Top of the World: VML’s Global Dominance in The Drum’s 2025 Creative Rankings
VML ranks among the world’s top agencies and creative leaders in The Drum’s 2025 Global Rankings
VML continues its momentum on the global stage, earning top honors in The Drum’s 2025 World Creative Rankings. The agency remains one of the industry’s most awarded networks, with standout performances across regions and key leadership recognitions.
For the second consecutive year, VML has secured the No. 2 spot among the world’s most awarded agency networks, reinforcing its position as a global creative leader.
VML New York made a significant leap, breaking into the top five Most Awarded Agencies worldwide, up from 17th place last year.
In addition, WPP, the holding company of VML, was ranked No. 1 on the World’s Most Awarded Holding Companies list. VML’s regional offices have also earned significant recognition, with several ranked among the top 25 in their respective regions:
- VML New York: No. 2 on the World’s Most Awarded Agencies in the United States, No. 3 on the Most Awarded Agencies in the Americas, No. 5 on the World’s Most Awarded Agencies
- VML Kansas City: No. 23 on the World’s Most Awarded Agencies in the United States
- VML UK: No. 2 on the Most Awarded Agencies in UK & Ireland, No. 11 on the Most Awarded Agencies in EMEA, No. 24 on the World’s Most Awarded Agencies
- VML Colombia: No. 5 on the Most Awarded Agencies in LATAM, No. 17 on the Most Awarded Agencies in the Americas
- VML Mexico: No. 8 on the Most Awarded Agencies in LATAM, No. 22 on the Most Awarded Agencies in the Americas
- VML Buenos Aires: No. 14 on the Most Awarded Agencies in LATA
- VML Sydney: No. 5 on the Most Awarded Agencies in APAC
- VML Singapore: No. 9 on the Most Awarded Agencies in APAC
- VML India: No. 21 on the Most Awarded Agencies in APAC
The Drum’s World Creative Rankings are based on a comprehensive analysis of over 2,460 campaigns from 1,653 advertisers and 1,215 agencies, with research covering a wide range of prestigious global awards. The rankings consider creative achievements across 22 award programs, including Cannes Lions, D&AD, and The Drum Awards, among others. Points are allocated based on the type of award won—ranging from Grand Prix to Bronze—and are weighted according to whether they come from a domestic, continental, or global event. This year’s rankings highlight the contributions of individual creatives, with notable recognition given to top Chief Creative Officers, Executive Creative Directors, Copywriters, and Art Directors, providing a definitive list of the world’s most awarded talent. The data gathered is used to rank campaigns, agencies, holding companies, advertisers, and the creative minds behind the award-winning work.
In individual recognition, Global Chief Creative Officer Debbi Vandeven remains among the top two Most Awarded Chief Creative Officers in the world and in the U.S., following her No. 1 ranking in 2024. Additionally, Deputy Chief Creative Officer Rafa Pitanguy has been named a top 15 Most Awarded Chief Creative Officer globally and top 10 in the U.S. and Americas.
Joining Vandeven and Pitanguy in the spotlight are several key individuals whose talent and dedication have further solidified VML’s position among the world’s top creative powerhouses. Those named in the top 25 in each of their respective categories:
- Debbi Vandeven, global chief creative officer: No. 2 on The World’s Most Awarded Chief Creative Officers list and No. 2 on The Most Awarded Chief Creative Officers in the Americas
- Rafael Pitanguy, deputy global chief creative officer: No. 12 on The World’s Most Awarded Chief Creative Officers List and No. 9 on The Most Awarded Chief Creative Officers in the Americas
- Jaime Mandelbaum, EMEA chief creative officer: No. 18 on The World’s Most Awarded Chief Creative Officers list and No. 8 on The Most Awarded Chief Creative Officers in EMEA list
- Martin Nino Goldberg, LATAM chief creative officer: No. 21 on The World’s Most Awarded Chief Creative Officers list and No. 1 on The Most Awarded Chief Creative Officers in LATAM list
- Manuel Bordé, global chief creative officer, Commerce: No. 24 on The World’s Most Awarded Chief Creative Officers list and No. 11 on The Most Awarded Chief Creative Officers in the Americas
- Bas Korsten, global chief creative officer, innovation and EMEA CCO: No. 14 on The Most Awarded Chief Creative Officers in EMEA
- Luis Enríquez Madruga, chief creative officer at VML Mexico: No. 3 on The Most Awarded Chief Creative Officers in LATAM list
- Paul Nagy, APAC chief creative officer: No. 1 on The Most Awarded Chief Creative Officers in APAC list
- Oswaldo Sa, executive creative director at VML New York: No. 7 on The World’s Most Awarded Creative Directors and No. 5 on The Most Awarded Creative Directors in the Americas
