Johnnie Walker campaign wins three IPA awards

Johnnie Walker’s ‘Keep Walking’ campaign picked up three top gongs at the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising Effectiveness Awards last night.

The international campaign, created by Bartle Bogle Hegarty, has produced total sales growth up 48% for the whisky producer over the last eight years.

The IPA awarded it with the grand prix, a gold award and a special prize of best international multimarket, while BBH took home the effectiveness company of the year award.

BBH had a good evening at the event, which was held at the Hurlingham Club in London, banking the gold award for its KFC campaign, a silver for its Audi adverts and a bronze for its Cadbury’s biscuits ad.

The agency created Johnnie Walker’s ‘Keep Walking’ campaign in 1999 and it has since run in more than 120 markets – with over 50 TV ads and more than 150 prints ads.

Johnnie Walker has racked up sales of $2.21 billion (£1.4 billion) over the eight year period.

Sir John Sunderland, chairman of the IPA judges, said: “The longevity and global effect of this campaign made a great impact. It was particularly impressive to see existing iconography and brand heritage used as the basis for a revitalised and universal campaign.”

Other awards were handed out to UKTV and Red Bee Media for the re-brand of UKTVG2 as Dave, ‘Home of witty Banter’, while Mediaedge:cia took home a bronze award for its Cabwise ad.

IPA: 020 7235 7020 www.ipa.co.uk