The organisers of the 57th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival are delighted to announce that this year’s prestigious Advertiser of the Year award will be given to the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever, owner of many of the world’s best-loved foods, beverages, home and personal care brands.

This important accolade is presented to advertisers who have distinguished themselves for inspiring innovative marketing of their products and who embrace and encourage the creative work produced by their agencies.

Known around the world for its thought-provoking yet entertaining advertising campaigns, Unilever won its first Cannes Lion for OMO washing powder back in 1961. Since then, Unilever brands have gone on to win close to 200 Lions over the years, including the Media Grand Prix in 2002 for 'Magnum 7 Deadly Sins – Give In To It', and both the Cyber and Film Grand Prix in 2007 for its ground-breaking Dove 'Evolution' ad.

“As one of the world’s top consumer goods companies, millions of people around the globe are touched daily by the advertising of Unilever’s brands. Over the years, its marketing has been renowned for embracing the creativity and innovation that has driven the powerful work that its agencies have produced. Cannes Lions are delighted to bestow the honour of Advertiser of the Year to Unilever,” said Terry Savage, Festival Chairman.

Keith Weed, Unilever’s Chief Marketing Officer, and member of the Unilever Executive, said, “It’s a great honour to accept this award on behalf of Unilever. The long-standing relationships we have built with our agency partners over many years have enabled us to develop many striking – and more importantly – effective advertising campaigns.

More than this, the depth of our relationships has engendered the trust required to foster the genuine strategic thinking, creativity and innovativeness that delivers both long-term brand equity and outstanding work.”

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods with strong local roots in more than 100 countries across the globe. On any given day, two billion people use a Unilever product. With 400 brands spanning 14 categories of home, personal care and food products, no other company touches so many people's lives in so many different ways.