Absurdity of the wooden spoon award

I have always believed that in our business perception lags reality but never to the extent indicated by your survey, “Why value for money conquers all” (MW December 1)

For Young & Rubicam to receive the wooden spoon prize this year is both absurd and incomprehensible.

It’s been our best year for many years from a creative, financial and new business perspective. We’ve won seven competitive pitches – most of them reported in your magazine – produced outstanding and often talked about creative work for clients such as Pirelli, Ford Galaxy, Eurostar, Hush Puppies, and have won two of the four of this year’s Campaign Poster effectiveness awards.

John Hooper is right to say that “general perceptions are for nothing if the agency is performing outstandingly”. The management team here certainly is emphasising this point, and has been for the past 18 months.

No one said it would be easy. But now I realise just how hard it is to close that gap between perception and reality. This letter may help.

Toby Hoare

Managing director

Young & Rubicam

London

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