The Organisers of the 57th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival presented this year’s prestigious Advertiser of the Year award to the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant, Unilever, owner of many of the world’s best-loved foods, beverages and home & and personal care brands.

Known around the world for their thought-provoking yet entertaining advertising campaigns, Unilever won their first Cannes Lion for OMO washing powder back in 1961. Since then, Unilever brands have gone on to win close to 200 Lions over the years, including the Media Grand Prix in 2002 for 'Magnum 7 Deadly Sins – Give In To It',  the Cyber and Film Grand Prix in 2007 for their ground-breaking Dove 'Evolution' ad and the Integrated Grand Prix also in 2007 for 'Axe 3'.

Keith Weed, Unilever’s Chief Marketing Officer, and member of the Unilever Executive, said, “It’s a great honour to accept this award on behalf of Unilever. The long-standing relationships we have built with our agency partners over many years have enabled us to develop many striking – and more importantly – effective advertising campaigns. More than this, the depth of our relationships has engendered the trust required to foster the genuine strategic thinking, creativity and innovativeness that delivers both long-term brand equity and outstanding work.”

The Advertiser of the Year trophy will be presented to Keith Weed in Cannes during the Film, Film Craft and Titanium & Integrated Lions Awards Ceremony on Saturday 26 June 2010.