SLIM sets stage for coveted Effie Awards 2019
As an annual event looked forward to by the country’s advertising agencies and marketers, Sri Lanka’s 11th highly coveted Effie Awards is set to take the centre stage soon.
The Effie Awards is celebrated by advertisers and agencies globally as the industry’s most distinguished honour and recognises any and all forms of effective marketing communications that contribute towards a brand’s success. Additionally, the Effie Awards brings relevant and first-class insights to effective marketing strategy.
Launched in 1968, by the New York American Marketing Association, the Effie Awards now encompasses all forms of effective marketing communications in addition to the companies and individuals creating insights towards effective work.
To announce the details and updates for Effie Awards 2019, the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), the organiser of the event, held a media and participants briefing recently at the Hilton Residencies with a large contingent of marcom agencies, corporates and industry professionals attending.
During the panel discussion, SLIM President Suranjith Swaris, SLIM Events Vice President Thilanka Abeywardena, Effie Awards 2019 Jury Head Irfan Ahmed and Effie Awards Project Chairperson Gayan Perera addressed the gathering.
The panel elaborated on updates based on the latest Effie global guidelines, award process, application
procedure, evaluation criteria and expectations of the judges.
Business and Marketing Consultant, Care Belle International Director and SLIM President Suranjith Swaris said: “The Effie Awards is the most definitive, credible and recognised standard for our marcom industry. In pursuit of excellence, the Effie presents a platform to benchmark and celebrate the impact of great work. SLIM has championed Effie for the last decade and we trust this year too, we will witness work that showcases Sri Lanka’s abundant potential to the world. We hope that our participants will do us proud particularly at this time of crisis when our jaded spirits need a boost.
SLIM also organised a workshop with industry experts advising on important tips towards effective entry submission.
Innovation Quotient (Pvt. ) Ltd Director, respected industry expert and Effie Awards 2019 Jury Head Irfan Ahmed said: “It is important that the Effie Awards evolve each year and many improvements have been made to the judging process and criteria upon discussion with industry professionals and previous jury members. I must commend SLIM for striving over the last 10 years to ensure the Effies remain the premier marketing effectiveness award.”
Microsoft Sri Lanka South East Asia New Markets Marketing Manager and SLIM Events Vice President Thilanka Abeywardena highlighted the progression of the awards over the years. She noted the importance of the Effie Awards as a measurement of evaluating marketing effectiveness and SLIM’S efforts towards raising the Effie Awards standards yearly thereby encourage the marketing fraternity to keep raising the bar of innovation and creativity.
She also highlighted that Effie Awards present a global platform for the Sri Lankan marcom industry to showcase their great marketing efforts in the international arena.
Singer Sri Lanka PLC Senior Brand Manager and Effie Awards 2019 Project Chairperson Gayan Perera noted that SLIM marked a historical Effie’s last year with a record-breaking number of entries and improvements in all related areas which, implemented by SLIM, has ensured a similar momentum being sustained during this year’s awards too. One such initiative is the attractive discount offered on the entry submission fee for all new and dormant applicants, which has attracted more participants for this prestigious global award show.