(This article was first published by Jacob Howard, Founder, FMI, on LinkedIn here)

Last night at the Ham Yard Hotel, I had the pleasure of attending the World Media Awards - a sold-out celebration of creativity, strategy, and storytelling across global media. The room was buzzing, the conversations were rich, and the calibre of work on display was genuinely inspiring.

A huge congratulations to Jamie Credland, CEO of the World Media Group for orchestrating such a seamless and vibrant evening. It’s no small feat to bring together so many brilliant minds and campaigns under one roof - and Jamie did it with style and warmth.

I was especially proud to see Christoph Woermann, FCIM, CMO, Corporate Bank, Deutsche Bank - and my former boss - honoured with the 2025 Content Leadership & Innovation Award. Nominated by World Media Group members, this award celebrates individuals recognised by their peers for creating exemplary content-driven campaigns that embody brand bravery, creativity, and innovation. Christoph’s long-standing commitment to strategic storytelling and client-centric content has shaped the industry, and it was a joy to see his work and values celebrated so publicly.

My focus of course was on the financial services category which was fiercely competitive this year. Having been part of the winning Deutsche Bank campaign in 2019, I know how much heart and precision goes into these efforts. That night, as I walked off stage clutching a trophy and the conversations that followed, sparked something deeper. They inspired the journey that became Financial Marketing Insights and the Financial Services Marketing Leaders' Summits. What began as a moment of recognition grew into a platform for connection, learning, and leadership across the industry.

Here's a quick iphone video of all the 2025 Financial Services Category nominees.

This year’s winner - UBS, with their campaign Banking is our Craft - stood out for its boldness and depth. Entered by Publicis ULABS and supported by Spark Foundry, Digitas, and Prophet, the campaign was praised by judges for its “real bravery - redefining how financial services go to market.” It held space for multiple activations, reached diverse audiences, and showed long-term commitment by trusting partners to tell stories natively.

Beyond the awards, the evening carried a deeper resonance through its partnership with Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Their mission to defend press freedom and support journalists at risk is more vital than ever. From legal aid to frontline safety training, RSF’s work spans over 150 countries - and their presence reminded us that great media isn’t just creative, it’s courageous.

🎉 Congratulations to all the winners and runners-up. Your work continues to elevate the craft and inspire the industry.

Here’s to more nights that celebrate creativity, connection, and the kind of content that moves industries forward.

#WorldMediaGroupAwards #FinancialServicesContent #StorytellingMatters #UBS #DeutscheBank #ChristophWoermann #ReportersWithoutBorders #MediaFreedom #FMI #BankingIsOurCraft #ContentLeadership #Marketing #FinancialServices