In To It’, and both theCyber and Film Grand Prix in 2007 for its ground-breaking Dove’Evolution’ ad.

“As one of the world’s top consumer goods companies, millions of peoplearound the globe are touched daily by the advertising of Unilever’sbrands. Over the years, its marketing has been renowned for embracingthe creativity and innovation that has driven the powerful work thatits agencies have produced. Cannes Lions are delighted to bestow thehonour of Advertiser of the Year to Unilever,” said Terry Savage,Festival Chairman.

Keith Weed, Unilever’s Chief Marketing Officer, and member of theUnilever Executive, said, “It’s a great honour to accept this award onbehalf of Unilever. The long-standing relationships we have built withour agency partners over many years have enabled us to develop manystriking – and more importantly – effective advertising campaigns. Morethan this, the depth of our relationships has engendered the trustrequired to foster the genuine strategic thinking, creativity andinnovativeness that delivers both long-term brand equity andoutstanding work.”

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of fast movingconsumer goods with strong local roots in more than 100 countriesacross the globe. On any given day, two billion people use a Unileverproduct. With 400 brands spanning 14 categories of home, personal careand food products, no other company touches so many people’s lives inso many different ways.

Its portfolio includes some of the world’s best known and most lovedbrands including eleven €1 billion-plus brands and global leadership inmany categories in which the company operates. The portfolio featuresbrand icons such as Omo, Lipton, Dove, Axe/Lynx, Knorr, Hellmann’s,Wall’s ice cream, Flora/Becel, Vaseline, Surf and Cif.

Unilever is aiming to double in size while reducing its environmentalimpact, working to create a better future everyday by helping people tofeel good, look good and get more out of life with brands and servicesthat are good for them and good for others. The company has around163,000 employees in approaching 100 countries and generated annualsales of €40 billion in 2009.

The Advertiser of the Year trophy will be presented to Keith Weed inCannes during the Film, Film Craft and Titanium & Integrated LionsAwards Ceremony on Saturday 26 June 2010.