Ogilvy Media and Neo@Ogilvy win Bronze at Campaign Agency of the Year Awards 2018

Ogilvy Media and Neo@Ogilvy Managing Director Lalith Sumanasiri (second left) and Neo@Ogilvy Chief Operating Officer Amitha Amarasinghe (right) accepting the awards at the gala ceremony held in Mumbai, India

Ogilvy Media, premier media agency, and Neo@Ogilvy, a leading digital agency in Sri Lanka, were awarded the ‘Rest of South Asia Media Agency of the Year – Bronze’ and the ‘Rest of South Asia Digital Agency of the Year – Bronze’ respectively at the recently concluded South Asia leg of the Campaign Agency of the Year Awards 2018 in Mumbai, India. 

The award entrants are judged on the overall performance of the agency business, the objectives set out at the beginning of the year, the strategies adopted to accomplish these objectives and most importantly the results achieved at the end of the relevant 12 month period. Key criteria considered include business growth, innovations and new initiatives, client and talent retention, as well as recognition received and industry initiatives introduced.   

The Ogilvy Media entry highlighted how the agency embraced change to adapt and succeed in one of its most challenging years yet. In addition to adverse macro and micro economic factors, higher media inflation, rapid changes in the media landscape, and client demand for higher effectiveness at a lower cost saw most agencies responding with a price war with an increased media commoditisation. 

However, Ogilvy Media’s approach revolved around six key strategy pillars which prioritised on preventing any possible decline in business while upholding its uniqueness in planning excellence and service quality. Through this, the agency was able to achieve outstanding results in client retention, business acquisition, staff development and retention, and innovation – as well as becoming the most awarded agency at the Effie Awards Sri Lanka 2017. The Neo@Ogilvy entry focused on the agency’s two-fold approach to address the exponential evolution of digital platforms, as well as to developing talent. One of the key strategies saw the forming of strategic partnerships with digital platforms such as Facebook and Eskimi and regulatory agencies such as ICTA, providing Neo@Ogilvy with a two-steps-ahead advantage. 

The digital agency also demonstrated how they addressed the paucity of expertise in the market by nurturing talent internally, and through education and workshops for university students externally. These strategies resulted in significant achievements for Neo@Ogilvy especially in client retention and growth, talent retention, as well as accumulating the highest number of awards for a digital agency at the Effie Awards Sri Lanka 2017.

“With the advent of new media, the current environment is both stimulating and challenging. In this context, the key to being a sustainable and growing business is adaptability and innovation. These were central in our approach not only to our business, but in our service offering to clients as well as managing our people. I am extremely proud of the effort by the team at Ogilvy Media this past year, and honoured to be recognised by this regional accolade,” said Ogilvy Media and Neo@Ogilvy Managing Director Lalith Sumanasiri.

“The digital landscape in Sri Lanka is an exciting one, but its growth needs to be understood and anticipated in order to remain successful. I truly appreciate all the work put in by the team at Neo@Ogilvy last year, and dedicate this award to their untiring efforts,” said Neo@Ogilvy Chief Operating Officer Amitha Amarasinghe.  

Celebrating its 25th year, Campaign Asia-Pacific Agency of the Year Awards celebrate the people, the work and the businesses achieving exceptional success in the world’s most exciting and fastest-growing marketing and advertising markets.