Emma de la Fosse wins Andi Emerson Award 2020 for Outstanding Contribution to Creativity

Newsroom Creativity, People

The 2020 Caples Awards jury president Nicky Bullard, CCO MRM McCann has presented Emma de la Fosse, Digitas UK with the show’s highly coveted president’s award – the Andi Emerson Award.

Named after the founder of the Caples and ex – BBDO copywriter – Andi Emerson – the award is given by the President of the Caples Jury to any person in advertising or marketing who she or he believes has made a significant contribution to the cause of creativity. Past winners of the award include Pablo Alzugaray, Founder and CEO of Shackleton (2019) and David Droga, Founder and Chairman of Droga5 (2018).

This year’s winner is Emma de la Fosse. Creating digital experiences and bringing brands to life is Emma’s forté. Having started her career as an advertising copywriter in the 90’s, she has gradually moved from advertising to direct marketing, occupying a number of impressive positions, such as a Chief Creative Officer (CCO) at OgilvyOne Worldwide, an Executive Creative Director at OgilvyOne London and a CCO of Ogilvy Group UK, before stepping into her current post of CCO at Digitas UK.

Emma’s career in advertising began at a start-up agency in London, where she contributed to the agency winning its first-ever Campaign Press award. Moving from advertising to direct marketing because “that’s where you make work that makes people do things”, Emma rose swiftly to become joint Executive Creative Director, then Chief Creative Officer, of Ogilvy UK.  On her watch, the agency won more major awards than any other UK direct or digital agency, picking up accolades from D&AD, Cannes, One Show, Campaign BIG Awards and The Caples. At Ogilvy, Emma brought into being The Pipe, a pioneering creative talent internship open to all, regardless of age, experience, education or background. She is a passionate supporter of Creative Equals, helping to shape a diverse and inclusive creative community. She was the very first winner of The Drum’s Creative Woman of the Year award.

Nicky Bullard, Chairman and CCO of MRM McCann and President of the Jury, The Caples Awards 2020, comments: “When I was asked to pick my person for this award, it was probably the easiest brief I’ve ever been given. As many of you know, there’s something incredibly honest about The Caples. It’s a whole lot of fun. When we judge, the room is full of passion and integrity. And It has a certain, intangible magic. All of those things are Emma de la Fosse. The woman who has blazed a trail since I first met her 30 odd years ago. A woman who really epitomises the phrase, ‘You have to see it to be it’”.

Patrick Collister, Caples Custodian, adds: “Nicky has chosen another extremely worthy and legendary creative to join the ranks of the Andi Emerson award-winners.   Emma’s work throughout the years has never failed to be anything but ground-breaking. We hope this award  is not only a testament to her extreme work ethic, but also a good representation of her thirst for creativity. She is always seeking new ways of doing things, taking risks in the name of innovation and making magic happen. This is Emma de la Fosse”.

Emma de la Fosse, CCO, Digitas UK says: “I’ve looked at Andi Emerson’s photo and she’s definitely got a determined glint in her eyes. Back in the 1970’s, you had to have some grit and bravery to set up an awards scheme to champion creativity in Direct Marketing and run it for 20 odd years. That’s why Andi Emerson is a woman after my own heart. And why I was honoured and flabbergasted when Nicky Bullard nominated me for the award in her name. Thank you Nicky. Thank You Caples. And thank you Andi for starting the crusade for creativity”.

The Caples Awards is an awards show run by creative people for creative people to recognise work that works.In other words, ideas that sell. 2020 will be the 42nd annual Caples Awards show. Started in 1978 by ex-BBDO copywriter Andi Emerson, Caples juries have always comprised creative directors from around the world. Over the years, The Caples has grown into a community of like-minded creative people, of friends, who can judge without restrictions.