Zulu Alpha Kilo Named as One of the Top Creative and Independent Agencies in the World

Zulu Alpha Kilo (ZAK) has enjoyed a banner year, having been recognized as AOY by every major publication in North America from AdAge to Campaign US. In March, Zulu won Campaign US’s Independent Agency of the year, this was on the heels of being named The Drum UK’s Agency of the Year, and Independent Agency of Year at the Epica Awards, which is judged by global trade journalists.

Today, London’s Campaign Global Agency of the Year awards awarded the Toronto-based, full-service agency Zulu Alpha Kilo a Bronze for Independent Agency of the Year and a Silver for Creative Agency of the Year for 2021. It caps off a stellar creative year that started last summer when Zulu won the most golds of any agency in the B2B, Digital campaign and Media campaign of the year categories at AdAge’s Small Agency of the year awards, and won silver International AOY. 

The agency was also the top-ranked agency in the world at the New York Festival’s AME awards for effectiveness, and set an agency best at NY’s prestigious One Show with 38 shortlists. Beyond creative recognition, Deloitte named ZAK one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for the fifth year running, elevating it to gold status in Canada’s most prestigious business rankings.

“This has turned out to be our best year yet,” said chief creative officer and founder Zak Mroueh. “Aside from all the creative recognition, we hired agency veteran Christine McNab as our first ever chief marketing officer. And to cap things off, we opened a new office in Vancouver."

Behind the agency’s success is some breathtaking work that pushes creative boundaries. It helped shine a light on unconscious racism by creating the Micropedia of Microaggressions, a comprehensive learning tool that explains how specific microaggressions can be harmful to people of colour. For Pfaff Harley Davidson, they created the Tough Turban, made of impact-resistant material which allows Sikh motorcyclists to ride safely while protecting their religious and cultural identity. For Single Cut Beersmiths, Zulu created Notes IPA, the first beer with a unique package system designed to help people learn how to play guitar. And for luxury menswear retailer Harry Rosen, they developed the Green Screen Shirt, in which customers use Zoom to customize their choice of fabric patterns and colours.