Big night for Leo Burnett across multiple Southeast Asian markets at Agency of the Year Awards in Jakarta

Publicis' creative agency Leo Burnett stole the show with a remarkable five Gold awards, winning top creative honours in Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, along with the top digital innovation awards in the Philippines and Vietnam. The agency further added two Silvers to its trophy collection: one for creative in the Philippines and another for digital innovation in Indonesia. Adding to the good news, Adnin Ardhias from Leo Burnett Indonesia was named Southeast Asia’s Account Person of the Year.

Meanwhile, Publicis-owned sister agency Brilliant & Million in Thailand took home Gold for digital innovation in its home market, along with a creative Bronze. Publicis Worldwide further contributed to Publicis Groupe’s big night with a creative Silver in Vietnam for its creative agency brands.

Among the other creative networks awarded were WPP networks Ogilvy and VML which picked up three metals between them in Indonesia, including a Silver for each in the creative category.

Omnicom creative agencies had a strong showing in the Philippines, earning three awards, including a creative Silver and Bronze for TBWA SMP and BBDO Guerrero, respectively. TBWA also secured the Silver creative award in Thailand.

The Southeast Asia Marketing Agency of the Year award went to a creative agency, namely Hakuhodo’s Wolf BKK of Thailand.

Earned media

No single agency dominated the media awards, though Zenith struck the most Gold on behalf of Publicis Groupe, earning top spot in both Indonesia and Vietnam, while adding a Silver in Thailand.  Zenith Vietnam also saw its very own Hai Anh named Southeast Asia Young Business Leader of the Year. Sister-agency Starcom also made its presence felt in the Philippines, earning two Silvers for media and digital innovation, alongside a Bronze for digital innovation in Vietnam.

Dentsu X walked away with three awards on the night, taking home a Gold in Thailand, a Silver in Vietnam along with a Silver for digital innovation in Thailand. IPG Mediabrands saw Initiative mine a pair of Silver metals in the Philippines and Thailand and saw UM bag a pair of Bronze in Indonesia and the Philippines. OMD, meanwhile scored three Bronze awards in Thailand and Vietnam, including a rare creative win by a media agency in Vietnam.

Independent observations

Among the independents, Redcomm Indonesia stood out as the only agency to claim two Golds, earning recognition as the top independent agency in its home market and as Indonesia’s top digital innovation agency. Also from Indonesia, Moonfolks also received praise for its commendation in areas of work culture and social responsibility, taking home Southeast Asia’s Gold for CSR Achievement.

Rounding out the Independent Agency category, Gold awards were won by Blink in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar; Propel Manila in the Philippines; Happiness Saigon in Vietnam and Sour Bangkok in Thailand. 

But Vietnam's PMAX was the most awarded independent on the night, taking three awards. It won Silver for digital innovation along a pair of Bronze in the independent agency category in Vietnam and in the B2C Marketing Agency of the Year category for Southeast Asia. 

Three independent agencies from Myanmar were named multiple winners on the night, namely Mango Media for Silver awards in media and digital innovation; Beyond 360 for its Silver awards in the digital innovation and independent agency categories; and Wave Digital with a pair of Bronze. 

PR & Production

Elesi Studios from the Philippines won the night among production companies, securing Gold as the Southeast Asia Production Company of the Year and seeing Earl Guico named Southeast Asia Producer of the Year.  

No shortlists were awarded in the PR category for Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos or Vietnam, nor did any agency strike Gold. However, Silver metals were earned by EON in the Philippines as well as MSL and Dentsu Creative in Vietnam. 

See here for the full winners list of the night.