Read About the Agency Family Trees and
Rankings and Analysis from Agency Report 2008. Questions? Comments? Updates? Contact us: AgencyReport@AdAge.com
World revenue rank shown at right. Agencies listed by network. Click plus sign to expand.
Aegis Group*
6
Worldwide revenue $2.22 billion
| Revenue ($ in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | $2,215.0 | NA | NA |
| U.S | $511.9 | NA | NA |
| Non-U.S. | $1,703.1 | NA | NA |
| Employees | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 15,077 | NA | NA |
| U.S. | 2,311 | NA | NA |
| Non-U.S. | 12,766 | NA | NA |
Fast facts: Publicly traded Aegis Group is a U.K.-based holding company with two segments, Aegis Media and Synovate, its market research unit. Aegis Media includes media agencies Carat and Vizeum, digital network Isobar and out-of-home media unit Posterscope.
Posterscope entered the U.S. in 2006 as the rebranding of Outdoor Vision.
Aegis in 2007 bought Vivid Marketing, an event and experiential-marketing agency.
Aegis' Carat Americas in July 2007 merged Carat USA and digital shop Carat Fusion; the merged shop was called simply Carat.
Aegis has tried to hold French financier and Havas Chairman Vincent Bollore at bay. Bollore, who has built his shareholding in Aegis to just below 30%, was turned down in his attempt to gain two board positions in five Aegis shareholder votes--June 2006, November 2006, April 2007, May 2007 and May 2008. Aegis has rejected his efforts because it believes Bollore's seats would be a conflict of interest since he controls a major competitor. Under U.K. law, Bollore would have to make an offer to buy the company if he reached a 30% ownership threshold.
Figures shown for the U.S. are actually for the Americas, although the U.S. portion is estimated to be above 90% of that geographic segment.
In its own words: Aegis Group is the parent company of Aegis Media and Synovate. We are a successful marketing communications group, with a long history of "firsts." Our advantages include an entrepreneurial spirit, a belief that digital is changing everything, and crucially, the way we put an understanding of how consumers think and behave at the heart of everything we do.
Top executive: Lord Sharman of Redlynch, chmn; Robert Lerwill, CEO
Headquarters: Aegis Group/43-45 Portman Square, London, W1H 6LY/Phone: 44 20 7070 7700/Fax: 44 20 7070 7800 http://www.aegisplc.com
AKQA
41
Worldwide revenue $128.0 million
| Revenue ($ in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | $128.0 | $98.0 | 30.6 |
| Employees | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 711 | 495 | 43.6 |
| U.S. | 371 | 245 | 51.4 |
| Non-U.S. | 340 | 250 | 36.0 |
| Offices | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 7 | 6 | 16.7 |
| U.S. | 4 | 3 | 33.3 |
| Non-U.S. | 3 | 3 | 0.0 |
Fast facts: AKQA is a San Francisco-based agency with offices in New York and Washington as well as Amsterdam, London and Shanghai.
AKQA gained a new owner when General Atlantic, a Greenwich, Conn.-based private equity firm, bought a majority of the agency about the same time AKQA's previous majority owner, Francisco Partners, cashed out of its position. The action allowed AKQA to retain its independence in the heavily consolidated ad industry. Francisco had invested $70 million in AKQA when it was formed in March 2001.
AKQA bought Search Rev, a search marketing agency, in August 2007.
In its own words: AKQA is a full-service, independent global advertising agency. We now employ more than 700 people worldwide. Headquartered in San Francisco, AKQA also has offices in New York, Washington, London, Shanghai and Amsterdam. We pride ourselves in finding the best solutions for our clients and building communications across digital platforms including web, mobile, kiosks, billboards, handheld devices, DVDs, CDs and interactive TV.
Top executive: Tom Bedecarre, CEO
Headquarters: AKQA/118 King St., 6th Fl., San Francisco, Calif. 94107/Phone: (415) 645-9400/Fax: (415) 645-9420 http://www.akqa.com
AKQA
Alliance Data Systems (Epsilon)*
10
Worldwide revenue $468.6 million
| Revenue ($ in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | $468.6 | $308.6 | 51.8 |
| U.S | $440.0 | $300.0 | 46.7 |
| Non-U.S. | $28.6 | $8.6 | 232.6 |
| Employees | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 2,013 | 1,306 | 54.1 |
| U.S. | 1,826 | 1,206 | 51.4 |
| Non-U.S. | 187 | 100 | 87.0 |
| Offices | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 25 | 23 | 8.7 |
| U.S. | 12 | 12 | 0.0 |
| Non-U.S. | 13 | 11 | 18.2 |
Fast facts: Alliance Data Systems provides database, direct-marketing and payment-transaction services. It offers customer loyalty programs, database marketing services, marketing strategy consulting, analytics and creative services, e-mail marketing and private-label retail credit card programs. Epsilon is Alliance Data's marketing services unit.
