Effie Kicks off 50th with ‘5 for 50’ Global Award in Recognition of Iconic Brands

Effie Worldwide is celebrating its 50th year as a leading global authority on marketing effectiveness. The nonprofit’s path forward builds on a strengthened mission which emphasises Effie’s role to lead, inspire and champion marketing effectiveness, serving as a resource to marketers at every stage of their career. 

To mark the anniversary, Effie’s 5 for 50 Award has opened its global call for entries. The award will recognise the five most consistently effective brands over the past 50 years who have made Effie history, remained relevant and continued to sustain business over time and into the future. 

“Our industry, our businesses and consumers’ behaviours are changing very quickly. Now more than ever, Effie has an integral role to play in helping marketers prepare for the course ahead by leading the difficult and pragmatic conversations that we all need to be having together as marketers, agencies and media providers,” said Traci Alford, president & CEO of Effie Worldwide who joined Effie in 2017 and has led the growth strategy for the nonprofit. “Through this, it is important that we continue to celebrate and learn from the ideas that have been sustainable and delivered growth over a period of time.”  

Designed to inspire the quest for global marketing effectiveness, a pro bono digital call for entries campaign for “5 for 50” created by McCann Worldgroup summons the design elements and taglines of some of the most iconic Effie winners including McDonald’s, Mastercard, California Milk Processor Board, Johnnie Walker, Google and others. The creative celebrates how truly effective work transcends marketing and becomes part of people’s everyday vernacular.

Suzanne Powers, global chief strategy officer, McCann Worldgroup, who is a longtime judge and champion of the Effies and led the effort said, “We’ve always believed that the most meaningful ideas drive the most impact for our clients’ business, and, have the potential to influence the culture at large. This is what we aim for across all of our regions, agencies and clients’ brands. Effie not only recognises this, but champions it across all of their efforts, so we’re honoured to be partnering with Effie Worldwide at this seminal moment as they reposition themselves for the next 50 years.”

To be eligible for the award, a brand must have won more than one Effie Award over more than one year and be able to demonstrate adaptation and sustained success of the brand over time. Details on how to enter are live on the Effie website, with an entry deadline period of February 6-13. More information is available at effie.org/5for50.

Effie has been synonymous with awards, which is still the foundation of its business. As it expands deeper into its educational remit and role as a forum for effectiveness, Effie’s offerings are evolving. As part of the visual form of its rebranding, Effie unveiled its new logo, which focuses on the iconic Effie name and icon, simplifying the universal symbol of the gold standard for effectiveness. The logo redesign was created by Blackletter.

The Effies 50th Anniversary celebration will culminate with a Summit on May 30, 2019 in NYC. Winners of the ‘5 for 50’ award will be recognised at the Effie Gala that evening.

Traci added, “Thank you to McCann Worldgroup, named the Most Effective Agency Network in the 2018 Global Effie Index, for partnering with us to promote 5 for 50 and Effie’s 50th Anniversary.”