Isobar Sri Lanka first digital agency to win historic 3 Golds at Effies

Isobar Sri Lanka, the digital arm of the premier advertising agency, Dentsu Communications, recorded a stellar performance at the Effies Awards held on 15 February.

The agency was crowned with three Gold, two Bronze and 14 Finalist awards at the event, the single-biggest awards haul ever for any single agency.

The two Golds were in the ultra-competitive ‘Social Media’ and ‘Youth Marketing’ categories for its YouLead campaign; while one Gold was for Softlogic Life, for whom Isobar did the digital execution and media planning. Other Isobar clients that secured a win at Effies were JAT, FriMi, Dettol (Reckitt) and Strepsils (Reckitt). In addition to its record win, Isobar became the first digital agency to win three Golds at the Effies in the very first year of entering the competition, and that too as a young three-year-old agency. It also went down in history as the first agency to have its 100% digital campaign to win Gold at the Effies.

Isobar Sri Lanka Vice President Mohenesh Chamith Buthgumwa said: “We are ecstatic to have won a record haul of awards at the highly-reputed Effies in our very first year of entering the awards event. More importantly, Isobar has created history by becoming the first agency to win three Golds in the same year. Winning the first Gold in the Social Media category is special as this is where our key expertise lies as a digital agency. 

Effies must be commended for introducing this category for the first time in Sri Lanka’s industry awards and proved to be a highly competitive category. Of the four finalist awards given in this category Isobar won two. Simply put, we couldn’t be prouder of Isobar for winning this clutch of awards as a three-year-old agency pitted against some of the large global agencies over two decades old.”

“These accolades are a testament to our effectiveness of Borderless Creativity in creating brand and business impact. Thank you to our clients for their continued trust and always supporting the dangerous idea. 19 awards, including 3 Golds in a single year showcases the team’s dedication in producing creatively effective work, day in and day out. We have ambitious plans to enter some of the big wins for APAC and other global award programs to give the teams that worked on this more recognition. Gaming and the metaverse is our main focus now and we are doing another world-first innovation in the next few months across these platforms,” Buthgumwa added.

DentsuGrant Group Chairperson and Managing Director Neela Marikkar said: “I am delighted to congratulate Isobar Sri Lanka for its momentous win at the Effies which proves how it is leading the digital revolution in Sri Lanka to transform businesses, brands, and people’s lives. We feel immense pride because isobar is the new kid on the block and our newest member in the Dentsu Group. This is a testament to all the hard work and creativity of the young and diverse team.”

Isobar offers a wide range of critical digital services, such as media planning and buying, technology and innovation, emerging media, and performance, with a particular emphasis on gaming and the metaverse. 

The agency also enjoys the distinction of being a highly awarded digital experience agency.

Within three years of starting operations, the agency has won Campaign Agency of the Year ROSA 2019, Silver for Digital Agency of the Year, and Bronze for Campaign AOY ROSA 2021. 

Isobar recently won top honours at SLIM Digis 2.1 awards in 2022, winning awards in five major categories, a feat no other agency has accomplished. Isobar Sri Lanka received two Golds and four Silvers, and for three Silvers a Gold was not awarded to any other brand, which makes Isobar Sri Lanka’s three silvers the top awards in those categories as well.

Organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing, the Effies Awards are open to all agencies and brands that strive to be recognised for their most effective marketing efforts. 

This year’s awards program had more than two years’ worth of marketing campaigns (from January 2019 to March 2021) considered for awards versus the usual one-year awards period. 

The judging panel consisted of local and international experience in judging similar awards and the jury had two international members as well.