Global PR Agency Rankings 2016: Fast Movers

Fast Movers 2016   

Global

When looking at only firms based in North America, 80% are based in the US alongside Another Company (Mexico) which was launched in 2004 but made its debut on the fast movers this year. The other non-US showing was from the Canadian agency North Strategic which was founded in 2011 and has grown to 65 people in less than five years. Healthcare firm Spectrum accomplished impressive growth with its founder appointing a new president. Meanwhile, the Boston-based PAN Communications had a notable 2015, acquiring Vantage PR to expand into the San Francisco market.

Agency	HQ	Growth (Constant Currency)	Fee Income 2015 ($)
Another Company	Mexico	136.4%	5,200,000
Praytell	USA	81.5%	5,900,000
Spectrum	USA	77.4%	14,900,000
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry	UK	77.4%	4,948,086
PAN Communications	USA	68.6%	13,150,000
Havana Orange	Netherlands	57.5%	3,424,780
BOCA Communications	USA	54.4%	5,126,405
Walker Sands	USA	51.5%	6,917,494
Bhava Communications	USA	51.5%	5,000,000
SEC	Italy	51.2%	27,260,900

US

Now in year eight, the tech firm BOCA made its second-consecutive showing on the list; meanwhile the Chicago-based Walker Sands has hit a growth spurt — 177% in the last three years (the firm has been around for 15 years). The San Francisco-based Bhava — founded amid a tech recession in 2009 — had its best fiscal year in 2015 and is looking to hit $10m by 2018. The Los Angeles-based Konnect PR makes the fast-movers for the second consecutive year as it continues to expand its lifestyle PR business that focuses on media relations. The New York-based B2B firm Bliss Communications makes its debut on the list, a year after Elizabeth Sosnow took over as the firm’s new owner.

Agency	Growth (Constant Currency)	Fee Income 2015 ($)
Praytell	81.5%	5,900,000
Spectrum	77.4%	14,900,000
PAN Communications	68.6%	13,150,000
BOCA Communications	54.4%	5,126,405
Walker Sands	51.8%	6,917,494
Bhava Communications	51.5%	5,000,000
Konnect Public Relations	47.1%	4,750,000
Bliss Integrated Communications	40.1%	9,500,000
M Booth	35.9%	25,546,472
Finn Partners	35.4%	71,481,000

Above $30M

Because rapid growth tends to favor boutiques, we also looked at the fastest growing PR firms with revenues more than $30m. Once again, China’s BlueFocus topped this list with 36.7% growth to a staggering $245.1m. The only other firm on the list with revenues over $100m was Huntsworth Health that grew 21.1% to $107m. Finn Partners made the cut for the second-year growing 35.4% to $71.5m — in a year they firm bought tech boutique the Horn Group. Spain’s Llorente & Cuenca (23%) and the UK’s Four Communications Group (34.1%) were also buoyed by acquisitions.

Agency	HQ	Growth (Constant Currency)	Fee Income 2015 ($)
BlueFocus	China	36.7%	245,055,843
Finn Partners	USA	35.4%	71,481,000
Four Communications Group	UK	34.1%	34,380,216
Allison+Partners	USA	32.1%	49,000,000
Portland Communications	UK	25.0%	37,000,000
GCI Health	USA	23.1%	32,000,000
Llorente & Cuenca	Spain	23.0%	32,738,779
Vector Inc.	Japan	22.4%	82,000,000
The Outcast Agency	USA	22.0%	30,000,000
Huntsworth Health	UK	21.1%	107,004,000

Europe

Among the Europe-based firms, the UK dominated with 70% hailing from this market. Red Lorry Yellow Lorry topped the list, likely fueled by notable wins in 2015 including the Israeli-based Priority Software, Canon UK and Mass Challenge. The Benelux-based Havana Orange, which was named the region’s top PR firm in 2015 by the Holmes Report, continues to build an impressive portfolio on its “new school agency that draws upon ancient rules” positioning. Italy's SEC fourth-place showing is bolstered by its acquisition of numerous European firms during the past couple of years. Rounding out the top 5, All Channels Communications Group makes the list shortly after being the first Bulgarian agency to win a Global SABRE Award for its work with AVON against domestic violence.

M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment makes the list with 42.9% growth, hitting nearly $15m (the firm continues to grow in the UK and internationally). With more than 40% growth, Newgate makes it third-consecutive showing — fueled by a steady flow of business such as taking on the troubled commodities giant Glencore. Amid it’s fast growth, the UK-based healthcare firm Pegasus had its most profitable year-to-date. The UK-based tech firm Harvard enjoyed an impressive year with 38.3% growth, while also being shortlisted for 11 major industry awards (including the Holmes Report’s Tech Agency of the Year - EMEA). Awards darling Unity rounds out Europe’s top 10 with 32.6% growth in a year which it won 85% of its pitches against creative or media firms.

Agency	HQ	Growth (Constant Currency)	Fee Income 2015 ($)
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry	UK	77.4%	4,927,972
Havana Orange	The Netherlands	57.5%	3,424,780
SEC	Italy	51.2%	27,260,900
All Channels	Bulgaria	50.0%	6,540,000
M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment	UK	42.9%	14,700,000
Newgate Communications	UK	41.3%	28,687,703
Pegasus	UK	39.6%	13,031,550
Harvard	UK	38.3%	5,998,692
Unity	UK	36.2%	4,723,300
Trigger Oslo	Norway	34.9%	4,960,000

Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa

Interestingly, the Asia-Middle East-Africa region was the only that included fast movers with single-digit growth — largely because publicly-held agencies cannot be included in this ranking. United Arab Emirates’ Djembe Communications topped the Middle East-Africa chart with 50%. Meanwhile, BlueFocus once again made the list with 36.7% growth despite a 51.7% decline in operating profit for the parent company last year. The only other Chinese firm to make the list was Hong Kong’s Strategic Public Relations Group growing 10.7% to $21.8m. Vector grew 22.4% to $82m, cementing its position as one of the top-performing agencies in Japan. New Zealand’s SenateSHJ (17.4% growth), India’s Creative Crest (13%), Indonesia’s Fortune PR (10.9%) and South Africa’s Meropa Communications (9.5%) all demonstrated promise. Last year, Saudi Arabia’s TRAACS (4.1%) was charged with overseeing Dubai’s tourism strategy to help them deliver 20m visitors by 2020. Already this year, MasterCard has shifted PR duties for the Middle East and North Africa to TRACCS.

Agency	Growth (Constant Currency)	Fee Income 2015 ($)
Djembe Communications	50.0%	6,000,000
BlueFocus	36.7%	245,055,843
Vector Inc.	22.4%	82,000,000
SenateSHJ	17.4%	8,521,358
Creative Crest	13.0%	5,859,050
Fortune PR	10.9%	3,550,000
Strategic Public Relations Group	10.7%	21,800,000
Meropa Communications	9.5%	4,300,000
TRACCS	4.1%	15,200,000
Enzaim Health	2.7%	7,265,750