2024 Global Corporate Agencies of the Year

The 2024 Global PR Agencies of the Year are the result of an exhaustive research process involving more than 500 submissions and (virtual) meetings with the best PR firms across North America, EMEA, Asia-Pacific and LatAm.

Analysis of all of the Winners and Finalists across specialist categories can be accessed via the navigation menu to the right or below. Winners are announced at the 2024 Global SABRE Awards, taking place at the 2024 PRovokeGlobal Summit on 28 October.

Finalists

Atrevia (Independent)

Backstory

Global communications and corporate affairs agency Atrevia is a female-led powerhouse in the Spanish-speaking world. It was founded in 1998 by president Núria Vilanova, one of the most influential female business leaders in Spain, and is now led day-to-day by CEO Asunción Soriano Cuesta, who has been with the firm for 28 years and was the driving force behind the agency’s expansion into public affairs, corporate sustainability, digital transformation and social intelligence. In 2023, Atrevia further expanded its capabilities and market reach with two acquisitions: the firm bought 70% of Spanish-based communications agency Microbio Comunicacion to enhance its creative service offer, and strengthened its presence in South America by buying 100% of Nueva Comunicación in Uruguay. Atrevia’s approach is to help clients address complex, multi-stakeholder challenges through strategic listening, creativity, and a fusion of agency and consulting services, and its mission is to be an agent of change in driving a sustainable future.

Locations

Atrevia is headquartered in Spain and has 15 offices around the world. It has European offices in Portugal and Brussels, and has a presence in the US and across Latin America, with offices in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Miami, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and the Dominican Republic.

Performance

Atrevia increased its total fee income by an impressive 21% last year, to €48.3m. The bulk of this – €36.6m – came from its work in Europe. The agency also expanded its workforce from 439 to 600, with 30 nationalities represented. The firm’s client roster includes AstraZeneca, Lidl, Pfizer, Lilly and Vueling.

People & Culture

Atrevia achieved B Corp status in 2023 – a concrete illustration of its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. The agency also increased its focus on DEI, updating its Equality Plan with new sections on equity and inclusion. Atrevia is proudly female-led, with women representing 64% of the team and 55% of management. The agency has a long-standing commitment to integrating people with disabilities into its workforce, and has collaborated with Special Employment Centers in Spain for 14 years. Atrevia holds the EFR (Family Responsible Company) certification, and its policies, including remote working, childcare support and a wellness policy, enable employees to balance their work and personal lives and emphasise the physical and emotional wellbeing of the team. The new Atrevia Active campaign showcases the agency’s progressive approach to ESG and diversity, with the aim of promoting female leadership and intergenerational integration, helping companies in sustainable transformation, fostering cooperation among Latin American companies, and driving sustainable and inclusive digital society initiatives aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Thought Leadership & Work

In 2023, Atrevia published its 11th ‘Women on the Boards of Directors of Listed Companies’ report, in partnership with IESE Business School in Barcelona, continuing its commitment to supporting female leadership. Its monthly 'Latin American Keys' report on social-political and economic dynamics across the region is also well-established, and its Brussels office produces regular reports on EU policy developments. The agency has been shortlisted for a campaign with Tena Men, which sought to break taboos around men’s health and male incontinence via a comedy podcast series. Other standout work during the year included a campaign to mark 20 years of European DIY chain Brico Depot.

— Maja Pawinska Sims

BoldT (BPI)

Backstory

Boldt is not a traditional strategic communications agency. The firm has shown impressive growth since it was set up in 2017 by former Burson-Marsteller EMEA CEO Jeremy Galbraith with the intention of reinventing the network model, giving business and marketing leaders access to senior, experienced counsellors with “bold ideas, even bolder solutions and real records of achievement through work that creates measurable value”. The model is working: Boldt has attracted an impressive roster of marquee global brands and works with CEOs and boards across sectors including food and drink, healthcare, industrial, energy, technology, financial services and government on business-critical issues, from regulatory and commercial challenges to transformation and reputational value. The firm’s stellar growth in Europe caught the eye of US-based business and politics advisory Bully Pulpit International, which acquired the firm at the end of last year. At just six years old – Boldt was PRovoke Media’s global new agency of the year in 2019 – this was much earlier than its partners were anticipating, and has created a Western powerhouse in strategic business and communications advisory.

