Leo Burnett & Arc sweep the awards at CRISTAL de la MENA

Winning a total of 16 awards across its various offices in the region, Leo Burnett MENA demonstrates its internationally recognized creative edge and network-wide pursuit of excellence.

In its second year, the CRISTAL de la MENA is a festival dedicated to the Middle East and North Africa region and to its work, executed in French, Arabic or English. It was created by the Mondial de la Publicité des Pays Francophones in Méribel, itself one of the most prestigious award ceremonies in the world. The first edition was held in Casablanca, while this year's event took place in the heart of the Middle East, in Faraya Mzaar, Lebanon.

Nearly 750 campaigns across all media categories were submitted by agencies throughout the Middle East and North Africa - making it the most comprehensive and holistic awards competition in the region. Submissions were reviewed by an international jury led by Jacques Séguéla, Worldwide Vice President & Chief Creative Officer, Havas Group, one of the industry's most celebrated global stars.

The winners were announced during the festival, held at the InterContinental Mzaar Hotel. In the 10 categories, Leo Burnett received 16 top awards, including two Grand Prix Awards for Tide and Re-Lebanon.ORG, firmly establishing the Agency as the most awarded in the region. Arc, the direct & interactive marketing Agency, earned five awards, LB Dubai earned eight awards, LB Beirut earned two awards and LB Cairo earned one award.

Bechara Mouzannar, Regional Executive Creative Director for Leo Burnett, said during the ceremony:

"After last year's success, our impressive showing at the second CRISTAL de la MENA proves once again that when it comes to creativity and excellence, Leo Burnett stands out. To all the creative teams I say, 'Congratulations and the bar is set higher for 2007.'"

In addition to the awards ceremony, the festival hosted many workshops and conferences, one of which was led by Farid Chehab, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett MENA. In his presentation entitled "Nobel or Cannes?" Farid Chehab described the road to discovery and its connection to creativity, tracing the similarities between a scientist winning a Nobel Prize and a creative honored by a Cannes award. The conference was followed by a luncheon that gathered many of Leo Burnett's clients and other invitees.

The CRISTAL Awards round off a challenging year that, despite turmoil for some countries in the region, has been full of success for the entire Leo Burnett team, an agency where big ideas are always pushed further and where exceptional creative work is the standard.