The week before last, IHAF announced the winner of the 2017 In-House Agency of the Year Award, AT&T Creative Services. The team at AT&T stood out among the array of entries because of the pivotal role they played repositioning the company as a provider of devices, connectivity and content, and reimagining and integrating the new corporate brand.

Led by Senior Vice President of Creative Services, Roger Hyde, the 150-person team at AT&T was faced with the challenge of recasting the nation’s most recognizable telco into an entertainment brand—with just six weeks to do it. As the world’s largest media company, their entry detailed how the team worked together to “breathe new life into an old brand” while gaining the endorsement of senior management.

When Hyde stepped forward to accept the crystal trophy on behalf of his team, his pride and humility were equally apparent. “This award is for my team,” he said. “They are without a doubt the most talented and dedicated group of individuals, who come to work every day ready to raise the creative bar.”

In addition to AT&T, two other high-performing teams earned accolades at the IHAF Conference—Sallie Mae and State Farm Insurance. Both were named finalists for the award with the 17-person in-house agency at Sallie Mae applauded for boosting the organization’s reputation as a federal education lender while cutting through the clutter to reach new audiences and capture the attention of consumers and media alike.

The team at State Farm was recognized for their role repositioning the company and legacy corporate brand to go beyond insurance—taking on print, radio, television, online video and social content, website development, out-of-home, sponsorships and collateral while saving the company tens of millions.

The In-House Agency of the Year Award honors internal agencies and corporate creative organizations for their outstanding achievements in areas such as business impact, client partnership, internal/external collaboration, cultivating culture and more. This year marked our seventh recognizing teams that move mountains, overcome obstacles and consistently go the extra mile to enable the success of the business.

IHAF accepts nominations from teams of all sizes and varieties, with the entry period running from early July through late August. Nominations are reviewed by a panel of judges with entries scored via a points system on recorded ballots. Three finalists are announced at the IHAF Conference & Awards Show in November, with one winner crowned.

To learn more about the In-House Agency of the Year Award, visit our website. To read the stories behind this year’s winners, as well as those who have won in the past, click here.