Corporate News
Scangroup’s key shareholder WPP edges out rivals in global awards
Sir Martin Sorrell, the Chief Executive Officer the marketing communications company, WPP. Photo/File
Posted Wednesday, June 27 2012 at 12:12
WPP Group, the global communications firm which owns 31.3 per cent of Kenya's Scangroup, has won the "Holding Company of the Year" award at the 59th Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.
This is the second year running, judges at the world’s premier showcase for excellence in communications feted WPP after several of its agencies won awards at the event.
Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, one of WPP agencies, was named "Network of the Year".
"It’s wonderful to retain the Holding Company of the Year award, particularly when we see the calibre of work delivered across categories from so many brilliant creative agencies the world over" said WPP Chief Executive Sir Martin Sorrell.
During the award ceremony on June 23, WPP edged out its biggest global rivals by getting 1,554.5 points in the competition against Omnicom’s 1,375.5 and Publicis 1,032 points.
WPP has been growing its presence in Africa, buying stakes in key agencies and entering into partnership with others.
Its strategy in the continent has also been to leverage its relationships with global and regional companies as they expand on the continent.
WPP Group directly owns 29 per cent of Scangroup and another 2.26 per cent through Ogilvy South Africa that has a 4.53 per cent ownership in the media services company.
This latest success follows the announcement earlier in the week that WPP is acquiring AKQA, the world’s leading independent digital agency, and the news that the Effie Index had rated WPP the most effective advertising holding company of 2012.
Scangroup acquired 50 per cent of Ogilvy East Africa in a cash and share transaction in 2010, as well as a 51 per cent share in Ogilvy Africa.
WPP had majority stake in the two companies before the ScanGroup purchase.
WPP Group presently owns nearly half of Ogilvy Africa and 50 per cent of Ogilvy East Africa through its subsidiary Russell Square Holdings, which is based in the Netherlands.
Cannes Lions, also known as the International Festival of Creativity, is reputed as the world’s leading celebration of creativity in communications.
Cannes Lions were won by agencies across WPP including Black River FC, Blast Radius, CHI & Partners, Grey, JWT, Johannes Leonardo, Kinetic, Landor, MediaCom, Metropolitan Republic, Mindshare, Ogilvy, Scholz & Friends, The Partners, Vice, VML and Y&R.
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