Meerkats takes out Campaign Brief’s Western Australian Agency of the Year gong for the third time in five years at the Oasis Ball

Friday night was a huge night for the Meerkats team with the agency taking out the major award of the night – Agency of the Year. In front of a sell out crowd of 780 people at the Perth industry’s night of nights, held at Crown Perth on Friday night. Meerkats stood tall on the stage for the third time in the past five years. Meerkats first won this award in 2009, and followed it up again in 2010.

The Meerkats submission for Agency of the Year was a comprehensive document highlighted by the return of iinet to the fold and the State, plus additional new business growth and major awards recognition at both the Campaign Brief Awards and the PADC Awards.

They edged out a resurgent Marketforce, a seven-time previous winner who bounced back from a disappointing 2012 with a fine performance last year, and a newcomer for contention for this award – Shed. Also considered for the Award with solid submissions was 303Lowe, Rare and last year’s winner, The Brand Agency.

Meerkats’ new business wins over the past year totaled nine, including Amana Living; appointment to Western Power’s panel of agency partners; the digital extensive work for existing client Peet; digital work for Hale School; and WA’s highest profile sporting team, the West Coast Eagles. To round the year off, in November last year, they were appointed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and just before Christmas they picked up REIWA in a competitive pitch.

Significantly, much of this activity validated Meerkats’ recent successful push into the digital space, with several of their new clients and projects for existing clients having a heavy digital emphasis.

This prestigious award has a long history in Perth having first been awarded to JB&B in 1987. Marketforce and 303Lowe are both seven-time winners of the award, followed by five-time winner The Brand Agency. JMA Ogilvy & Mather won it twice and JB&B, John Davis Advertising and Vinten Browning once.

See Campaign Brief’s Awards issue (out now) for a full rundown of the Agency of the Year award, plus the other 13 Campaign Brief awards handed out on the night. Contact Mina at perth@campaignbrief.com for your copy.