Alliance Data was formed from the 1996 merger of two entities acquired by private-equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe: J.C. Penney Co.'s transaction services business (BSI Business Services) and Limited Brands' credit-card bank (World Financial Network National Bank). Alliance Data went public in June 2001. In May 2007, it agreed to be bought by private-equity firm Blackstone Group for $7.8 billion, including assumption of debt. In the wake of the credit crunch and upheaval in financial markets, Alliance Data Systems Corp. and Blackstone, on April 18, 2008, terminated the deal after battling over Blackstone's obligations in the deal.
Alliance Data serves more than 800 clients across industries including financial services, retail, petroleum marketing, technology, hospitality and travel, media and pharmaceuticals. Clients include BMO Bank of Montreal, Citibank, Hilton, Bank of America, Victoria's Secret, Canada Safeway, Shell Canada, Amex Bank of Canada, J. Crew and Expedia.
Epsilon's U.S. clients include Barnes & Noble, Charter Communications, Pfizer and Best Buy.
Alliance Data had 2007 worldwide revenue of $2.3 billion and ended the year with 9,800 employees. Its ranking among agency companies is based on estimated revenue of Epsilon, its marketing services unit; employee and office figures shown also are for Epsilon. Epsilon had estimated 2007 worldwide revenue of $468.6 million (20% of Alliance Data total) and 2,013 employees (21% of Alliance Data total).
Epsilon has three divisions: Purple@Epsilon, its direct-marketing and digital agency; strategic database services, which builds and manages databases, creates loyalty programs and offers analytics and strategic consulting; and Abacus and data services, which compiles and sells consumer and business data.
Alliance Data bought Epsilon for $314.5 million in October 2004, and it's expanded Epsilon through acquisitions. It bought Abacus (a provider of data, data management and analytical services for retailers and catalogs) from DoubleClick in February 2007 for $439.3 million.
Epsilon launched Purple@Epsilon in March 2008 as a rebranding of Epsilon's direct-marketing and digital agency services. Purple@Epsilon offers creative design, direct-mail production, e-mail marketing, web development and search-engine optimization. Purple@Epsilon bundles Epsilon's direct-marketing agency services along with services acquired through acquisitions (including Bigfoot Interactive in 2005, digital creative specialist Big Designs in 2006 and DoubleClick Email Solutions in 2006).
In its own words: Epsilon is a 21st century marketing services company that uses consumer and business data together with proven techniques to maximize marketing power for clients worldwide. Services include strategic consulting, database and loyalty technology, proprietary data, predictive modeling and a full range of creative and interactive services including brand and promotional development, web design, e-mail deployment, search engine optimization and direct mail production.
Major events in 2007-2008 include:
•Epsilon closed its acquisition of Abacus in February 2007.
•Epsilon launched a distinct brand for its interactive marketing agency, Purple@Epsilon, in March 2008.
•Forrester Research recognized Epsilon as a "Leader" in its annual Wave reports of both Database Marketing and Email Marketing Services Providers.
•Steve Cone was appointed CMO (prior experience includes marketing leadership roles at Citigroup, Key Corp. and Fidelity). Cone is also best-selling author of "Steal These Ideas" (Bloomberg Press, 2005), and his second book, "Powerlines," was published in April 2008 (Bloomberg Press).
•Ten-year Epsilon veteran Chris Harrison was appointed chief technology officer.
Major events in 2007-2008 include:
•Epsilon closed its acquisition of Abacus in February 2007.
•Epsilon launched a distinct brand for its interactive marketing agency, Purple@Epsilon, in March 2008.
•Forrester Research recognized Epsilon as a "Leader" in its annual Wave reports of both Database Marketing and Email Marketing Services Providers.
•Steve Cone was appointed CMO (prior experience includes marketing leadership roles at Citigroup, Key Corp. and Fidelity). Cone is also best-selling author of "Steal These Ideas" (Bloomberg Press, 2005), and his second book, "Powerlines," was published in April 2008 (Bloomberg Press).
