JCDecaux, OMD UK, Vodafone UK, and Havas Media Network feature prominently among the agencies, media owners, and advertisers shortlisted for The Media Leader Awards 2025.
These companies are among the industry elite whose teams and individuals have been nominated for The Media Leader’s awards scheme.
Now in their fifth year, The Media Leader Awards remain the ultimate accolade that celebrates media leadership in the UK, recognising those who are not only shaping the present but building the future of media.
The Media Leader powers these awards as part of its mission to champion best-in-class thinking and execution in UK advertising and media today. This year, the awards continue to champion the industry’s most pressing challenges with the Excellence categories for Sustainability, Trust, and Talent, alongside a new category for 2025, recognising Excellence: Best Use of AI.
This year features the four prestigious Grand Prix awards: Media Agency Leader, Media Owner Leader, Brand Leader, and Technology Leader, chosen from the winners of the individual leadership categories. Last year saw Dominic Williams, Chief Revenue Officer at Mail Metro Media, take home the Grand Prix: Media Leader of the Year, while the Judges’ Special Choice Award was awarded to Stephen Miron, outgoing CEO of Global.
The 2025 awards were judged by a panel of senior figures who run industry trade bodies and groups that push for positive change in the industry. You can see our full list of judges here.
The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony during The Future of Media London Wednesday 5 November.
The Shortlist: The Media Leader Awards 2025
Media Leader of the Year: Media Agency
Suzy Ryder — CEO, OMD UK
Ross Jenkins — CEO, EMEA & APAC, Mediahub
Dom Hyams — Global client director, Purple Goat
Ailsa Buckley — MD, Havas Media UK
Adam Foley — CEO, Bountiful Cow
Media Leader of the Year: Media Owner
Dallas Wiles and Chris Collins — Co-CEOs, JCDecaux UK
Simon Kilby — Managing director, Bauer Media
Karen Eccles — Chief commercial officer, The Telegraph
Paul Wright — Head of EMEA, Uber Advertising
Media Leader of the Year: Technology
Marko Johns — UK Managing director and head of agency, international, Seedtag
Doug Lowther — CEO, Irdeto
Lisa Goodchild — Chief trouble maker, Digilearning
Media Leader of the Year: Brand
Lisa Walker — Head of media and sponsorship, Vodafone UK
Matt Thomas — Senior director – brand & media P&G Northern Europe, P&G
Alison Thorburn — Digital accelerator, EE
Dave Singleton — Head of media investment, People’s Postcode Lottery
Media Leadership Team of the Year
C-Screens
Havas Media Network UK leadership team
Digital Cinema Media
EssenceMediacom
Mail Metro Media
Future Media Leader of the Year
Selected and voted for by the Future 100 Club members
Emily Alcorn — Chief effectiveness officer, Talon
George Butler — Head of commercial marketing, Bauer Media
Gina Hamilton — Partnerships director, The Telegraph
Lee Isaacs — Senior media manager, Just Eat Takeaway
David Lucy — Managing director, December19
Babs Sotande-Peters — Senior manager, global programmatic & innovation, team x/OMD EMEA
Michael Tull — Head of strategy and insight, Digital Cinema Media
Company of the Year: Brand
Vodafone UK
EE
People’s Post Code Lottery
Specsavers
Company of the Year: Media Agency
Croud
MG OMD
PHD UK
Havas Media Network UK
Company of the Year: Media Owner
JCDecaux UK
Uber Advertising
The Guardian
Bauer Media UK
Company of the Year: Technology
Displayce
Looper Insights
Irdeto
Excellence: Sustainability
Open Media
giffgaff and MG OMD
The Guardian
Havas Media Network
Excellence: Talent
OMG UK
Medialab
Talon OOH
Havas Media Network
Active International UK
Excellence: Trust in Media
Ozone
Bauer Media UK: How Trusted Media Can Be a Force for Good (Bauer Media)
UM London
the7stars
Excellence: Best Use of AI (NEW FOR 2025)
News UK
Havas Media Network UK
EssenceMediacom – WPP Media
JCDecaux UK
