Highlights From Ad Age International Partner Adlatina‘s Annual Rankings:

Supermodel Gisele takes Sky Brasil viewers on a fantasy HD tour (from Advertising Age)

Sky Brasil

Brazil’s biggest satellite TV service, owned 76% by DirectTV and 24% by Brazilian media giant Organizações Globo, launched Sky High Definition TV channels with great fanfare in 2009. One ad, by São Paulo agency Giovanni DraftFCB, brings HDTV to life with Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen in a São Paulo airport departure lounge. Perched on a red sofa, she clicks a remote control and a football team swarms the lounge. Another click and soldiers are fighting a war. With a final click, a New York City taxi appears in a flurry of snowflakes and Ms. Bundchen hops in and rides off.

Hyundai Brasil

In a market dominated by Volkswagen and Fiat, Hyundai arrived late but has been growing fast from a small base. Sales doubled to 43,000 cars in 2008, and were projected to climb to 70,000 units last year. And Hyundai last fall revived plans to start building a $600 million plant in Brazil in 2010. Working with Havas-owned agency Z Plus, Hyundai advertised heavily to launch the i30 and the Tucson, one of the best-selling imported vehicles in Brazil, and promote the Azera. In one campaign, Tucson owners were asked if they knew why the Tucson had been named the best SUV in Brazil and the world. Most of them didn’t, but were happy to volunteer their own reasons for liking the car.

HSBC Brasil

Brazil is the largest Latin American market for HSBC, which livened up its marketing last year with the $40 million launch of HSBC Direct online banking for busy people with a campaign from JWT, São Paulo, using the slogan “The bank that likes to get straight to the point.” The site drew 1.1 million visitors to HSBC’s website to open a new online bank account.

"Havaianas Verão", by Marcello Serpa's Almap BBDO

Outstanding Agencies of the Year

Marcello Serpa’s shop Almap BBDO again led Adlatina’s ranking of most-awarded agencies in Latin America with colorful work for clients like Havaianas flip-flops.

via Advertising: The Best of Latin American Marketing in 2009 – Global News – Advertising Age.