MUMBAI: Wunderman, Mumbai, a part of Young & Rubicam group, has won the coveted 'Echo Leadership' award at the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) international Echo awards, 2005, in New York. This was for its work on the mailer for ICICI Prudential's SmartKid - a Child Education Plan.

The DMA International ECHO Awards are considered the Oscars of direct marketing, and are highly sought after by direct marketing agencies from all over the world. Every entry is scrutinized by the most acclaimed critics from all over the world on parameters, which include a total package of strategy, creative, database usage, planning and of course, superlative results, states an official release.

Commenting on the win, Wunderman VP Manas Mohan says, "Leading the way with creatives that 'work' has always been second nature to Wunderman, across the world. It therefore gives me great pleasure to announce that Wunderman India, Mumbai has won the coveted ECHO Leader award at the DMA International ECHO Awards, 2005.Last year Wunderman Delhi had reached the finalist position in the Echo awards and I am proud that this year we have won the Leader award, it only goes to prove our strive for excellence".

The DMA is the association of direct marketing agencies based in New York. Started in1930, The DMA International Echo Awards have honored outstanding direct response campaigns from around the world. The entries go through three rounds of meticulous and tough judging.

The selection and judging procedure for this year's awards started in April and was concluded in the first week of September. The awards ceremony was held on October 19th in Georgia, Atlanta.

Wunderman offers data solutions both in-house and through Knowledgebase Marketing, a wholly owned subsidiary and of course, best-in-class creative services. It combines broad-ranging capabilities in strategy and insights, customer dialogue and tele-services, media, interactive and promotions and mix well to deliver holistic, seamless client solutions. Its client roster includes global brands such as Ford, Microsoft, Citibank, Sears, Xerox, Roche, Telefonica, Danone, AstraZeneca, Club Med, AT&T, Burger King and Kraft.

Its clients in India include Castrol, Jet Airways, Citibank, Ford, Microsoft, Accenture and British Council among others. We create customer experiences that build brands, initiate true dialogues and drive action consistently and successfully, in offices worldwide, the release adds.