Weber Shandwick Named 2017 North America Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report
Weber Shandwick was named Agency of the Year at the 2017 North America SABRE Awards in New York. This marks the third time in four years that The Holmes Report has recognized Weber Shandwick as North America Large Agency of the Year, and the second time it has earned the overall Agency of the Year distinction. The firm also earned Gold SABRE awards for its work with client partners Lockheed Martin and Mattel/Barbie.
“These honors speak to the passion and expertise our teams bring to bear every day on behalf of our client partners,” said Andy Polansky, Chief Executive Officer, Weber Shandwick. “Across our agency, we’re laser focused on creating value for our clients and our people, working together to solve client problems and deliver outstanding work. Thank you to The Holmes Report for honoring our success, and to our teams and partners for their incredible contributions.”
The North America SABRE Awards, selected from more than 2,000 entries, recognize superior achievement in branding, reputation and engagement. Agency of the Year recipients are determined after an extensive research process involving more than 150 submissions across the United States and Canada.
The Holmes Report pointed to several driving factors in awarding Weber Shandwick the Large Agency of the Year distinction, including the firm’s “impressive restlessness,” competitive growth, collaborative culture and breakthrough client work. The Holmes Report Founder & Chair Paul Holmes noted, “Weber Shandwick now works for almost half of the Fortune 100, and has been working overtime to deliver a customer experience that ensures client longevity.”
Weber Shandwick and its client partners were also recognized for outstanding campaigns across categories, including work with Lockheed Martin for “Generation Beyond,” which won a Gold SABRE in the Corporate Media Relations category, and with Mattel for “Barbie: Evolve the Doll,” which earned a Gold SABRE in Issues Management.
Outstanding Individual Achievement
During the event, Weber Shandwick President Gail Heimann was presented with The Holmes Report’s Individual Achievement Award, celebrating her creative vision, leadership and commitment to enhancing diversity and inclusion within the PR industry.
Heimann has played an instrumental role in accelerating innovation across the firm’s global practice areas, weaving strategy and creativity into the heart of the agency. For over two decades, she’s worked to build brands and strengthen reputations for some of the world’s largest companies across a wide range of industry sectors, including consumer, food and beverage, beauty, healthcare, finance and technology. Her keen insights and unmatched creative talents have been a catalyst for Weber Shandwick’s most forward-thinking work with clients across the globe, as well as in the development of its pioneering branded content arm, Mediaco, and the firm’s expansion into integrated marketing services.
Heimann’s achievements have earned her several accolades over the years. In 2016, she was inducted into PRWeek’s inaugural Hall of Femme, recognizing female trailblazers in communications. She was also named to The Holmes Report’s 2015 North America Innovator 25 list, which celebrates individuals who accelerate innovation and push boundaries within the PR industry. After leading the PR Jury at the 2012 Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, she was asked to be a member of the inaugural Glass Lion jury in 2015, which celebrates work that breaks through gender bias and stereotypes. Currently, Heimann serves on the board of the PR Council and the LAGRANT Foundation, which works to increase diversity in advertising, marketing and PR.
The North America SABRE Award recognitions are among several honors earned by Weber Shandwick in 2017, including being designated an Advertising Age Agency A-List Standout and being named PRWeek’s U.S. Agency of the Year and Large Agency of the Year for three consecutive years. The firm was also named 2016 Global Digital Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report and 2016 Global Agency of the Year by PRWeek. In 2016, Weber Shandwick was proud to be the most awarded PR firm at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.