Burger King Named Cannes Lions Creative Marketer of the Year 2017

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has today announced Burger King as the Creative Marketer of the Year 2017. The award will honour Burger King for embracing and encouraging creativity across their brand communications and for the inspiring global marketing of their products.

Burger King has a hugely successful track record at Cannes Lions. The company has totalled 76 awards, including two Grands Prix in 2016 for the ‘McWhopper’ campaign, in Print & Publishing and Media. Burger King also took home a Titanium Grand Prix in 2007 and achieved their first win in 1969, a Silver Lion for ‘Skinny Burger’. Since its launch in 1954, the company has expanded to become one of the largest quick-service restaurants in the world, welcoming more than 11 million people in over 100 countries daily.

“Burger King is a brand that’s built a reputation for marketing campaigns that are bold, courageous and innovative, constantly challenging the limits of creative excellence,” said Philip Thomas, Chief Executive of Ascential Events. “Burger King believes that being a brand with purpose can achieve long-term advantages and deliver strong business results. That’s why the company is making such an impact”.

Axel Schwan, Chief Marketing Officer of Burger King, and Fernando Machado, Head of Brand Marketing at Burger King, will collect the award during the 64th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, taking place from 17-24 June 2017.

Axel Schwan commented, “Creativity is a critical factor when it comes to helping us stand out from the pack and punch higher than our weight. This principle is applied to everything we do, from the way we differentiate ourselves by flame-grilling our burgers to the ground-breaking advertising campaigns we create”.

Fernando Machado added, “This award is a tribute to the consistently strong creative work done by the Burger King brand over time”.

Cannes Lions celebrates the ‘Best of Burger King’ on Stories, the new editorial arm of the Festival. From classic campaigns that kick-started digital marketing to modern masterpieces of integration, find out more about some of Burger King's most famous ads here.