DDB Named Canada's Top Agency for a Second Consecutive Year

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, EDMONTON, Alberta and TORONTO, Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The much-anticipated annual Creative Report Card by Strategy Magazine has named DDB Canada as this country's top agency for the second year in a row.  This top honour was awarded to DDB as a result of its stellar performance once again in the award show world this year – both on a local and global level.  

Taking home an impressive 97 awards in 11 out of 15 shows, the agency received accolades for its long list of stand-out campaigns including: Unilever Knorr Sidekicks' "Salty" campaign, the Canadian Cancer Society's "Join the Fight" movement, the Canadian Tourism Commission's "LOCALS KNOW" initiative, and Subaru's "Get Out More" campaign. In its top agency analysis, Strategy noted that DDB consistently led the charge in some of the industry's most respected shows, with a Silver Lion at Cannes, Best in Integrated and Gold in Digital at the CMAs and two Golds at the ADCC Awards, to name a few.

This top agency win comes on the heels of DDB winning the industry's coveted "Agency of the Year" title – also for a second consecutive year.

"I couldn't be more proud of our team right now," Frank Palmer, Chairman and CEO of DDB Canada.  "Creativity is simply part of our DNA, and from the top down, or bottom up – any which way you look at it, the commitment from every person across all of our offices and all divisions contributed substantially for us to be able to repeat this phenomenal performance this year."

Since 1997, Strategy's Creative Report Card has shown DDB to be the country's most consistently creative agency, continually producing more breakthrough, award-winning advertising than its competitors.

"We believe that creativity is the most powerful force in business and this exceptional achievement and repeated recognition proves our theory time and time again," said David Leonard, National President and COO, DDB Canada.  "I want to thank our brave clients who share our passion for an intense focus, and commitment to every piece of work we create – their trust in us allows us to push boundaries, and continuously exercise the creativity that we're famous for."

This year marks the 11th time that DDB Canada has achieved the #1 ranking in the Creative Report Card – an unprecedented accomplishment.   From 1997 to 2006 the agency was the #1 ranked creative agency.  DDB finished 2nd in 2007 and 2008, and placed 3rd in 2009.  It then reclaimed its #1 positioning in 2010 and now in 2011.

DDB Canada's creative talents certainly made their mark within the top rankings of this year's Creative Report Card.  Under the Top Creative Director category, Cosmo Campbell and Dean Lee, Co-Creative Directors for DDB Vancouver held the 13th and 14th spot consecutively.  

In the Top Copywriter category, DDB Toronto creatives David Ross and Courtney Colomby both made the top-20 list in Canada at 16th and 19th respectively.  The Top Art Director category featured Todd Mackie of DDB Toronto at #16, who was most recently promoted to Co-Creative Director alongside Denise Rossetto.  Paul Wallace and Paul Riss, both also from DDB Toronto ranked #17 and #20 on the list as well.

DDB Canada's clients were also given top grades with Unilever taking the 6th spot, the Canadian Cancer Society taking the 7th spot, and BC Dairy Foundation taking the 13th spot within the top 20 rankings.

Established in 1989, Strategy's Creative Report Card provides the Canadian marketing community with a ranking of the country's top agencies, clients and creative talent, based on award show honours.  Local, regional, national and international awards show results are used to calculate the winners.

About DDB Canada

Named Strategy's 2010 Agency of the Year and Top Creative Agency, DDB Canada is the most creatively acclaimed, internationally recognized marketing communications agency in Canada. Known for advertising that generates significant results for clients, DDB Canada is a "total communications company" whose fundamental belief is that creativity is the most powerful force in business. DDB Canada has offices in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal. The agency's integrated groups include: DDB Kid Think (youth marketing), DDB Public Relations, Tribal DDB (online and interactive), Karacters Design Group, Rapp Collins (direct), Radar DDB (social media marketing) and DDB Hodes Recruitment Communications (recruitment marketing).

SOURCE DDB Canada