Agency receives a record breaking 37 accolades for work across diverse client base at the end of year awards ceremony

December 10, DUBAI: Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K) has been named the Middle East Public Relations Association’s Large Agency of the Year for the second time in three years, as well as taking home a further 36 honors at the annual awards ceremony yesterday.

The 37 wins were the most of any organization on the evening and the most successful in H+K’s long history in the region, including 15 gold awards for work with clients including Instagram, Dolby and sporting events such as UFC’s Fight Island and Clash on the Dunes – the world heavyweight boxing match between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr.

Further recognition was received for work with global technology clients such as Huawei, Cisco and Dyson.

For the first time, the annual awards were held virtually in light of the COVID pandemic, with H+K’s offices across the Middle East all able to connect and celebrate as one, including Cairo, with the agency claiming the Best Campaign in Egypt Gold award with Instagram #MonthOfGood and the Silver award for Twitter #HeroesOfGood.

The agency also continued to cement its position as a leading hub for young talent, with Omar Batterjee claiming the Dave Robinson Young Communicator of the Year prize, becoming the third H+Ker to receive this recognition.

H+K’s CEO for EMEA, Bashar AlKadhi, commented:

“Like many other industries, the world of PR and communications has seen disruption like never before throughout this year. The awards highlight the two most important elements of an agency – our people, and our clients – without the trust of our clients in a tough year, and the hard work of our people, this wouldn’t be possible.

“Our teams have stayed close to our clients to understand their changing needs, offering counsel and creativity to ensure the best possible results throughout a difficult period. We have grown our services into new areas with a team of brilliant communications experts displaying their abilities throughout the past 12 months.”

H+K’s Large Agency of the Year honour was awarded in a year where the agency has seen remarkable growth throughout the Middle East as well as introducing a number of new services for clients. The recently launched Innovation + Creativity Hub encompasses digital planning, creative strategy, content and publishing which works hand-in-hand with the agency’s in-house studio team.

Earlier this year H+K also expanded its global offering of SMARTER+ which uses behavioural science to analyse change through emotive communications, and helped a number of clients throughout the year, such as Cisco’s internal engagement campaign of giving throughout Ramadan.

A full list of H+K’s 2020 MEPRA Awards:

GOLD (16)

Best Internal Communications Response During COVID-19 – ADNOC inform and protect

Best Social Impact Campaign in COVID-19 – Gamers Without Borders 

Best Use of Digital PR – Instagram #MonthOfGood

Best Live Event – UFC Fight Island

Best Use of Traditional Media Relations – Clash on the Dunes

Best Use of Video – Dolby Superheroes

Best Consumer Services Campaign – Dolby Superheroes

Best Corporate Reputation Campaign – Diriyah Season

Best Fashion/Beauty Campaign – Dyson Coralle Launch

Best Financial Campaign – SRC

Best Government/Public Affairs – Coca Cola

Best Professional Services Campaign – MEIRA

Best Sport and Recreation Campaign – Diriyah Season

Best Travel and Tourism Campaign – UFC Fight Island

Best Campaign in Egypt – Instagram #MonthOfGood

Dave Robinson Young Communicator of the Year – Omar Batterjee

SILVER (12)

Best Creative Approach During COVID-19 – Huawei’s Live Sale

Best Live Event – Diriyah Season

Best Integrated Campaign – Gamers Without Borders

Best Arts and Culture Campaign – Ithra Connect

Best Financial Campaign – Abu Dhabi Department of Finance

Best Technology Campaign – Huawei Live Sale

Best Government/Public Affairs – Abu Dhabi Department of Finance

Best Internal Communications Campaign – Cisco

Best Sustainability Campaign – Coca Cola

Best Campaign in Egypt – Twitter #HeroesOfGood

Best Campaign in UAE – UFC Fight Island

Best Campaign Middle East – Instagram #MonthOfGood

BRONZE (8)

Best Social Impact Campaign in COVID-19 – Dolby Superheroes

Best Use of Digital PR – Twitter #AlwaysPlayItRight

Best Use of Data and Insights- Instagram #ExpressYourself

Best Use of Creative – Dolby Superheroes

Best Integrated Campaign – Diriyah Season

Best Use of Influencers – Twitter #AlwaysPlayItRight

Best Professional Services Campaign – Mercer

Best Technology Campaign – Twitter, Safety Campaign

For Media Enquiries:

Sarah Brandon, Global Communications Lead

+1 416 413 4773 | [email protected]

Megan Jackson, Senior Marketing Executive

+44 20 7413 3766 | [email protected]

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About Hill+Knowlton Strategies

Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Inc. is an international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational and global clients. H+K has over 80 offices in more than 40 markets, as well as an extensive associate network, delivering award winning campaigns to clients across all sectors and disciplines and with a focus on continued innovation for the industry. Recent innovations include Flight School +, a crisis communications training and simulation tool, Better Impact™, a new approach to citizenship and sustainability consultancy, and H+K Smarter™, a behavioral science unit. Headquartered in New York, the firm is part of WPP, one of the world’s largest communications services groups.