The Agency Network winner is judged in four categories: net growth (business wins and substantial organic account expansion / contraction); agency management (appointments, restructures, new initiatives, operational or strategic change); creative quality (both excellence in traditional creative and creative innovation such as ways that agencies have engaged consumers); and marketing effectiveness (achieving substantive measurable results for clients).
The prestigious Global Agency Network of the Year award crowns 12 months during which 30 agencies in 13 countries within TBWA Worldwide received Agency of the Year awards in their respective countries. In South Africa, TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris was named Agency of the Decade by AdFocus and TBWA\South Africa was joint winner of the Large Agency of the Year category at the 2004 Ad Review Awards.
TBWA's creativity was equally recognized as the most awarded at Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, at the One Show, AdFest and Art Director's Club 2004. Additionally, Creativity Magazine named TBWA the most awarded network in the world.
Mike Bosman, Group CEO of TBWA\South Africa, says, "We are very proud and extremely honoured to be part of this. This award serves as a reminder that we are players on a global stage and serves as an inspiration to strive for great things during this year."
Jean-Marie Dru, President & CEO of TBWA Worldwide emphasises his pride in this achievement, saying: "Advertising Age Global Agency Network of the Year is a great reason to celebrate. The recognition is always nice and to be honored is an important milestone in the life of the network. It's also a terrific affirmation of the success we have achieved over the last several years. Such a title takes years of hard work to achieve. This was one of goals five years ago, and it's now a reality, thanks to each of our 8 300 employees throughout the world.
"In its selection of TBWA Worldwide, Advertising Age noted that TBWA showed growth of more than 10% last year, the highest of any network, including $900 million in new business. Along with that growth came creative kudos, original thinking and growing maturity as a global network."
TBWA Worldwide has 237 offices in 75 countries. The companies within TBWA\South Africa, include TBWA Hunt\Lascaris Johannesburg and Durban, TBWA\Fusion Cape Town, \Tequila Johannesburg, \TBWA Gavin Reddy; \Digerati and Magna Carta Johannesburg and Cape Town; and OPD (Optimum Production Direction).
