For the third consecutive year, global media communications agency OMD has been named the 2006 Most Creative Media Agency by the prestigious Gunn Report for Media.

The Gunn Report for Media is the industry standard for evaluating media creativity, ranking agencies according to their performance in the top industry awards shows around the world. Most importantly, it recognizes the vital role media agencies play in today's highly competitive and fragmented communications environment.

The Gunn Report for Media rates agencies on a point system based on awards won in 53 annual award competitions worldwide. OMD received the highest number of points, 206, and saw the most dramatic increase of any media agency over last year, up from 161 points in 2005.

'Creativity is a huge differentiator in the market,' said Joe Uva, President and CEO, OMD Worldwide. 'It has become a competitive advantage for our clients, providing exponential value to a communications program. To make an impact on consumers today, advertisers must continue to inspire new, inventive and insightful ways to truly connect with and influence them.'

During the past five years, OMD has made an indelible mark on the global media industry, particularly in the area of creativity. In 2006, OMD dominated with more major creative media award-wins than any of its competitors - including two Cannes Gold Lions (EMEA and Latin America), recognition as the Most Awarded Media Agency in Latin America and an unprecedented 16 EFFIEs in the USA.

OMD received many of the industry's top honors around the world, including Media Agency of the Year recognition in Europe, Asia Pacific, Australia, Chile and Dominican Republic; RECMA's A+ agency ranking in Canada and Australia; and six 'Best Campaign' accolades from M&M Europe for OMD International. OMD Latin America achieved great success at the FIAP awards, the Ojo de Iberoamerica awards, the Festival Iberoamericano El Sol, the Festival Antigua and the Festival Caribe. Highlights for OMD USA include three Creative Media Awards, an Adweek Buzz Award, Mediaweek's Media Plan of the Year and Jack Myers' Bart McHugh Award for Outstanding Media Innovation & Creativity.

'While media awards are still a novelty in this region and are not yet included in the Gunn Report for Media, this doesn't mean we're not focusing on our creative product in the Middle East,' commented Shadi Kandil, general manager of OMD Dubai. 'In fact, we have introduced a dedicated unit to enhance our teams' ability to think creatively. OMD Ignition, headed by Karim Abbas, is already running workshops and attending client briefing sessions to fuel the creative thinking process. This builds on already impressive credentials.'