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TEAM/Y&R bags highest awards

DUBAI - TEAM/Young & Rubicam, the Middle East's largest advertising agency, is finding more room in its trophy cabinet after winning the highest number of honours at The Seventh AGCC Advertising Awards yesterday, hosted by the UAE Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA).

TEAM/Y&R Advertising picked up no fewer than 24 awards and achieved an astonishing clean sweep of gold, bronze and silver medals in 4 categories: Personal Effects (Press); Automotive (Press); Public Awareness Message (Press) and Electronics/Home Entertainment. It completely dominated the Automotive category by winning 6 of the possible 9 awards.

Personalities from across the region's advertising and media industry gathered at Dubai Media City last night to celebrate the most innovative and effective campaigns of 2003. Awards were made in nearly 30 categories, commending print, radio and outdoor work for industries as diverse as insurance and tobacco.

Campaigns for Masafi Mineral Water, Nicorette, 3M, Hitachi, Land Rover, Ford Middle East, BurJuman, Citibank and Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry all earned TEAM/Y&R prestigious IAA-AGCC trophies.

A panel of 12 judges, made up of international advertising CEOs, creative directors, producers, filmmakers and academics, chose the winners.

TEAM/Y&R's Joseph Ghossoub, CEO of The Holding Group and IAA International Vice-President Area Director for the Middle East and Africa, said: "The recognition of TEAM/Y&R's hard work is hugely gratifying and a tremendous reward for the energy, creativity and dedication of everyone connected with the agency. TEAM/Y&R's mission is to deliver real business results for its diverse client base and these 24 awards reflect how successful the company has been."

Ghossoub added that Dubai would bid to hold the IAA World Congress, which takes place every two years, in 2006.

Shaikh Hasher Maktoum, Director of Information, Government of Dubai, sent a congratulatory message to delegates on awards night. Noting the impressive growth of the IAA-GCC Awards since their inception in 1991, Shaikh Hasher said: "The region's advertising and media industry has undergone significant developments and the UAE continues to play a central role in this increasing sophistication.

"Dubai Media City continues to attract more international media groups and communications companies, emphasising the UAE's role as a major regional commercial and communications hub."