- David Pinilla, creative director at VML Chicago: No. 10 on The World’s Most Awarded Creative Directors and No. 7 on The Most Awarded Creative Directors in the Americas
- Sebastian Cuevas, creative director at VML Chicago: No. 17 on The World’s Most Awarded Creative Directors and No. 13 on The Most Awarded Creative Directors in the Americas
- Sergio Leon, SVP group creative director at VML Chicago: No. 23 on The Most Awarded Creative Directors and No. 16 on The Most Awarded Creative Directors in the Americas
- Adam Głowacki, creative lead at VML Poland: No. 11 on The World’s Most Awarded Art Directors list and No. 6 on The Most Awarded Art Directors in EMEA
- Juan Manuel Prieto, creative art director at VML Colombia: No. 14 on The World’s Most Awarded Art Directors list, No. 6 on The Most Awarded Art Directors in the Americas list, and No. 1 on The Most Awarded Art Directors in LATAM
- Angelica Galvis, VP head of art & design, commerce at VML Chicago: No. 15 on The World’s Most Awarded Art Directors list and No. 7 on The Most Awarded Art Directors in the Americas
- Esteban Fino, art director at VML Colombia: No. 15 on The World’s Most Awarded Art Directors list and No. 7 on The Most Awarded Art Directors in the Americas
Nestor Benjumea, creative art director at VML Colombia: No. 12 on The Most Awarded Art Directors in the Americas list - Laura Arcila, art director, commerce at VML Colombia: No. 15 on The Most Awarded Art Directors in the Americas
- Rodolfo López, creative director at VML Mexico: No. 18 on The Most Awarded Art Directors in LATAM list
- Jonathan Jimenez, art director at VML Mexico: No. 19 on The Most Awarded Art Directors in LATAM list and No. 11 on The Most Awarded Copywriters in LATAM list
Samuel Rios y Valle, art director at VML Mexico: No. 19 on The Most Awarded Art Directors in LATAM list - Luis Paul Flores, associate creative director at VML Mexico: No. 19 on The Most Awarded Art Directors in LATAM list
- Juan Cardenas, VP creative at VML Colombia: No. 19 on The Most Awarded Executive Creative Directors in the Americas and No. 7 on The Most Awarded Executive Creative Directors in LATA
- Tom Drew, executive creative director at VML London: No. 17 on The Most Awarded Executive Creative Officers in EMEA list
- Jason Oppenheimer, senior copywriter, health at VML Chicago: No. 15 on The Most Awarded Copywriters in the Americas list
- Petro German Lopez, copywriter at VML Mexico: No. 11 on The Most Awarded Copywriters in LATAM list
- Ricardo Garciduenas, senior creative at VML Mexico: No. 11 on The Most Awarded Copywriters in LATAM list
- Christian Santacruz, creative director at VML Mexico: No. 11 on The Most Awarded Copywriters in LATAM list
The agency’s success extends to its groundbreaking campaigns, which have not only captured the imagination but also earned recognition across diverse sectors
“Life Extending Stickers” by VML Colombia: No. 1 in The most awarded campaigns in the Retail sector and No. 14 in The World’s most awarded campaigns
“Waiting to Live” by VML UK: No. 2 in The most awarded campaigns in the Government sector
“The 100th Edition” by Scholz & Friends Berlin: No. 2 in The most awarded campaigns in the Entertainment sector
“This is Not a Game” by VML Mexico: No. 2 in The most awarded campaigns in the Telecommunications sector
“OREOcodes” by VML Commerce New York: No. 4 in The most awarded campaigns in the Food and Beverage sector and No. 10 in The World’s most awarded campaigns
“Change The Angle” by VML Singapore: No. 5 in The most awarded campaigns in the FMCG/CPG sector
“Unsilence the Crowd” by VML: No. 7 in The most awarded campaigns in the Entertainment sector
“Don’t Delete Menu” by VML New York: No. 7 in The most awarded campaigns in the Retail sector
“Call Glenn” by VML Belgium: No. 9 in The most awarded campaigns in the Charity sector
“Thanks For Coke-Creating” by VML New York: No. 9 in The most awarded campaigns in the Food and Beverage sector
“FitChix” by VML Sydney: No. 10 in The most awarded campaigns in the Food and Beverage sector
“Unsilence the Violence” by Scholz & Friends Hamburg: No. 14 in The most awarded campaigns in the Charity sector
“Absurd Promises” by VML Buenos Aires: No. 16 in The most awarded campaigns in the Charity sector
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“Wendy’s Enters the Chat” by VML KC: No. 18 in The most awarded campaigns in the Retail sector
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“I See Coke” by VML New York and Dubai: No. 19 in The most awarded campaigns in the Food and Beverage sector
For a full list of rankings and honorees, visit The Drum’s World Creative Rankings.
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