•Ten-year Epsilon veteran Chris Harrison was appointed chief technology officer.
Top executive: J. Michael Parks, chmn & CEO
Headquarters: Alliance Data Systems (Epsilon)/17655 Waterview Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75252/Phone: (972) 348-5100/Fax: (972) 348-5100 http://www.alliancedatasystems.com
Asatsu-DK
11
Worldwide revenue $454.2 million
| Revenue ($ in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | $454.2 | $430.0 | 5.6 |
| U.S | $3.1 | $2.9 | 7.7 |
| Non-U.S. | $451.1 | $427.1 | 5.6 |
| Employees | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 3,554 | 3,313 | 7.3 |
| U.S. | 29 | 23 | 26.1 |
| Non-U.S. | 3,525 | 3,290 | 7.1 |
| Offices | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 48 | 43 | 11.6 |
| U.S. | 3 | 3 | 0.0 |
| Non-U.S. | 45 | 40 | 12.5 |
Fast facts: Asatsu-DK is an ad agency based in Tokyo. The DK stands for Dai-Ichi Kikaku, an agency with which Asatsu merged in 2002. WPP owns 22.9% of Asatsu-DK.
Top executive: Koichiro Naganuma, CEO
Headquarters: Asatsu-DK/13-1 Tsukiji, 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-8172/Phone: 81-3-3547-2003/Fax: 81-3-3547-2345 http://www.adk.jp
Asatsu-DK
Aspen Marketing Services*
44
Worldwide revenue $111.8 million
| Revenue ($ in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| U.S | $111.8 | $94.6 | 18.3 |
| Employees | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| U.S. | 812 | 642 | 26.5 |
| Offices | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| U.S. | 11 | 9 | 22.2 |
Fast facts: Aspen Marketing Services, founded in 1986, is a privately held marketing services agency largely built through acquisitions.
Aspen in January 2008 bought Experiencia, now Aspen Latino. In 2007, it acquired Newgen Results Corp., an auto industry customer-relationship-management company, and Townsend Agency, a digital and relationship-marketing shop. Previous acquisitions included Creative Services International; M-3/Mallworks; B-12/Sudden Impact; Luna Bacardi Group; PhoneWorks; Hanig & Co.; and Corporate Trademarks.
Aspen's 2006 revenue figure is revised.
In its own words: Aspen Marketing Services, founded in 1986, has more than 810 employees in offices around the country including Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Dallas, New York City, Phoenix, Morristown, N.J., Rosemont, Ill., Chicago, San Diego and Tampa. Aspen offers an extensive array of integrated services including direct marketing, consumer promotions, event marketing, public relations, digital marketing, Hispanic marketing and analytics for a list of Fortune 100 clients including General Motors, AT&T, Allstate, Hewlett-Packard, Georgia-Pacific, Mutual of Omaha, Kraft Foods, JVC and Capital One.
In 2007, Aspen made a series of strategic acquisitions and new appointments to bolster the agency's award-winning automotive CRM, digital and events capabilities. Newgen Results Corp., an internationally recognized automotive CRM solution company, and the Townsend Agency, a leading digital and relationship marketing firm, were acquired during the year. Interpublic veteran Gust Kouvaris joined as president of events, tasked with leading national events and sponsorships; and automotive industry expert Bob Kurilko was appointed executive vice president, automotive CRM.
In 2007, Aspen made a series of strategic acquisitions and new appointments to bolster the agency's award-winning automotive CRM, digital and events capabilities. Newgen Results Corp., an internationally recognized automotive CRM solution company, and the Townsend Agency, a leading digital and relationship marketing firm, were acquired during the year. Interpublic veteran Gust Kouvaris joined as president of events, tasked with leading national events and sponsorships; and automotive industry expert Bob Kurilko was appointed executive vice president, automotive CRM.
Top executive: Patrick O'Rahilly, pres & CEO
Headquarters: Aspen Marketing Services/1240 North Ave., West Chicago, Ill. 60185/Phone: (630) 293-9600/Fax: (630) 293-7584 http://www.aspenms.com
Bartle Bogle Hegarty*
37
Worldwide revenue $161.0 million
| Revenue ($ in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | $161.0 | $155.0 | 3.9 |
| U.S | $31.0 | $25.0 | 24.0 |
| Non-U.S. | $130.0 | $130.0 | 0.0 |
| Employees | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 916 | 845 | 8.4 |
| U.S. | 180 | 160 | 12.5 |
| Non-U.S. | 736 | 685 | 7.4 |
Fast facts: Bartle Bogle Hegarty, founded in 1982, has offices in London, Singapore, Toyko, New York, Sao Paulo and Shanghai. Bartle estimates 71% of its income comes from work that runs internationally. Bartle is 49% owned by Publicis Groupe, an investment taken by Publicis' Leo Burnett Worldwide several years ago. BBH New York is Bartle Bogle Hegarty's U.S. outpost. BBH in May 2007 won Miller Brewing Co.'s $100 million Miller Lite account after a review; MDC's Crispin Porter & Bogusky quit that account in March 2007.