Locations

Boldt is based in Belgium and has a presence in Germany, Norway, Switzerland and the UK. It also has a footprint in the US through new parent company BPI. In addition, the firm has senior advisors based in Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain, and strategic partners in Latin America.

Performance

Boldt has been on a steep growth trajectory since the start. In 2023, its total income was €9.5m, a significant 48% increase on 2022, and its team grew over the year from 41 to 55. Boldt increased the breadth and depth of its advisory bench last year by hiring six new partners with policy, corporate communications and industry sector expertise in Brussels, Oslo, London and Berlin. The agency's client portfolio includes global brands such as Aramco, Carlsberg, Europe’s largest steel producer, CELSA Group, Formula 1, Google, PepsiCo, renewable energy producer Norsk Hydro and Syngenta. New clients added last year included McDonalds, Nestle, and Novartis.

People & Culture

Boldt describes its culture as its ‘North Star’ – the founding partners set out to make their business somewhere the best people would want to work, long-term. This is reflected in several “minimal and maximum” principles around how the team work together internationally: minimal barriers to get in the way of how people work for clients and how they develop; minimal bureaucracy; zero “dithering”, with decisions made quickly, and experimentation encouraged; maximum exposure for talent, who are encourage to push their comfort zones; maximum collaboration and respect across borders and time zones; and maximum opportunity to work on client challenges and personal development paths. There’s no ‘culture programme’ to ensure this happens: the team have enough experience at other agencies to know how to do things better. Boldt is conscious that it needs to be more diverse, and is committed to attracting and retain talented people who enhance its ethnic, racial, generational, socio-economic, neuro, sexual orientation, disability and religious diversity. In 2023, 75% of promotions went to women and 8% of new joiners were from ethnically or neuro-divergent backgrounds, or had registered disabilities. Galbraith is supported by a senior team that includes founding partner Morten Pettersen, previously CEO of Burson-Marsteller's Nordic region and the Baltics, and former Zeno EMEA leader Steve Earl. New partners included renewable energy specialist Toini Løvseth in Oslo and former BCW public affairs lead Ferdinand Sacksofsky in Berlin.

Thought Leadership & Work

Research and thought leadership during 2023 focused on two areas: data-driven understanding of reputation, and the implications of major pieces of legislation. Boldt produced two substantial reports into reputation factors, one that took stock of how ESG factors were shifting given changing attitudes in investment markets and political polarisation, and one that sought to isolate and better understand the impact of ‘woke factors’ on reputation and customer sales. It also used its ‘big data’ reputation analysis platform, RISKR, to examine reputation strengths and weaknesses of leading UK and Norwegian companies. Other thought leadership pieces covered regulatory developments in European financial services markets and the ramifications of an independent Regulatory Scrutiny Board. Stand-out work over the year included helping McDonalds take the sector lead to influence the proposed EU legislation around reusable packaging, garnering cross-industry support to create the Together For Sustainable Packaging alliance. The team also advised Carlsberg’s CEO and board on geopolitical challenges and corporate risk as it navigated its exit from Russia, and is now the lead global agency for Carlsberg Group’s corporate affairs function. And for Formula 1, Boldt engaged politicians and policy makers to allow the use of sustainable, synthetic e-fuels in racing cars, with an EU ban on new internal combustion engine vehicles coming into force from 2035.

— Maja Pawinska Sims

The Levinson Group (Independent)

Backstory

Founded in 2013 by Molly Levinson, the Levinson Group (TLG) is probably best known for its crisis and risk management work, along with its public interest efforts on such issues as pay equity, press freedom and human rights. The firm is regularly called in to handle complex issues and crisis situations, on behalf of Fortune 50 corporations, tech/entertainment companies, major sports franchises, Olympic athletes, global celebrities and business leaders. That held true in 2023, where the firm was enlisted by major media, entertainment and streaming studios, by major universities, and by President Biden’s legal team during a special counsel investigation.

