Singapore: Marketing leaders from across Asia-Pacific convened in Singapore last night to honour the region’s most effective campaigns at the prestigious APAC Effie Awards 2025. Out of 123 shortlisted finalists, 81 campaigns clinched metals, with the jury awarding 12 Golds, 31 Silvers, and 48 Bronzes across 12 territories.
India emerged as the top-performing market with 33 wins, followed by Australia with 13, while New Zealand and Singapore tied with six metals each. This year also marked a milestone for Sri Lanka, which secured its first-ever Effie with “Relive the Epic of The Ramayana Trail” by Sri Lankan Airlines and Phoenix Ogilvy O&M.
Ogilvy Sweeps Agency Honours
Ogilvy emerged as the standout performer, taking home Agency Network of the Year for the seventh consecutive year. The network’s work across six markets secured 24 awards – 7 Golds, 5 Silvers, and 12 Bronzes. Adding to its triumph, Ogilvy Mumbai was crowned Agency of the Year for the third time, thanks to powerful campaigns like “The Impossible Choice” and “From Handwash Rebels to Handwash Legends.”
St. Jude Creates History
St. Jude India ChildCare Centres scripted history by sweeping both Brand of the Year and Marketer of the Year for “The Impossible Choice.” The campaign struck a powerful chord by spotlighting the heartbreaking caregiver dilemma of deciding which child could access limited housing and continue cancer treatment.
Independent Agency of the Year: The Womb
India’s The Womb retained its crown as Independent Agency of the Year, with a tally of 3 Silvers and 5 Bronzes. Its performance also secured it third place in the overall Agency of the Year ranking.
Other Top Honours
In the network rankings, Leo and DDB claimed leading positions behind Ogilvy, while Unilever and VinFast stood out in the marketer categories alongside St. Jude.
Celebrating Effectiveness
APAC Effie Awards 2025 Chairperson Lex Bradshaw-Zanger described the Effies as the “gold standard of marketing excellence.” He said:
“The competition and the awards gala tonight is a steadfast reminder of the power incredible insights, ideas, and strategy have in delivering phenomenal results for people, brands, and communities. Winning an Effie is an amazing achievement – a recognition by peers across the region.”
With creativity and effectiveness at the core, this year’s awards not only showcased India’s leadership in the region but also highlighted the rise of diverse players, from multinational giants like Unilever to new entrants like VinFast — and a historic first for Sri Lanka on the APAC stage.
