AD Agencies
Mullen Lowe Group Network bags 12 Pencils at The One Show Awards
MUMBAI: The Mullen Lowe Group global network bagged twelve Pencil awards and fifteen Merit awards at The One Show ceremony held recently in New York City. The efforts of GGH Lowe Hamburg, Lowe Shanghai, Mullen Lowe U.S., 303 Lowe Sydney, Lola, Spain, DLKW Lowe London, Lowe Thailand, and Lowe Vietnam were recognized and applauded.
Mullen Lowe Group Global Creative Council president Jose Miguel Sokoloff said, “The One Show has always been one of the most respected shows in our industry. It is an enormous honour to have work amongst the winners. This is a show that is hard to win because the standards are very high and the competition is exceptionally tough.”
Taking the lead for the network was GGH Lowe Hamburg, which placed in eleventh place globally on The One Show’s Awards ranking. Success this year was due in thanks to the ‘Nazis against Nazis’ campaign in which a Neo-Nazi demonstration was turned into a charity walk. The initiative supported Exit Deutschland, a charitable organization that helps people leave neo-Nazi groups. The idea, in addition to, executional media responsibilities involved collaboration with agency Grabarz & Partner.
GGH Lowe CEO Benedikt Holtappels said, “I am extremely proud of the ‘Nazis against Nazis’ campaign. It has not only generated huge creative success, but has proved to be extremely effective in doing what great advertising should do: Drive social change.”
The One Show awarded ‘Nazis against Nazis’ the following:
- Gold Pencil: Best In Discipline – Cross Platform
- Gold Pencil: Cross Platform, Public Service – Events, Competitions & Installations
- Gold Pencil: Interactive / Websites: Public Service
- Gold Pencil: Direct / Direct Marketing: Ambient Media
- Silver Pencil: Social Media / Social Media – Integrated campaign
Lowe Shanghai was also highly awarded for their ‘Human Traffic Signs’ campaign created for General Motors Buick brand. The campaign recruited real traffic accident victims, who held up traffic signs at the spots where their accidents actually happened, offering a stark warning of the dangers of not obeying traffic laws.
The ‘Human Traffic Signs’ campaign was the most awarded Chinese creative campaign of 2014 taking the Grand Prix at both the Great Wall advertising festival in China and China 4As, the Grand Prix at AdStars in Korea, Gold at Cannes, two Golds at the London International Awards, as well as being named the second most awarded campaign at Spikes Asia 2014.
The One Show awarded ‘Human Traffic Signs’ the following:
- Gold Pencil: Print & Outdoor / Public Service: Outdoor – Campaign
- Gold Pencil: Print & Outdoor / Public Service: Newspaper/magazine – Campaign
Mullen Lowe U.S. took home two pencils for work with American Greetings and National Geographic Channel. To promote American Greetings cardstore.com, Mullen Lowe U.S. highlighted the importance of the role of mothers by posting job listings and holding interviews online for ‘The World’s Toughest Job.’ The position was explained to be full time, and it paid nothing; also known as being a Mom. The emotionally awakening campaign made people realize Mom’s value, then prompted people to visit cardstore.com to make Moms a card for Mother’s Day.
“The real reward for ‘World’s Toughest Job’ came from a global re-awakening for the importance of moms and how much they sacrifice for all of us. Earning a Gold Pencil from an organization as reputable as the One Show puts an amazing cherry on top,” said Mullen Lowe U.S chief creative officer Mark Wenneker.
The One Show awarded ‘The World’s Toughest Job’ the following:
- Gold Pencil: Branded Entertainment, Online/ Short Form
Mullen Lowe U.S. partnered with National Geographic Channel to show the world what happens when you sync up with a satellite going 17,000 mph around the Earth. You see the world from a whole new perspective. LiveFromSpace.com synced up with the International Space Station and allowed visitors to see exactly what was happening down on Earth. Visitors could explore the top iTunes songs, YouTube videos, Twitter trends, Foursquare check-ins and more in any country around the world, exploring a world with no boundaries and no borders – just like the astronauts.
The One Show awarded ‘Live From Space’ the following:
- Bronze Pencil: Interactive – Websites / Travel, Entertainment & Leisure
For Australian insurance company Budget Direct, 303 Lowe Sydney developed a campaign featuring daredevil ‘Captain Risky’ who engages in the high-risk activities that Budget Direct will not insure.
The One Show awarded ‘Captain Risky’ the following:
- Silver Pencil: Film / Consumer Television: 60 second – single
- Bronze Pencil: Film / Cinema: Short Form -: 90 & under
Lola, Spain helped Spanish Football magazine Libero explain life through football, delivering a campaign that propelled an unknown magazine into Spain’s pop culture with the campaign: ‘If they explain it with football, you get it.’
