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WPP, Coca-Cola, BBDO Worldwide top Effie Effectiveness Index
MUMBAI: Effie Worldwide has released its global rankings for the most effective marketers, brands, agency holding groups, agency networks, agency offices and independent agencies according to results of the 2015 Effie Effectiveness Index.
Now in its fifth year, the Effie Index recognizes the architects of the most effective marketing communications ideas from around the world, determined by their success in more than forty national & regional Effie Award competitions.
Companies ranked highest in the 2015 Effie Effectiveness Index globally include The Coca-Cola Company (marketer) and Coca-Cola (brand), WPP (agency holding group), BBDO Worldwide (agency network), Colombian agency Sancho BBDO (individual agency office) and Ukraine’s Banda Agency (independent agency).
“Effie Worldwide’s annual Effie Index recognizes the exceptional ideas that delivered results and made a difference for businesses globally. The Index is distinctively comprehensive in that it shines a light on the incredible ideas that worked around the globe, from local to international campaigns, and from both multi-nationals and independent brands. This year’s honorees have set the bar higher for the industry and proven that great creative combined with thoughtful strategy equates to successful marketing initiatives,” said Effie Worldwide chair of the board of directors and Facebook vice president, global marketing solutions Carolyn Everson.
Highlights from this year’s rankings include TheCoca-Cola Company unseating Effie Index incumbent Unilever (now second) as the top ranked marketer. Procter & Gamble retained its third place position. Coca-Cola remained the most effective global brand for the third year in a row. Vodafone jumped to second place, bumping McDonald’s down to third in the global brand ranking.
The top three most effective holding groups remained unchanged from last year, with WPP Group ranked as the most effective agency holding group for the fourth consecutive year, followed by Omnicom and Interpublic. For the second year in a row, BBDO Worldwide topped the world’s most effective agency network ranking, with McCann Worldgroup moving up one spot to second, pushing Ogilvy & Mather to third.
Sancho BBDO topped the Global Individual Agency Office rankings for the second year in a row. Banda Agency regained its spot as the most effective independent agency in 2015. It was previously ranked first in the 2013 rankings.
“The Effie Effectiveness Index is the world’s most prestigious ranking of effective marketing, and five years of data allows for a bigger picture to compare and contrast the trends in marketing. What’s more, by having access to the cases that led to success in the Effie Index, marketers can study best in class examples of effective marketing from around the globe,” said Effie Worldwide president and CEO Neal Davies.
The 2015 Effie Effectiveness Index is compiled from 3,136 finalists and winning entries from worldwide Effie Award competitions between 1 January, 2014 – 31 December, 2014. This is the first time the Effie Index rankings were calculated using a January-December qualifying period, which will provide marketers with a better understanding of their success over a single calendar year. Previous rankings were tabulated over a June-June eligibility time period.
Effie Index Global Rankings:
The top five most effective marketers in the world are: The Coca-Cola Company, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Mondelēz and PepsiCo.
The top five most effective brands in the world are: Coca-Cola, Vodafone, McDonald’s, Pepsi and Movistar.
The top five most effective agency holding groups are: WPP Group, Omnicom, Interpublic (IPG), Publicis Groupe and Havas.
The top five most effective agency networks are: BBDO Worldwide, McCann Worldgroup, Ogilvy & Mather, Lowe & Partners and Young & Rubicam.
The top five most effective individual agency offices are: Sancho BBDO (Bogota), FP7/DXB (Dubai), Lowe Lintas (Mumbai), Ogilvy & Mather (Mumbai) and FCB New Zealand (Auckland).
The top five most effective independent agencies are: Banda Agency (Kiev), MINT (Dubai), thjnk (Hamburg), ACG Advertising Agency (Budapest) and Barnes, Catmur & Friends (Auckland).
The Index can also be analyzed by region and the companies that ranked highest in each region in 2015 are:
Asia Pacific
Unilever (marketer), Coca-Cola (brand), WPP Group (agency holding group), Ogilvy & Mather (agency network), Lowe Lintas – Mumbai (agency) and Barnes, Catmur & Friends – Auckland (independent agency).
Europe
Unilever (marketer), Coca-Cola (brand), WPP Group (agency holding group), McCann Worldgroup (agency network), Adler, Chomsky & Warshavsky Grey in Tel Aviv (agency) and Banda Agency in Kiev (independent agency).