Top executive: Nigel Bogle, CEO; John Hegarty, chmn & ww creative dir
Headquarters: Bartle Bogle Hegarty/60 Kingly St., London, W1B 5DS/Phone: 44-207-734-1677/Fax: 44-207-437-3666 http://www.bartleboglehegarty.com
Carlson Marketing*
13
Worldwide revenue $413.0 million
| Revenue ($ in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | $413.0 | $390.0 | 5.9 |
| U.S | $299.0 | $282.0 | 6.0 |
| Non-U.S. | $114.0 | $108.0 | 5.6 |
| Employees | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 2,838 | 2,814 | 0.9 |
| U.S. | 1,740 | 1,738 | 0.1 |
| Non-U.S. | 1,098 | 1,076 | 2.0 |
| Offices | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 42 | 42 | 0.0 |
| U.S. | 15 | 15 | 0.0 |
| Non-U.S. | 27 | 27 | 0.0 |
Fast facts: Carlson Marketing, a marketing-services company that defines itself as a relationship marketing company, has been pushing itself as the global agency of choice for below-the-line sales and marketing services, 1-to-1 marketing and meetings and events. Beginning in mid-2005, Carlson integrated its 42 worldwide offices by placing them under a common P&L.
In its own words: Carlson Marketing focuses 100% of its energy on building stronger relationships between our clients' brands and their best customers, channel partners and employees. As a brand loyalty and engagement marketing-services agency, we optimize our clients' marketing spending because we are experts in creating two-way communication that increases brand strength and delivers measurable results--stronger relationships, better results.
Anticipating the huge growth in interactive media, we hired Doug Rozen, former senior partner and managing director at JWT's RMG Connect, to build the capability and to act as a lightning rod to attract new talent in the interactive space. With more than 40 new hires in Minneapolis alone and a total of 135 full-time employees in the U.S. and another 75 globally, we are taking advantage of the shift in marketing resources from direct to electronic media to best serve clients.
Anticipating the huge growth in interactive media, we hired Doug Rozen, former senior partner and managing director at JWT's RMG Connect, to build the capability and to act as a lightning rod to attract new talent in the interactive space. With more than 40 new hires in Minneapolis alone and a total of 135 full-time employees in the U.S. and another 75 globally, we are taking advantage of the shift in marketing resources from direct to electronic media to best serve clients.
Top executive: Jim Schroer, pres & CEO
Headquarters: Carlson Marketing/Carlson Parkway, P.O. Box 59159, Minneapolis, Minn. 55459/Phone: (763) 212-4520/Fax: (763) 212-6664 http://www.carlsonmarketing.com
Cheil Worldwide
16
Worldwide revenue $299.6 million
| Revenue ($ in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | $299.6 | $256.3 | 16.9 |
| U.S | $27.5 | $20.5 | 33.8 |
| Non-U.S. | $272.1 | $235.7 | 15.4 |
| Employees | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 35 | 31 | 12.9 |
| U.S. | 4 | 4 | 0.0 |
| Non-U.S. | 31 | 27 | 14.8 |
| Offices | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 1,480 | 1,270 | 16.5 |
| U.S. | 112 | 103 | 8.7 |
| Non-U.S. | 1,368 | 1,167 | 17.2 |
Fast facts: Founded in 1973, publicly held Cheil Communications is the largest agency group in South Korea and globally operates 31 agencies in 18 countries, including U.S. offices in Ridgefield Park, N.J., Dallas and Irvine, Calif. Cheil began to expand internationally in 1988, opening its first international branch office in Tokyo. It has since established offices and branches throughout the world, including shops in New York, London, Beijing, Sao Paulo and Singapore. Cheil became listed on the Korean Stock Exchange in 1998. Samsung (Samsung Corp., Samsung Card and Samsung Electronics), its largest shareholder, holds 18% of Cheil stock. In fact, Cheil grew out of the Samsung network and retains its global business with the help of strategic alliance agreements with other agencies. Samsung is its biggest client, but global marketers are well represented on its client roster in South Korea.
