News

MEC was named Agency of the Year, beating last year’s winner MediaCom to the title. Meanwhile Viacom Brand Solutions was crowned Sales Team of the Year for the second year running.

The awards judges, chaired by Bauer Consumer Media’s chief executive Paul Keenan, rewarded MEC for outperforming the market in a tough economic period. The agency reported a 5% year-on-year increase in billings against a market-wide decline of 12%.

Sales Team of the Year VBS, which has recruited 152 new brands to television in the past year, was triumphant in a shortlist that included Google, Guardian News & Media, IDS and TalkSport.

MediaCom did not go home empty-handed, however, winning the Grand Prix for its Mars Galaxy campaign, which also won the Media Idea Large, a nod to the best campaign over £1m.

After a strong Rajar result earlier today, UTV’s TalkSport was the jubilant winner of the Media Brand of the Year, beating Last.FM to silver and ShortList to bronze.

Meanwhile Ring Ring Media’s founder Harry Dewhirst was named Rising Star of the Year after reaching the shortlist via Media Week’s 30-under-30 competition.

For the full list of winners, see below.

Agency of the Year

Mediaedge:cia

Sales Team of the Year

Viacom Brand Solutions

Grand Prix

MediaCom: Mars Galaxy

Media Brand of the year

TalkSport - UTV Media

Media Idea Large (over £1m)

MediaCom: Mars Galaxy

Media Idea Medium (£250k-£1m)

Mediaedge:cia: Paramount ‘Watchmen’

Media Idea Niche (under £250k)

MediaCom: NatWest ‘Teens Adapt’

Sales Pitch Large (over £1m)

CBS Outdoor: Cadbury Crème Eggs

Sales Pitch Medium (£250k-£1m)

Viacom Brand Solutions: Ella's Kitchen

Sales Pitch Niche (under £250k)

JCDecaux: Danone Actimel

International Campaign

MediaCom: Herbal Essences

Best Research Initiative

Guardian News & Media: ‘Engagement’

Media Innovation

Sky Media: Green Button Advertising

Collaboration

Mirror Group Newspapers and MediaVest: ‘John Smith’s’

Rising Star of the Year

Harry Dewhirst, co-founder and operations director, Ring Ring Media

Source: Sarah Crawley-Boevey, Media Week