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BBDO dominates Cannes Intl advertising festival
NEW YORK: BBDO Worldwide was the most awarded global agency network at this year’s International Advertising Festival in Cannes.
The agency received a total of 42 Lions including 14 Gold, 13 Silver, 13 Bronze, one media Lion and one special award for “Agency of the Year.”
Almap BBDO in Brazil was the most awarded individual agency within the BBDO Network, capturing 10 Lions. This earned it recognition as one of the festival’s “Agency’s of the Year.” BBDO Worldwide dominated the Print/Poster, Direct and Online Media competitions. BBDO received 18 Lions for its print and poster work, 12 Lions for Direct marketing, and five Cyber Lions for various online media campaigns.
This marks BBDO Worldwide’s most impressive performance at Cannes in the past three years. Last year, BBDO Worldwide finished in second place with a total of 25 Lions. In 2001, the agency tied for first with 23 awards. BBDO Worldwide chairman and CEO Allen Rosenshine has been quoted in an official release saying, “Our global commitment to our mantra of ‘The Work, The Work, The Work’ as our reason for being has again been validated by the creative community as not just an agency slogan, but also a year-after-year deliverable. Even more importantly, we have been able to demonstrate our creative excellence across all media and on behalf of a wide variety of clients. The Lions we have taken home are a tribute to the many BBDO agencies involved who are continuing to create an unparalleled body of work the world over.”
In all, 13 different BBDO network agencies were awarded Lions. These included: Almap BBDO (11), AMV BBDO in London (4), AtmosphereBBDO in New York (1), BBDO Argentina (2), BBDO Bangkok (1), BBDO InterOne, Germany (1), Berry Bush BBDO in South Africa (1), Clemenger BBDO, New Zealand (2).
BBDO Worldwide is the third leading global agency network with 302 offices in 77 countries. Last year Ad Age and Ad Age Global named BBDO Worldwide “Global Agency of the Year” for the second year in a row.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