Top executive: NakHoi Kim, pres
Headquarters: Cheil Worldwide/736-1, Hannam-2 dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 140-739/Phone: 82-2-3780-2220/Fax: 82-2-3780-3114-2204 http://www.cheil.com
Cheil Worldwide
Chime Communications
27
Worldwide revenue $193.2 million
| Revenue ($ in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | $193.2 | $142.7 | 35.4 |
| U.S | $2.5 | $1.7 | 47.1 |
| Non-U.S. | $190.7 | $141.0 | 35.2 |
| Employees | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 980 | 776 | 26.3 |
Fast facts: Holding company that includes a U.K. public relations group (Bell Pottinger); market research (including U.K. firm Opinion Leader); and advertising and marketing services agencies (VCCP; Teamspirit (financial services); TTA (property marketing); Fast Track (sports marketing).
Chime in 2007 generated 53% of revenue from PR; 39% from advertising and marketing services; and 8% from research. It generated 66% of 2007 revenue from the U.K. and 34% from non-U.K. operations. Chime has U.S. offices in New York, Boston and Washington. WPP Group owns 21.7% of Chime, per WPP's June 2007 20-F filing.
Chime launched as an independent company in 1989 through a management buyout from Lowe Howard Spink & Bell. Chime went public in 1994.
Top executive: Tim Bell, chmn; Christopher Satterthwaite, chmn
Headquarters: Chime Communications/14 Curzon St., London, W1J 5HN/Phone: 44-20-7861-8515/Fax: 44-20-7861-8516 http://www.chime.plc.uk
Clemenger Group
22
Worldwide revenue $220.3 million
| Revenue ($ in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | $220.3 | $174.1 | 26.6 |
| Employees | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 1,643 | 1,442 | 13.9 |
| Offices | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 44 | 44 | 0.0 |
Fast facts: Clemenger Communications, founded in Melbourne in 1946 and expanding to Sydney in 1947, is composed of more than 30 marketing communications companies in Australia and New Zealand. Clemenger is 47% owned by Omnicom's BBDO, which bought into Clemenger in 1972, and the remainder of its stock is held by nearly 500 of its employees. Clemenger returns are for calendar years 2007 and 2006, but Clemenger's fiscal year ends June 30.
Top executive: Robert Morgan, exec chmn
Headquarters: Clemenger Group/474 St. Kilda Rd., Melbourne, Victoria 3004/Phone: 613-9869-4499/Fax: 613-9820-1232 http://www.clemenger.com.au
Commarco Holding
32
Worldwide revenue $172.2 million
| Revenue ($ in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | $172.2 | $116.4 | 48.0 |
| Employees | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 1,439 | 894 | 61.0 |
| Offices | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 40 | 32 | 25.0 |
Fast facts: Commarco Holding is the parent company of about 30 advertising and specialized agencies including flagship Scholz & Friends, Deepblue Networks, GKK DialogGroup and Lowe Deutschland. Commarco as of early 2008 was about 35% owned by a management group of about 40 people and 65% by private-equity firm Cognetas (formerly Electra Europe). Commarco's primary market is Germany.
Commarco in 2007 hired Morgan Stanley to explore alternatives including an initial public offering, a sale to another private investor or a sale to a larger marketing organization.
Commarco in February 2008 shuffled management. Frank-Michael Schmidt and Christian Tiedemann became Commarco's co-CEOs. Tiedemann kept his former duties as Scholz & Friends' CFO-COO; Schmidt added the title of chairman of Scholz & Friends. Commarco Managing Directors Thomas Heilmann and Sebastian Turner stepped down from their executive posts but remained on the supervisory board.
The company in 2007 formed Scholz & Friends Public Relations Group and followed that in March 2007 by acquiring a top-ranking direct marketing agency, GKK DialogGroup, Frankfurt, which employed 450 and generated about $25 million in revenue.
Scholz & Friends and Interpublic's Lowe started Lowe Deutschland, 80% owned by Commarco and 20% by Lowe, after Lowe shuttered its German offices early in 2007. The main client of the venture was Unilever, which came with Lowe. (Lowe was a successor to Unilever's one-time in-house agency, Lintas.) Separately, Scholz & Friends reached a cooperative agreement with Lowe Worldwide that enabled S&F to use Lowe's network in Asia and North and South America as well as other Interpublic offices worldwide.
