DraftFCB awarded Fairfax AdMedia Agency of the Year – Special Group takes out Indie Agency title

The 2010 Fairfax AdMedia Agency of the Year citation was handed to DraftFCB CEO Bryan Crawford (pictured) by Fairfax Media CEO Allen Williams at the awards function at La Zeppa in downtown Auckland tonight.

Agency of the Year: DraftFCB.

Advertising Hall of Fame: Peter Spencer.

“DraftFCB’s business performance was outstanding,” the judges said.”This was a complete performance.” The judges were recruiter CindyMitchener, former Colenso BBDO chairman Roger Macdonnell, andwriter/publisher Reg Birchfield.

Special (pictured below left) nearly stole the show, with a strong finalist entry in the’big’ category and another in the Indie category – and it was this thatreally caught the judges’ eye. “Special won for its all-roundperformance, articulation of plans for the future, detail on peoplemanagement, and new business,” the judges said.

In the Media category, the 2008 winner, OMD, again had a brilliant yearwith profit up. OMD was ahead on financials and vision, and presentedone of the best-written applications across all categories.

The Direct & Interactive winner, Rapp, grew profit sharply, wasahead on staff management, and was No 10 in the global Gunn Report.Rapp’s success in winning new business and creative awards was thedeciding factor.

In the CEO category, Bryan Crawford won by a slim margin. “Bryan’sleadership skills were evident across the board,” the judges said.

ASA founding executive director (and current Director of the Foundationfor Advertising Research) Glen Wiggs MNZM was present to pick up hisWildcard – bestowed for the signal achievement of becoming the firstadman or woman this century to be recognised by the Crown. “That isfantastic,” he said. “I feel very honoured.”

The late, great Peter Spencer (left) was the year’s only inductee into the NZPost Targeted Communications AdMedia Advertising Hall of Fame. His sonChristophe and wife Michele were present to accept his citation.

Read the full Agency of the Year report in AdMedia March (out now).