IPG Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity 2023 Highlights

IPG demonstrated remarkable success at the 70th annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, securing a total of 105 awards, including one Titanium and five Grand Prix wins.

IPG Health stood out as the “Healthcare Network of the Year,” with AREA 23 earning the prestigious title of “Healthcare Agency of the Year” for the second consecutive year. This recognition reflects their continued excellence in the healthcare space.

FCB was named the “North America Network of the Year” for the fifth consecutive year, a testament to their consistent and outstanding work in the region.

McCann New York’s impactful project, “ADLaM – An Alphabet to Preserve a Culture,” designed for Microsoft, not only won the Design Grand Prix but also secured the Creative Business Transformation Grand Prix. Similarly, McCann Poland’s “Where to Settle” campaign for Mastercard received the Sustainable Development Goals Grand Prix and the esteemed Titanium Lion, signifying its groundbreaking creativity and industry-shifting impact.

FCB New York celebrated a significant win with the Entertainment for Sport Grand Prix for its “Dreamcaster” campaign for Michelob Ultra. Additionally, FCB Toronto was honored with a Grand Prix in the Direct category for its “Runner 321” campaign for Adidas.

Across the IPG network, IPG companies won five Grand Prix, one Titanium, 15 Gold, 35 Silver, and 49 Bronze Lions. These notable achievements highlight IPG’s commitment to driving innovation, creativity, and pushing boundaries in the advertising industry.

IPG also hosted its annual Inclusion Breakfast, marking the company’s 11th year focusing on the implications of equality in the workplace, society and media. This year’s program, “Don’t Whisper, SHOUT,” showcased IPG’s efforts to be upstanders, not bystanders, in the inclusion conversation — utilizing visuals, products, language and actions to challenge harmful stereotypes, celebrate diverse personhood and foster a more inclusive world.

On the mainstage, Kristen Cavallo, CEO of MullenLowe Global and The Martin Agency, joined Academy Award-winning Actress Halle Berry and Bayer’s Chief Marketing and Information Officer Patricia Corsi for “Every Body’s Business” — a conversation on the influence of women’s bodies on creative decisions, marketing and consumer behavior.

“How Hip Hop and Science Turned Kids Into Sugar Experts” featured Tim Hawkey, Chief Creative Officer of AREA 23, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of Run-DMC, Lori Rose Benson, Executive Director and CEO of Hip Hop Public Health, and DJ FLO and showcased the power of culturally relevant work in driving behavior change and health equity.

“Representing Stories of Worth” with Eva Longoria, Daryl Lee, Global CEO of McCann Worldgroup, Laura Simpson, Chief Intelligence Officer and President of Truth Central at McCann Worldgroup, and Blanca Juti, Chief Corporate Affairs and Engagement Officer at L’Oréal, delved into the role of brands and creativity in shaping perception, driving representation and influencing culture.

Philippe Krakowsky, CEO of IPG, moderated a session titled “Play/Earn: Gaming as a passion with untapped potential for brands.” The panel featured speakers Gemma Battenbough, Head of Brand Partnership Studio, International, Twitch; Jonathan Zweig, Chief Commercial Officer, Riot Games; Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Mastercard; and Ryan Johnson, Founder, Cxmmunity Media as they examined the transformative power of gaming and eSports.

In the purpose and sustainability space, IPG’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Jemma Gould participated in panels with clients Microsoft, Kimberly-Clark and partners The Female Quotient, ACT Responsible and The 4A’s to discuss how we can work across the industry to make progress on environmental, social and governance goals.

At Inkwell Beach, IPG’s Chief Diversity and Social Impact Officer Channing Martin joined Designer Fe Noel and The Martin Agency’s Danny Robinson for a conversation on the cosmic call to action sparked by “The Dre$$” campaign for TIAA — which highlights the 30% retirement income gap between women and men.

“Play it Forward!” featuring Gail Heimann, CEO of Weber Shandwick, and Richard Dickson, COO of Mattel, highlighted the power of toys and play in shaping early understanding and empathy — spotlighting Mattel’s transformative work to create inclusive play experiences.