Weber Shandwick Wins Silver, Bronze Lions at 2017 Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity 

−Firm Honored as Lead Idea Agency on Three Lion-Winning Campaigns in Health & Wellness, PR, Glass Categories–

 

−Hosts President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos for Main Stage Event–

 

In the Health & Wellness category, Weber Shandwick was awarded a Bronze Lion as lead idea agency in OTC Oral Medicines for PR with GSK Consumer Healthcare for Excedrin #DebateHeadache. This is the second year in a row Weber Shandwick and GSK Consumer Healthcare have earned a Cannes Lion in Health & Wellness for Excedrin. The firm also was recognized with two Silver Lions as lead idea agency in the Public Relations and Glass categories for its work with ActionAid UK on the Brutal Cut campaign to stop FGM against young girls in Kenya. The Glass category recognizes work that addresses issues of gender inequality. In the Media category, Weber Shandwick earned a Bronze Lion for its role as PR agency on the U.S. Army White Hats Needed campaign led by McCann New York.

Weber Shandwick also was honored with a total 21 shortlists across eight categories, including its work with Mattel for the Barbie “Ticket to Play” campaign in the PR and Promo & Activation categories, and the “Playing with Fire” campaign with Trygg-Hansa in the Direct category.

 

Weber Shandwick Hosts President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos on Festival Main Stage

In “A Farewell to Arms,” Weber Shandwick hosted President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos, the recipient of the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize. The captivating main-stage conversation explored the critical role of creativity and communications in bringing peace to Colombia after a half-century of civil war. President Santos shared his perspectives on the type of leadership required to engage the most hard-lined adversaries, as well as lessons learned by fellow peacemakers and role models, such as Nelson Mandela.

 

“To make peace you have to lead in a different way; you have to change minds and change hearts,” Santos said. “You have to think the unthinkable.”

 

Weber Shandwick Chairman Jack Leslie interviewed President Santos, bringing more than three decades of experience in advising Colombian leaders on international relations, development, security and terrorism. In 2016, Leslie was presented Colombia’s highest honor given to a non-citizen, the Order of San Carlos, for his commitment to instilling peace and security in the country.

 

The session was introduced by Jose Miguel Sokoloff, Global President of MullenLowe Group’s Creative Council. Sokoloff shared examples of highly-regarded creative campaigns led by MullenLowe in Colombia that ultimately helped bring the Colombian government and rebel fighters closer to resolution.

 

Firm Represented in Young Lions Competition, and Health & Wellness and PR Juries

Weber Shandwick was selected to participate in the annual Young Lions PR Competition, which gives young talent an opportunity to showcase their creativity and compete against peers on an international stage. Angelina Hedra and Viviana Villasmil of Dubai represented team MENA and Weber Shandwick. The pair was selected by the PRCA to represent the Middle East PR industry after winning the local competition in March. Weber Shandwick’s London team also earned Silver in the local UK competition.

Two experts from Weber Shandwick also were selected to serve as jury members at this year’s festival. Annick Boyen, CEO of Benelux, Weber Shandwick, participated on the PR Lions jury. Stacey Berenstein, executive vice president & director of Global Health at Weber Shandwick, served on the Health & Wellness Lions jury.