Leo Burnett SL celebrates parent’s 80th anniversary with award-winning workbook

Leo Burnett Solutions Inc. (LBSI) Managing Director Ranil de Silva together with the Executive Committee of the company

Leo Burnett Solutions Inc. (LBSI) Managing Director Ranil de Silva, together with the Executive Committee of the company, presented a book featuring the agency’s award-winning work to Andrew C. Mann, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Colombo, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of its global network. 

Leo Burnett Worldwide was founded in Chicago, US on 5 August 1935 and celebrated its 80th global anniversary this year, whilst the Sri Lankan outpost commemorated 16 years of success as a pioneer in the local marketing communications industry. This coffee table book features a collection of the Sri Lankan office’s most celebrated work which has won many accolades and commendations for the company over the years.

Commenting on the handover, Mann stated: “I’m thrilled to see the success and growth at Leo Burnett Sri Lanka over its 16 years. Its international expertise is legendary, and the talented local staff continues that storied tradition by accurately reflecting and shaping the tastes and preferences of the people in this country.”

Also commenting on this historic occasion De Silva stated: “It is an honour for us to present this milestone publication to Andrew Mann, to celebrate the success of this global American network in Sri Lanka. Leo Burnett’s journey of creativity began in Chicago on 5 August 1935. On this auspicious day, my team and I are honoured to have had the opportunity to share the story of success of this prestigious network’s Sri Lankan office.

“This publication captures our most celebrated work. It showcases our greatest accomplishments over the course of our journey during the past 15 plus years. It is a testament to our passion and commitment to creative excellence and to our mission of being the best in the world, bar none. It is a tribute to the Sri Lankan creative talents which have brought glory from every corner of the world not just to our office but also to our industry and above all else for the country.”

This book showcases the work of the Sri Lankan office of Leo Burnett which has won this outpost global recognition. In fact it is a journey of 15 years of creativity that ultimately changed the way the world perceived Sri Lankan creativity. The book showcases award-winning campaigns across a variety of categories including press, TV, radio, promotions, activations, digital and PR and covers a range of sectors including finance, hospitality, FMCG, telecommunications, education and much more. 

Exceptional campaigns for social and environmental causes as well as healthcare related initiatives are also featured in the book, including the country’s most awarded idea the ‘Mosquito Repellent Newspaper’ – an innovative campaign which the agency created to combat dengue in Sri Lanka. This idea today is the most awarded idea ever created in the country’s entire history, winning a string of accolades at the world’s most renowned advertising awards shows and festivals. 

This book features an introduction by Leo Burnett Worldwide Chairman and CEO Tom Bernardin that commends the Sri Lankan team for setting the benchmark in the communications industry in the country and for eliciting change through creativity. He also highlights how Leo Burnett Sri Lanka has been an innovator and trailblazer which has consistently delivered a cutting-edge creative product derived from a deeper understanding of human behaviour. The heartfelt foreword by Ranil de Silva, Managing Director, Leo Burnett Solutions Inc. (LBSI), pays a tribute to his mother whom he heralds as his greatest source of inspiration and support, especially when he decided to pursue a career in advertising at a time when the industry was underdeveloped. Today, under his leadership, Leo Burnett has soared to success and become the most respected agency in the country for its creativity. Over the years, Leo Burnett has built many powerful brands and meaningful partnerships with its clients, whilst delivering gratifying results and gaining peer recognition in the industry. 

The agency’s HumanKind philosophy helps it to derive an enduring purpose for brands and recognises that ‘Acts’ and creativity have the ability to transform the way a person thinks, feels and ultimately, behaves.