Weber Shandwick and GSK Consumer Healthcare Earn Cannes Lion Award at 2017 Lions Health Festival

New York – June 19, 2017 – Weber Shandwick, one of the world’s leading global communications and engagement firms, was awarded a Bronze Lion in Health & Wellness, OTC Oral Medicines for PR at the 2017 Cannes Lions Health Festival with GSK Consumer Healthcare for Excedrin #DebateHeadache. This is the second year in a row Weber Shandwick and GSK Consumer Healthcare have earned a Cannes Lion in Health & Wellness for Excedrin. 

#DebateHeadache was also shortlisted in two additional Health & Wellness categories, including OTC Oral Medicines for Digital: Social and OTC Oral Medicines for Branded Content and Entertainment: Digital + Social.

Through social listening and proprietary research, the brand uncovered that 7 out of 10 Americans reported the 2016 presidential election caused more headaches than any other election – with nearly a third citing debates as the most headache-inducing part. Using this insight the #DebateHeadache campaign was designed to offer pain relief caused by a truly headache-inducing moment: the third and final U.S. presidential debate. Leading up to the debate, Excedrin delivered custom head pain relief kits to top-tier lifestyle, health and political journalists, teasing that a big headache was coming and that Excedrin would be there to provide relief. On debate day, Excedrin shared a simple and singular message on Twitter: “The possibility of a #DebateHeadache is high. Be prepared with Excedrin.” As pundits disputed which candidate won the night, many consumers, top-tier media and influencers declared Excedrin the winner. 

“Creativity in healthcare is not only about big ideas, but about improving lives,” said Gail Heimann, President of Weber Shandwick. “Partnering with GSK Consumer Healthcare has allowed us to raise the bar on both fronts. It’s an honor to be recognized for our work together again for the second year in a row.” 

Weber Shandwick is the creative, social, digital and public relations agency of record for GSK Consumer Healthcare’s Excedrin brand globally. 

Also at Lions Health, Stacey Bernstein, executive vice president and head of Weber Shandwick’s Global Digital Health practice, served as a member of the 2017 Health & Wellness Lions Jury. Participating in the “Inside the Jury Room: Health & Wellness” session, Bernstein noted the best creative work in health is “almost always rooted in universal truth.” 

In 2016, Weber Shandwick was awarded a Bronze Lion in Health & Wellness, OTC Oral Medicines for PR with GSK Consumer Healthcare for The Migraine Experience. The firm was also credited as the PR agency on an additional four Lion-winning campaigns, including a Grand Prix, Gold, Silver and Bronze Lion in Health & Wellness. 

Weber Shandwick’s Global Healthcare practice has been among the firm’s fastest growing practice areas, spanning North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America with expertise in cardiology, immunology, CNS, oncology, anti-infectives, antivirals, metabolic disorders, eye care, orthopedics, pediatrics, women’s health, medical devices and more.  

# # #

About Weber Shandwick 

Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications and engagement firm in 79 cities across 34 countries, with a network extending to 127 cities in 81 countries. The firm’s diverse team of strategists, analysts, producers, designers, developers and campaign activators has won the most prestigious awards in the world for innovative, creative approaches and impactful work. Weber Shandwick was the only public relations agency included on the Advertising Age Agency A-list in 2014 and 2015 and the only PR firm designated an A-List Agency Standout in 2017. Weber Shandwick was honored as PRWeek’s Global Agency of the Year in 2015, 2016 and 2017, The Holmes Report’s Global Agency of the Year in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015 and The Holmes Report’s Global Digital Agency of the Year in 2016. The firm deploys deep expertise across sectors and specialty areas, including consumer marketing, corporate reputation, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, corporate social responsibility, financial communications and crisis management, using proprietary social, digital and analytics methodologies. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit https://www.webershandwick.com.