Scholz & Friends was founded in 1981 and long has been considered one of Europe's most creative agencies. Agencies affiliated with Scholz & Friends as of early 2008 accounted for about 35% of Commarco revenue.
In its own words: Commaro is the largest German holding for communications and marketing services agencies. Under the roof of the holding company, about 30 advertising and specialized agencies provide the entire spectrum of communications disciplines. Among the best-known agency brands are Scholz & Friends, Deepblue networks, GKK DialogGroup and Lowe Deutschland.
Commarco has continually enlarged the traditional core business of classical marketing via advertisements, billboards, TV and radio commercials with comprehensive non-classical services such as public relations, dialogue marketing, online marketing as well as specialised services such as design or film production. The non-classical sector accounts for considerably more than half of revenues.
Agencies of the holding employ approximately 1,500 persons across Europe. Business activity is focused within Germany. Through agencies in various European cities and via a strategic alliance with Lowe Worldwide for international markets in which Commarco does not have its own presence, the network is also able to successfully coordinate and implement global campaigns.
The agencies of Commarco rank among the top addresses in the industry and, every year, scoop numerous awards in creativity and efficiency.
Commarco has continually enlarged the traditional core business of classical marketing via advertisements, billboards, TV and radio commercials with comprehensive non-classical services such as public relations, dialogue marketing, online marketing as well as specialised services such as design or film production. The non-classical sector accounts for considerably more than half of revenues.
Agencies of the holding employ approximately 1,500 persons across Europe. Business activity is focused within Germany. Through agencies in various European cities and via a strategic alliance with Lowe Worldwide for international markets in which Commarco does not have its own presence, the network is also able to successfully coordinate and implement global campaigns.
The agencies of Commarco rank among the top addresses in the industry and, every year, scoop numerous awards in creativity and efficiency.
Top executive: Frank-Michael Schmidt, co-CEO
Headquarters: Commarco Holding/Hanseatic Trade Center, Am Sandtorkai 76, Hamburg, 20457/Phone: 49 40 37 681-900/Fax: 49 40 37 681-999 http://www.commarco.com
Commarco Holding
Cossette Communication Group
23
Worldwide revenue $217.5 million
| Revenue ($ in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | $217.5 | $190.2 | 14.4 |
| U.S | $17.4 | $20.0 | -12.7 |
| Non-U.S. | $200.1 | $170.2 | 17.6 |
| Employees | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 1,612 | 1,384 | 16.5 |
| U.S. | 92 | 107 | -14.0 |
| Non-U.S. | 1,520 | 1,277 | 19.0 |
| Offices | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 21 | 17 | 23.5 |
| U.S. | 5 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Non-U.S. | 16 | 12 | 33.3 |
Fast facts: Cossette Communication Group, a public company based in Quebec City, is an integrated marketing holding company whose primary advertising operation is Cossette Communications-Marketing in Canada. In the U.S., the marketing organization owns Cossette Communications (previously Cossette Post), New York, acquired in 2001, and Calif.-based PainePR, acquired in 2004. Paine also has offices in Irvine, Calif., New York and Boston. The agency has 800 clients.
Revenues are for fiscal years ended Sept. 20, 2007 and 2006.
In its own words: Cossette Communication Group is an international communications firm with operations in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. It is one of the top communications companies in the world, servicing clients locally, nationally and on a global scale. It offers a full range of communication services to more than 800 clients of all sizes, including some of the most prestigious brands in the world.
A customer-driven organization built upon highly specialized business units, "Cossette believes in convergent communications," a proprietary working method that brings all the key communication services together under one roof to maximize the return on our clients' communications investments. Cossette excels in various communications disciplines, including strategic planning and research, advertising, media planning and buying, sales promotion, CRM, database and direct marketing, interactive marketing and technology solutions, public relations and alliance marketing, branding and design, ethnic marketing, sports marketing, branded content and product placement and B to B marketing.
Cossette has approximately 1,650 employees and offices in Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, New York, Boston, Irvine, Los Angeles, London, Moscow and Shanghai. Cossette Communication Group Inc. is a publicly traded company. Its shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol KOS.
