DraftFCB named top ad agency

Auckland advertising agency DraftFCB has been named the 2010 Agency of the Year for its "outstanding business performance" over the last year.

DraftFCB's year included recognition for the best ad in the Fair Go Ad Awards for its "Sandpit" television commercial for Mitre 10.

The agency also picked up new business throughout a tough year in the market, including Westfield and the National Bank.

DraftFCB had it's best year yet at the industry's top creative show – the Axis Awards - last year.

The competition is run by publishers Fairfax Media and AdMedia and the awards were judged by ad industry recruiter Cindy Mitchener, former Colenso BBDO chairman Roger Macdonnell and writer/publisher Reg Birchfield.

The judges also rewarded Special Group with the Indie Agency of the Year award, saying the small Kingsland-based business "nearly stole the show" with a strong entry in the overall category too.

"Special won for its all-round performance, articulation of plans for the future, detail on people management, and new business," said the judges.

Also amongst the winners were OMD for the media agency category and Rapp for the direct/interactive agency category.

DraftFCB's chief executive Bryan Crawford took the CEO of the Year honours while Glenn Wiggs MNZM was awarded the Wildcard Award.

The late Peter Spencer was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame.

- © Fairfax NZ News