The One Show awarded ‘If they explain it with football, you get it’ the following:
- Bronze Pencil: Film / Consumer Television: 60 second – campaign
Additionally, Mullen Lowe Group also received Merit awards for the following:
Lowe Thailand:
Unilever, Sunlight, ‘Clingy Animals’: Print & Outdoor / Magazine: Campaign
Unilever, Sunlight, ‘Clingy Animals’: Print & Outdoor / Collateral: Posters – Campaign
Unilever, Sunlight, ‘Pig’: Print & Outdoor / Collateral: Posters – Single
Lowe Vietnam:
Unilever, Omo, ‘Versus’: Print & Outdoor / Collateral: Posters – Campaign
DLKW Lowe:
The Winston Fletcher Fiction Prize, ‘Winston Fletcher’: Print & Outdoor / Trade: Campaign
The Winston Fletcher Fiction Prize, ‘Winston Fletcher – “Catch 22”: Print & Outdoor / Print Craft – Writing
The Winston Fletcher Fiction Prize, ‘Winston Fletcher – “The Great Gatsby”: Print & Outdoor / Print Craft – Writing
GGH Lowe:
Exit Deutschland, ‘Nazis Against Nazis’: Cross Platform / Public Service: Ambient & Guerilla
Exit Deutschland, ‘Nazis Against Nazis’: Direct / Digital Direct Marketing: Social Media & Viral
Lowe Shanghai:
General Motors Buick, ‘Human Traffic Signs’: Film / Public Service: Television – Single
General Motors Buick, ‘Human Traffic Signs’: Print & Outdoor / Print Craft – Art Direction
Mullen Lowe U.S.:
American Greetings, ‘Dad Casting’: Branded Entertainment – Online / Short Form
American Greetings, ‘The World’s Toughest Job’: Film – Online Films and Video / Long Form – Single
Vh1 Save The Music, ‘Make It Stop’: Film – Online Films & Video / Public Service / Non-Profit
National Geographic Channel, ‘Live From Space’: UX / UI: Data & Human Experience / Data – Focused Design
Individual Recognition
Two members of the Mullen Lowe U.S. creative team were also recognized for special commendation. Joe Palasek, associate creative director/technologist, was honored as a One Show “One to Watch, a group of global creative professionals under the age of 30 who are challenging traditional modes of brand expression.” Palasek was instrumental in the creation of ‘Live from Space.’
Andrea Mileskiewicz, associate creative director, was named a One Show “Next Creative Leader, ten women destined to be the creative leaders of tomorrow.” Mileskiewicz was a lead creative on ‘World’s Toughest Job.’
AD Agencies
Publicis posts €4.19bn Q1 revenue, 6.4 per cent growth; backs FY outlook
Ad giant signals Q2 acceleration as AI and new deals power momentum
PARIS: Publicis Groupe continues to outperform the industry, delivering a strong start to 2026 under Chairman and CEO Arthur Sadoun. Despite a volatile global macro environment, the company has now outpaced the industry for nearly 20 consecutive quarters.
For Q1 2026, total revenue reached €4,191 million, up from €4,161 million last year, with organic growth of 6.4 per cent. Net revenue, which excludes pass-through costs, stood at €3,460 million, reflecting organic growth of 4.5 per cent.
Exchange rates had a negative impact of €268 million, mainly due to a weaker US dollar and pound sterling. Acquisitions, including Adge.AI and 160over90, contributed an additional €46 million.
Performance across regions was largely positive, with some variation:
- North America, accounting for 59 per cent of net revenue, grew 4.7 per cent
- Europe recorded growth of 3.9 per cent, led by the UK at 6.2 per cent, while France grew 1.6 per cent
- Asia Pacific posted 5.9 per cent growth, driven by China at 11.7 per cent
- Latin America grew 13.3 per cent
- Middle East and Africa declined 5.1 per cent due to geopolitical challenges
AI-powered marketing services, which now make up 86 per cent of the business, grew 5.6 per cent. However, the technology segment, representing 14 per cent of revenue, declined slightly as clients reduced spending on large-scale transformation projects.
Sharing his outlook, Publicis Groupe chairman and CEO Arthur Sadoun said, “Publicis had a very strong start to the year, outperforming the industry for almost 20 quarters in a row despite the volatile macro environment. Organic revenue growth reached 6.4%, leading to 4.5% in net and further increasing the gap with our peers.” He added that the company remains confident of delivering industry-leading performance. “We are confirming our industry-leading organic growth guidance of 4 to 5%, with the 4% rock solid, and a sequential organic growth acceleration in Q2 despite a higher comparable.”
Publicis continued its expansion with the acquisition of Adge.AI in March, followed by 160over90 in April to strengthen its sports and culture marketing capabilities.
Net financial debt stood at €1,156 million at the end of March, reflecting a seasonal shift from the net cash position at the end of 2025. Average net debt over the past twelve months was €1,035 million.
The company has reaffirmed its full-year guidance, expecting net revenue organic growth of 4 to 5 per cent in 2026. It also anticipates an operating margin slightly above 18.2 per cent and free cash flow of approximately €2.1 billion.
With expectations of stronger performance in the second quarter, Publicis remains well positioned to sustain its growth momentum.
