Leo Burnett Worldwide celebrated 80 years as a pioneer in the global creative community recently. 

Starting in 1935 with its first client, Leo Burnett took a humble tin of peas and grew it into a giant, the Jolly Green Giant, who lives on 80 years later. The agency led the industry in adopting television advertising as a visual medium in the 1950s and in 2000, the agency was one of the first to create a viral web video advertisement for the John West Salmon ‘Bear Fight’. The agency’s groundbreaking work includes the P&G Always “#LikeAGirl” social movement, the world’s first live-streaming virtual reality birth using Samsung Gear VR and McDonald’s 24 hours of joy, a 24-city, 24-hour worldwide event. 

As part of the local anniversary festivities, the Leo Burnett team in Sri Lanka came together to celebrate the agency’s past accomplishments and its journey of creative leadership. The team reflected on the legacy of the agency’s founder, the late Leo Burnett, whose ability to channel his creativity to reach for the stars, continues even today to inspire Burnetters from around the world. 

At the celebration in Sri Lanka, the Burnetters in Colombo commemorated the 80 years of pioneering the global marketing communications industry, by reflecting on the local office’s 16 years of success in Sri Lanka. In keeping with the global tradition practised by every Leo Burnett office around the world, Burnetters were handed a memento of 80 coins to mark the occasion. A coffee table book comprising the Sri Lankan agency’s award-winning work was also showcased. The interns from the Leo Burnett Masterclass programme attended the celebration and presented a video which they had created that captured the spirit of creativity, fun and passion that resonates throughout the agency. 

Commenting on this milestone celebration, Leo Burnett Solutions Inc. (LBSI) Managing Director Ranil de Silva stated, “The 80th anniversary of the global company is an important milestone for every Burnetter. This auspicious occasion was celebrated by every office in the network from Sao Paolo to Beijing. All of us at Leo Burnett in Sri Lanka are truly proud to be a part of this great advertising agency network, which has been a pioneer in the global marketing communications industry.

I am happy that our small outpost in Sri Lanka has lived up to the global agency’s reputation of being a trailblazer and innovator. Every Burnetter in Sri Lanka shares the passion of our founder, the late Leo Burnett. Each and every day, our team relentlessly strives to be the best in the world bar none. Our constant pursuit of creative excellence is something that Leo believed in. Today we continue with this pursuit each and every day.”

Recognized as one of the most renowned and respected advertising networks, Leo Burnett works with some of the most iconic and very valuable brands in the world including Coca-Cola, P&G, Kellogg’s, Samsung, McDonald’s and Pfizer. Remarkably, clients such as Kellogg Co. has been with the agency since 1949, whilst Procter & Gamble has been a client since 1952 and McDonald’s has been a partner to the agency since 1973. 

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. This year’s anniversary is undoubtedly another milestone for the agency as it represents 80 years of embracing new experiences and ideas inspired by HumanKind – Leo Burnett’s philosophy which is rooted in the belief that creativity has the power to change human behaviour.