2016 Global New PR Agencies of the Year

The 2017 Global PR Agencies of the Year are the result of an exhaustive research process involving more than 400 submissions and face-to-face meetings with the best PR firms across North America, EMEA and Asia-Pacific.

Analysis of all of the Winners and Finalists across specialist categories can be accessed via the navigation menu to the right or below. Winners were announced at the 2017 Global SABRE Awards, which took place at the PRovoke17 Global PR Summit in Miami on the evening of 25 October.

Winner: Day One (US/Independent)

Day One was founded when three senior leaders from M Booth’s digital team broke away in 2013 to build an “efficient agency model designed for paid, earned, owned and shared strategies.” Now three years in, Day One has produced remarkable work for a client portfolio that even established agencies would envy. Among these, Day One launched American Express Checkout to merchants, creating a unified digital brand across all of AMEX’s owned channels; rolled out a phased communications approach to educate the market on AMEX’s multi-business loyalty program Plenti; built a campaign to enthuse YouTube’s top content creators; crafted a narrative around Starwood’s new Tribute Portfolio brand; empowered Under Armour’s fans to deliver their own messages to groundbreaking ballet dancer Misty Copeland. — AaS

Finalists

Matriochka Influences (France/Independent)

Formed in mid-2014, Matriochka Influences has rapidly marked itself out as one of the brightest public relations firms in France. The firm is led by two founding partners Elodie Monchicourt and Charlie Trouillebout, both of whom hail from market leader Elan. Indeed, Monchicourt co-founded Elan and brings 15 years of experience, while Trouillebout is a digital specialist. Together, the duo aims to integrate traditional communications with more modern influencer techniques, resulting in an approach that counts as relatively disruptive not just in France, but in the broader region too.

The firm has grown steadily since launch and now numbers 15 staffers, with a distinct focus on fashion and consumer clients such as L’Oreal Foundation, Coca-Cola, Chanel, Biotherm, Meetic, Philip Morris, La Roche-Posay and Carrefour. Of note, Matriochka prevailed over bigger rivals to secure Orangina-Schweppes’ PR business last year. And there was impressive campaign work for L’Oreal Foundation — the #ChangeTheNumbers campaign to improve the international visibility of women in science. — AS

W Communications Asia (UK/Independent)

Fast-growing UK consumer PR firm W Communications launched its Asian operation in Singapore last year, in a bid to bring its disruptive mentality — based around the concept of ‘creative commerce — to clients in the region. Founder and CEO Warren Johnson is considered one the UK PR industry’s premier dealmakers, with aspirations that are increasingly global.

The early returns, under MD Annabel Fox, are good, with W demonstrating that it has been able to persuade clients to invest in creativity and strategy, rather than just commoditised media relations.  So far, W has grown to a team of eight working across 16 clients, with particularly strength in F&B, lifestyle and technology. The client roster includes MEATliquor, AppNexus, Ce La Vi, Foodpanda, Orwell & Co, Whittaker’s, Prudential Eye Awards and Princess Yachts. All of which explains why W has exceeded its year one target by 150% and is eyeing further expansion into Bangkok and Bali. — AS