Like bees returning to the hive, 23 agencies travelled from across the world to France for the annual BBN Academy. BBN is a global group body made up of independent B2B agencies that specialise in integrated marketing. Collectively, we’re one of the largest agency groups on the planet but retain our independent brands and methodologies.
Each year Academy is a mix of learning, sharing, networking, group exercises and our annual awards ceremony known as the Golden Bees. The Golden Bees recognise the best programs designed by BBN agencies and the talented marketers that work there, but also to reward certain individuals who have gone above and beyond in that year.
McCorkell, for the third year in a row, won two judged categories:
Best Idea Never Executed – SAP Australia and New Zealand ‘Our Time’
Best Use of Social Media – National Dental Care ‘Bums on Seats’
McCorkell also received two runners-up awards for our work with SAP and Watchguard.
Our very own Senior Account Director, Bronwyn Cook, was also awarded the Chairman’s Rising Star, which is given to a marketer who has not only contributed to BBN as a whole, but has achieved fantastic results for their own agency.
Despite being France, it’s not all awards and champagne. Academy looks to prepare its agencies for the year to come, with multiple sessions and workshops designed around the challenges and trends that our global body has personally experienced and is looking to overcome for their clients.
One of the group exercises saw three teams prepare a pitch in response to a brief for fellow BBN agency Fifth Ring and their client HITS Theatre, a non-profit youth theatre where children aged 6-18 are welcomed to express themselves and explore their creativity through theatre, with the help of teachers. Objectives were put in place for the teams and they needed devise their own strategic response, content frameworks, creative approaches and go-to-market ideas.
Congratulations to all BBN agencies who were awarded on the night, and we look forward to next year!