Three agencies win in multiple categories while Asda’a picks up Chairman’s honour..

Dubai: Three agencies — Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Cicero & Bernay and Edelman UAE — won top honours in multiple categories while the Asda’a Burson-Marsteller’s CEO Sunil John picked up the Chairman’s gong at the Middle East PR Awards 2016. The corporate communications at Atlantis the Palm was rated as having the best “in-house team”, with 17 winners being named across categories.

Weber Shandwick MENA was named Mepra “agency of the year”, while Impact Porter Novelli won for best integrated campaign. This is the eighth year that Mepra has been handing out awards for top-notch campaigns.

“We are thoroughly impressed by the superb level of creativity and innovation demonstrated in the entries that we have received for this year’s awards. These are the kind of campaigns that are having a major impact on businesses and organisations across the region” said Brian Lott, Chairman of Mepra and Executive Director of Communications at Mubadala. “We are confident that this can only raise the bar for everyone in the business as they take inspiration from the ideas, expertise and the ability shown in this year’s winning campaigns.”

The panel of judges selected entries related to categories such as strategic approach, research, planning, creative tactic and evaluation excellence. Entries were submitted from across the region.

The Chairman’s Award is given to an individual for his or her overall contribution to the profession in the Middle East. “The PR industry today provides a huge opportunity for young people, particularly young Arabs — and it’s fantastic to see how it is attracting some of the top talents in the market place,” John said. “I am convinced that the future of our profession is in exceptionally capable hands.”

Apart from the Chairman’s mantle, Asda’a won gold in the “corporate reputation” category for its work related to the eighth annual Arab Youth Survey. It also won a silver in the “Media Relations” category for its work on the survey.