Aflac Duck Enshrined on Advertising Walk of Fame
September 26 2005 - 2:12PM
PR Newswire (US)
The Aflac Duck receives honor as a favorite icon during New York
City's second annual celebration of the advertising industry
COLUMBUS, Ga., Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aflac Duck was
enshrined on Madison Avenue's Walk of Fame today during an official
induction ceremony recognizing the beloved corporate mascot as one
of America's Favorite Advertising Icons. The tribute launches a
weeklong celebration honoring the best of the advertising industry.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO)
During the 2004 inaugural celebration of advertising week, the
Aflac Duck beat out 24 other popular advertising icons, winning a
coveted spot on the well-known corner of 50th street and Madison
Avenue. The duck competed against such renowned symbols as Ronald
McDonald and the Energizer Bunny through an online voting poll.
This year's festivities began by honoring the winners of the 2004
contest with the installation of an image-engraved sidewalk plaque
located in the heart of the advertising capital of the world - New
York City. "It is an honor to have our Aflac Duck recognized in
such a prestigious manner," said Dan Amos, Aflac chairman and CEO.
"We are pleased to know that so many people have enjoyed watching
the commercials and that the campaign has become so highly regarded
within the advertising industry." Following a procession of other
famous advertising symbols competing in this year's contest, the
spokesduck received its official spot on the Walk of Fame, making
it the newest icon on the block. By fervently touting its namesake
to anyone who will listen, the Aflac Duck has created effective
brand awareness for the Columbus, Ga.-based insurer through an
innovative advertising campaign that began less than six years ago.
Today, Aflac enjoys more than 90 percent brand recognition.
Following its 2004 win as one of America's Favorite Advertising
Icons, the Aflac Duck went on to have other major successes. In
December 2004, the duck was placed front and center in the
company's logo and had a cameo appearance in the Academy
Award-winning film, "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate
Events." The feathered celebrity also starred opposite Melania
Trump in the widely popular Aflac television commercial titled
"Experiment." More recently, the duck's latest commercial, titled
"Helping Out," was named Best- Liked New Ad by AdAge.com. Other
icons sharing an engraved image alongside the Aflac Duck include
the M&M characters, Mr. Peanut, the Pillsbury Doughboy and Tony
the Tiger. The Kaplan Thaler Group, a New York-based advertising
agency, created the Aflac Duck advertising campaign in 1999. Aflac
is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the
United States and Japan. Aflac's insurance products provide
protection to more than 40 million people worldwide and pay cash
benefits to policyholders unless they choose otherwise. Aflac's
products are primarily sold at worksites in the United States. In
Japan, Aflac is the largest life insurer in terms of individual
insurance policies in force. In January 2005, Aflac was included in
Fortune magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in
America for the seventh consecutive year. Aflac has also been
included in both Forbes magazine's Platinum 400 List of America's
Best Big Companies and in Fortune magazine's listing of America's
Most Admired Companies for five consecutive years. Aflac
Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit
aflac.com. The Kaplan Thaler Group
(http://www.kaplanthalergroup.com/) has been ranked by industry
publications as the fastest-growing New York advertising agency and
touted for its breakthrough creative and immediate results. KTG is
part of the Publicis Groupe, one of the world's largest
communications holding companies. Media Contacts: Yolonda King
Mechell Clark Aflac Incorporated Aflac Incorporated (706) 243-8547
Voice (706) 243-8004 Voice (706) 320-2288 Fax (706) 320-2288 Fax
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Aflac Incorporated CONTACT:
Yolonda King, +1-706-243-8547, or Fax, +1-706-320-2288, or , or
Mechell Clark, +1-706-243-8004, or Fax, +1-706-320-2288, or , both
of Aflac Incorporated Web site: http://www.aflac.com/
http://www.kaplanthalergroup.com/
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