Detailed highlights of Cossette's fiscal 07 can be consulted online at www.cossette.com/2007annualreport
A customer-driven organization built upon highly specialized business units, "Cossette believes in convergent communications," a proprietary working method that brings all the key communication services together under one roof to maximize the return on our clients' communications investments. Cossette excels in various communications disciplines, including strategic planning and research, advertising, media planning and buying, sales promotion, CRM, database and direct marketing, interactive marketing and technology solutions, public relations and alliance marketing, branding and design, ethnic marketing, sports marketing, branded content and product placement and B to B marketing.
Cossette has approximately 1,650 employees and offices in Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, New York, Boston, Irvine, Los Angeles, London, Moscow and Shanghai. Cossette Communication Group Inc. is a publicly traded company. Its shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol KOS.
Detailed highlights of Cossette's fiscal 07 can be consulted online at www.cossette.com/2007annualreport
Top executive: Claude Lessard, chmn & CEO
Headquarters: Cossette Communication Group/801 Grande Alle Ouest, Ste. 200, Quebec City, Quebec G1S 1C1/Phone: (418) 647-2727/Fax: (418) 523-1689 http://www.cossette.com
Cramer-Krasselt
40
Worldwide revenue $137.2 million
| Revenue ($ in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| U.S | $137.2 | $117.9 | 16.3 |
| Employees | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| U.S. | 505 | 454 | 11.2 |
| Offices | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| U.S. | 4 | 4 | 0.0 |
Fast facts: Cramer-Krasselt, founded in 1898, is an integrated agency owned by senior managers. The agency, one of the largest independent agencies in the U.S., has offices in Chicago, Milwaukee, Phoenix and New York.
In its own words: 2007 has been C-K's most significant year to date measured across many benchmarks: agency growth (billings neared $1 billion in 2007), marquee account wins including Porsche, Zantac, Bissell, TV Guide and Sealy, plus extensive industry recognition, strong financials and nearly 60 new hires.
C-K is also rapidly moving toward embedding all interactive resources within the strategic, media and creative functions to create seamless interaction and cross-pollination.
We have centralized our financial functions under our newly appointed CFO, Wanda McDonald. With her in place C-K has completely overhauled its cost and time tracking systems so we have an overwhelming Swat team ability to focus resources on client needs.
C-K's commitment to changing the category conversation for client after client (think Abe and the beaver's Rozerem versus Ambien and Lunesta, Corona versus Bud, Yellow Tail in wine, CareerBuilder monkeys, etc.) and belief in the power of exceptional creative have attracted a different breed of client to the agency. Many came from the challenger position and now are number one in their categories. Resigning CareerBuilder was a tough decision, but nearly a year later, we believe more than ever it was the right one. Within a few weeks, we had already replaced the revenue by gaining several top-tier new clients. And more recently, when Porsche and Sealy chose C-K in highly competitive agency reviews, they said they were attracted to our passion and business principles.
C-K is also rapidly moving toward embedding all interactive resources within the strategic, media and creative functions to create seamless interaction and cross-pollination.
We have centralized our financial functions under our newly appointed CFO, Wanda McDonald. With her in place C-K has completely overhauled its cost and time tracking systems so we have an overwhelming Swat team ability to focus resources on client needs.
C-K's commitment to changing the category conversation for client after client (think Abe and the beaver's Rozerem versus Ambien and Lunesta, Corona versus Bud, Yellow Tail in wine, CareerBuilder monkeys, etc.) and belief in the power of exceptional creative have attracted a different breed of client to the agency. Many came from the challenger position and now are number one in their categories. Resigning CareerBuilder was a tough decision, but nearly a year later, we believe more than ever it was the right one. Within a few weeks, we had already replaced the revenue by gaining several top-tier new clients. And more recently, when Porsche and Sealy chose C-K in highly competitive agency reviews, they said they were attracted to our passion and business principles.
Top executive: Peter G. Krivkovich, pres & CEO
Headquarters: Cramer-Krasselt/225 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 24th, Chicago, Ill. 60601/Phone: (312) 616-9600/Fax: (312) 616-3839 http://www.c-k.com
Creston*
36
Worldwide revenue $164.2 million
| Revenue ($ in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | $164.2 | $128.2 | 28.1 |
| U.S | $2.9 | $2.7 | 9.1 |
| Non-U.S. | $161.2 | $125.5 | 28.5 |
| Employees | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 850 | 769 | 10.5 |
| Offices | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 15 | 14 | 7.1 |
Fast facts: Creston, formed in 2001, is an advertising and marketing-services group based in London. Creston has grown considerably since 2005, when it bought London ad agency Delaney Lund Knox Warren & Partners and London healthcare PR agency Red Door Communications. Creston followed up those acquisitions in May 2006 by paying about $68.1 million for ICM, a London market research group, and at the same time buying for $70.1 million the London direct-marketing agency Tullo Marshall Warren and sibling Colombus Communications. The agency concluded 2006 by acquiring for $34.4 million Pan Advertising, a U.K. healthcare shop.
