UM wins Cannes Media Gold, the Cannes Media Grand Prix and Cannes Media Agency of the Year

Universal McCann is the global network of which local media agency UM7 is part of. UM7 and UM share strategic tools and best practices along with several common clients and brands across the region.

It is the second time since the Cannes Media Awards were launched in 1999 that Universal McCann Australia has been awarded the Cannes Media Grand Prix and in both cases the agency has won for its breakthrough strategy and execution on behalf of client Unilever Australia. The first Grand Prix was won in 2002.

Universal McCann's Grand Prix this year was awarded for the agency's media communications strategy for Unilever's Lynx Jet campaign, with the centre piece of the campaign being the creation of a fictitious airline - a development derived from insights and knowledge of the Lynx target market. The campaign was developed in collaboration with Lynx's creative agency Lowe Hunt in Australia, a sister company within the Interpublic Group of Companies.

Jaikumar Menon, head of UM7 in the Middle East said, "This is a recognition of the kind of leadership that our agency network has globally, and it makes us all proud to be part of this network and to be global partners in this success."

Jeff Cressall, CEO of Universal McCann Australia, said the scope of the wins was the result of a relentless focus on attracting the best talent and inspiring the agency's clients with consumer engagement innovations that push known boundaries of strategic thinking and execution.

"The talent we have developed within UM and the great clients we work with have allowed us to achieve outstanding results," said Cressall. "To win the Grand Prix twice in four years is proof of our consistent performance. The Media Agency of the Year Award is a testament to our standards of accountable creativity, our strategic products and the high levels of trust our clients place in our ideas and executions. We share the accolades with them."

This year's Cannes Media Lions was judged from a pool of 176 finalists across 19 media categories. Universal McCann Australia is the only agency to have won the Cannes Media Grand Prix twice.