Publicis

OMMA's 2008 Agency of the Year Awards celebrate the agencies that were able to rise above the rest over the past year, the shops that represented the best of class in the online advertising community. At the top of the list and the Gold Agency of the Year is former indie darling Digitas, which has expanded with zeal in the two years since its acquisition by Publicis. The company saw 100% new business growth year-on-year; 2007 was its previous best new business year ever.

Big Four ad agency Publicis is now buying in to Latin American digital advertising, acquiring Sao Paulo-based Tribal to add to its Digitas online ad group. Digitas CEO Laura Lang said Tribal is "fundamental" to expanding in the growing region. Publicis bought Digitas back in 2006 and has grafted on various international digital acquisitions in the UK, India, Singapore, China and its native France, so this will be a foothold across the Atlantic.