Creston has two operating divisions:
Communications: Delaney Lund Knox Warren, Red Door, Pan Advertising, TMW (direct marketing and digital), EMO (channel marketing), TRA (direct marketing and CRM), Nelson Bostock (consumer and technology PR).
Insight: ICM (quantitative research), MSL (qualitative research), CML (qualitative research), MSTS (sensory research).
Creston's U.S. revenue comes from its Insight market-research division.
Creston is publicly traded; directors and employees own 32%.
In April 2007, Creston hired Steve Blamer as U.S. CEO to find acquisition candidates. Blamer left FCB as CEO in 2006 after Interpublic merged FCB with Draft and put Howard Draft in charge of DraftFCB. Creston in February 2008 announced it was scrubbing a U.S. expansion and closing its New York office, citing concerns about the U.S. and global economy. Creston said Blamer would stay on the payroll for the nine-month duration of his notice period to help attract U.S. clients to Creston's U.K. companies.
2007 revenue is Ad Age estimate for year ended March 31, 2008; 2006 is actual revenue for year ended March 31, 2007.
In its own words: Creston was established in 2001 as an insight and communications marketing services group with a vision to provide clients with world class, market relevant, insight, strategy, creation and activation solutions in a rapidly evolving market.
In founding Creston, we asked a simple question: "If we were designing a marketing services group to enable clients to connect with the 21st century broadband-enabled consumer, what would it look like?"
At Creston, from the start, we were unburdened by an over reliance on TV spot advertising and/or transactional media buying, both legacy dimensions of the larger trade groups and their "push" models.
We have always understood that several powerful, yet parallel, changes were impacting the way in which consumers were both exposed to and consuming media (in its broadcast form). In short, we understood that we were moving to a place where brands needed to have "conversations with" rather than "shout at" individuals. We have therefore designed our group around the vision of "ensuring more compelling and relevant consumer connections to deliver brand led growth in a changing world."
In founding Creston, we asked a simple question: "If we were designing a marketing services group to enable clients to connect with the 21st century broadband-enabled consumer, what would it look like?"
At Creston, from the start, we were unburdened by an over reliance on TV spot advertising and/or transactional media buying, both legacy dimensions of the larger trade groups and their "push" models.
We have always understood that several powerful, yet parallel, changes were impacting the way in which consumers were both exposed to and consuming media (in its broadcast form). In short, we understood that we were moving to a place where brands needed to have "conversations with" rather than "shout at" individuals. We have therefore designed our group around the vision of "ensuring more compelling and relevant consumer connections to deliver brand led growth in a changing world."
Top executive: Don Elgie, grp chief exec
Headquarters: Creston/30-35 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5LP/Phone: 44-20-7930-9757/Fax: 44-20-7930-8727 http://www.creston.com
D.L. Ryan Cos. (Ryan Partnership)
48
Worldwide revenue $94.3 million
| Revenue ($ in millions) | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | $94.3 | $77.0 | 22.5 |
| U.S | $92.0 | $75.3 | 22.2 |
| Non-U.S. | $2.2 | $1.6 | 36.1 |
| Employees | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 627 | 493 | 27.2 |
| U.S. | 608 | 479 | 26.9 |
| Non-U.S. | 19 | 14 | 35.7 |
| Offices | 2007 | 2006 | % chg |
| Worldwide | 14 | 13 | 7.7 |
| U.S. | 13 | 12 | 8.3 |
| Non-U.S. | 1 | 1 | 0.0 |
Fast facts: D.L. Ryan Cos., headquartered in Wilton, Conn., and commonly referred to as Ryan Partnership, is comprised of several divisions offering sales promotions, retail marketing, direct marketing, interactive marketing, pharmaceutical marketing as well as marketing to Hispanics. The company has full-service regional offices in Atlanta, Bentonville, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Minneapolis and Toronto.
Top executive: David L. Ryan, CEO
Headquarters: D.L. Ryan Cos. (Ryan Partnership)/50 Danbury Rd., Wilton, Conn. 06897/Phone: 203-210-3000/Fax: 203-665-7674 http://www.ryanpartnership.com
D. L. Ryan Cos.