The awards, organised by Mercer and CIPM Sri Lanka, serve as one of the country’s most comprehensive benchmarking platforms for excellence in Human Resource Management.
The agency was selected from among 250 organisations across 16 sectors, a notable outcome given the limited representation of advertising agencies at such forums.
The evaluation process covered 12 core areas, including HR strategy alignment, talent acquisition, learning and development, performance management, employee wellbeing, and HR technology.
Phoenix Ogilvy earned commendation for its ability to adapt these principles to the unique demands of the communications sector.
Commenting on the Agency’s accolade, Sudeera Kelum - Group Head of Human Resources at Phoenix Ogilvy said,
“This recognition reflects our focus on building a workplace that supports creativity while ensuring employee wellbeing and professional development.
In an industry known for its pace and pressure, we have worked to embed practices that balance performance with care for our people.
Further, unlike creative awards that dominate the industry calendar, recognition for HR excellence is rare for agencies, making this achievement particularly significant for us.”
Among the factors that contributed to the win was the agency’s mental health support framework, which includes in-house counselling by HR professionals with formal psychology qualifications, which is a decisive differentiator in an industry often associated with high stress.
The judging panel also noted Phoenix Ogilvy’s strong employee engagement initiatives, transparent leadership, and a learning ecosystem aligned with global standards.
The agency’s HR function operates as a strategic partner, not a purely administrative role.
It combines modern recruitment tools, digital maturity, and performance-driven metrics with an inclusive culture that values diversity and creativity.
This approach has positioned Phoenix Ogilvy as an example of how HR sophistication can thrive within creative industries, matching standards typically associated with larger corporates and government institutions.
Phoenix Ogilvy’s HR practices also reflect a commitment to employee wellbeing and inclusivity.
The agency has introduced engagement initiatives that are participatory and creative, while maintaining strong legal and administrative discipline.
Its recruitment strategy leverages the inherently diverse nature of advertising to build a workforce that represents varied perspectives and backgrounds.
The recognition also underscores the agency’s investment in learning and development, with programmes designed to cultivate next-generation talent and align with global creative industry standards.
These initiatives ensure that employees have access to continuous professional growth opportunities, reinforcing the agency’s position as a future-ready workplace.
This achievement adds to the Ogilvy Group Sri Lanka’s broader success in 2025, which includes wins at Campaign Asia’s Agency of the Year Awards, APAC Effies, ADFEST, Dragons of Sri Lanka, and Effie Awards Sri Lanka, affirming the group’s strength in both creative excellence and organisational culture.