Latin America
The Coca-Cola Company (marketer), Movistar (brand), WPP Group (agency holding group), BBDO Worldwide (agency network), Sancho BBDO – Bogotá (agency) and a tie between Madre Buenos Aires and Beat (Bogota) (independent agency).
Middle East & Africa
Unilever (marketer), Coca-Cola (brand), Interpublic (IPG) (agency holding group), McCann Worldgroup (agency network), FP7/DXB – Dubai (agency) and MINT – Dubai (independent agency)
North America
Procter & Gamble (marketer), Dove (brand), Publicis Groupe (agency holding group), Starcom MediaVest Group (agency network), Starcom MediaVest Group, Chicago (agency) and Cramer-Krasselt, Chicago (independent agency).
MAM
Term Life Insurance Explained: Who Needs It and Why It Matters
If you are actively investing to grow your money month after month, you already understand the value of planning ahead. SIPs, long-term portfolios, retirement planning and goal-based investing all point to one thing. You are building a future with intent.
What often gets missed in this process is one foundational question. How well is the income that funds all these plans protected?
Term life insurance fits naturally into this stage of financial planning. It does not compete with investments. It supports them by protecting the income that makes long-term growth possible.
Why Income Protection Is a Core Part of Financial Planning
Every financial plan begins with income. Before money is invested or saved, it is earned.
Over time, this income is allocated across multiple needs:
● monthly household expenses
● EMIs and long-term loans
● savings and emergency funds
● investments aimed at future goals
As responsibilities increase, financial planning becomes layered. Each layer assumes income continuity. Term life insurance exists to ensure that this structure does not become fragile due to overdependence on a single income source.
It adds stability to plans already in motion rather than introducing a new objective.
What does term life insurance do?
Term life insurance provides a fixed payout to your nominee if you pass away during the policy term. The purpose of this payout is practical and clearly defined.
It is intended to:
● replace lost income for a defined period
● help manage outstanding liabilities
● support ongoing household and goal-based expenses
There is no investment or savings component. This keeps the product focused and cost-efficient, allowing individuals to opt for meaningful coverage without diverting funds meant for growth-oriented investments.
Why Term Life Insurance Complements Investing?
Investments and insurance play different roles in a financial plan.
Investments are designed to:
● grow wealth over time
● compound with consistency
● be adjusted as goals and risk appetite change
Term life insurance is designed to:
● provide financial continuity
● protect existing plans from disruption
● remain stable once put in place
Keeping these roles separate improves clarity. Investments are allowed to perform without being forced to double up as protection, while insurance quietly supports the overall structure.
Who Should Consider Term Life Insurance?
Term life insurance becomes relevant when financial planning extends beyond individual needs. This typically includes:
a) Working professionals
When income supports shared expenses or long-term plans, protection becomes essential.
b) Individuals with long-term liabilities
Home loans, education loans and other EMIs often extend over decades. Term insurance ensures these obligations remain manageable.
c) Parents planning future milestones
Education, healthcare and lifestyle goals require continuity over many years.
d) Early planners with rising incomes
Starting earlier allows coverage to align smoothly with career progression and evolving responsibilities.
How Much Coverage Should Be Considered?
Coverage should be guided by financial reality rather than affordability alone.
A well-rounded evaluation typically considers:
● number of years income needs to be replaced
● existing and future liabilities
● long-term goals already planned
● inflation and rising living costs
Many insurance companies offer options starting from 50 lakhs, 1 crore term insurance and higher. It allows individuals to choose coverage based on their income, liabilities and future plans.
How Term Life Insurance Fits Into a Long-Term Plan
Once set up, term life insurance does not demand frequent attention.
It does not require active monitoring, market tracking or performance reviews. Its role is structural rather than dynamic.
By ensuring financial continuity, it allows families to:
● stay aligned with long-term plans
● avoid rushed financial decisions
● focus on execution rather than damage control
When aligned correctly, term insurance strengthens the foundation on which investments, savings and retirement plans are built.
Choose the Right Insurance Partner
Once the need, coverage amount and role of term life insurance are clear, the final and most important step is choosing the right partner.
This decision should be based on:
● clarity and transparency in policy terms
● a strong claim settlement track record
● consistency in servicing and communication
● the ability to support long-term financial planning rather than just selling a product
Term life insurance is a long-term commitment. The partner you choose today will be the one your family relies on years down the line.
When protection is aligned with purpose and backed by a dependable insurer, term life insurance becomes a quiet but powerful part of a well-built financial plan.