Locations

TLG is headquartered in Washington, DC with additional locations in New York and London.

Performance

TLG’s 22-strong consultancy is regularly cited among the best firms working in the legal and crisis areas. Accordingly, much of its client work is confidential but new business that can be disclosed includes the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, Balenciaga, Cosentino, LionTree, Minerals Technologies, US Telecom and the Women’s Tennis Association. They join an existing client roster that features 3M, President Biden’s personal legal team, Delaware North, E. Jean Carroll, Georgetown University, LiveNation, National Audobon Society and Saint-Gobain North America.

People & Culture

Molly Levinson often serves as lead strategist, and is supported by Michael Crittenden, Abbie McDonough, and Kaye Verville, each of whom brings significant political, crisis and public affairs experience. Sarah Mann joined as MD from Dentons, while Harrison Wollman arrived following his role as press secretary for Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti. TLG also promoted Angela Hoague to senior MD to manage the firm’s growing client roster. TLG’s flat structure empowers employees to contribute equally, while there is also a significant focus on mentorship and pro bono work related to gender, press freedom and human rights, including advising the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation and Nadia’s Initiative. Levinson’s retention rate sits well above industry averages, thanks to considerable investment in professional development and staff benefits across salary, bonuses, PTO, parental leave and hybrid work. Over 90% of TLG’s accounts are directly managed by women, as are its three offices.

Thought Leadership & Work

TLG’s pro bono work lends itself to consistent thought leadership on social issues, while it also engages comms and law firms on DE&I issues to help boost industry leadership from traditionally under-represented groups. The firm’s focus on expanding its bankruptcy and restructuring practice has also borne fruit through assignments for Sorrento, Imerys Talc America, 3M and MTI, while other campaign highlights included work for AMPTP, US Telecom, Balenciaga, Live Nation/Ticketmaster and 3M.

— Arun Sudhaman

Sandpiper (Independent)

Backstory

Former Weber Shandwick EVP Emma Smith launched her own firm (The Consultancy) in 2003, before selling the business to become part of the UK’s MHP Communications in 2013. After smartly concluding that the firm had better prospects as an independent outfit, Smith led an MBO of the business in 2019, creating Sandpiper Communications as a 100% employee owned operation. That move has helped unlock spectacular growth at a consultancy that focuses on the financial and professional services, healthcare, technology and energy sectors, bolstered by the acquisition of public affairs specialist North Head in China and underpinned by market-leading research capabilities.

Locations

Sandpiper’s 110 staffers are spread across its largest operation in Singapore and its traditional HQ of Hong Kong, supported by smaller outfits in Beijing, Shanghai, Australia and New Zealand, along with new operations in Dubai and Taiwan.

Performance

Sandpiper’s performance since the MBO are as good a reminder as any of the merits of independence. After quadrupling in size since then to crack the $10m barrier in 2022, growth slowed somewhat in 2023, but still remained comfortable above industry average at 10% — taking regional revenue to almost $11m. There were three new offices, and nimble investment in AI, emerging tech, research, energy, ESG and financial services ensured Sandpiper avoided the worst of the downturn. The firm’s financial practice accounts for 40% of regional revenue, with healthcare at 22% and technology, ESG and corporate all at around 11%. There was new business from Lazard, Allfunds, Cathay United Bank, GE Aerospace, Australian Health Service Alliance, Ryman Healthcare, Saudi Ministry of Culture, Smith & Nephew, Schroeders and LG Chemicals, joining an existing client roster that features AstraZeneca, Budweiser, Cigna, Cisco, Cloudlfare, DHL, GE Healthcare, Novartis, P&G, and Schneider Electric. The firm’s one P&L model continues to serve as a compelling differentiator from rivals, as do its research and ESG capabilities.

People & Culture

Smith is very much a hands-on CEO, but the firm owes much of its recent success to an expanded leadership team, which also features chief operating officer Kelly Johnston, Southeast Asia MD Sarada Chellam, research MD Craig Young, and Hong Kong GM Kim Spear. New hires included Fran Boase as professional services head and ANZ MD, Bajahat Homsi as Middle East GM, Michael Rinaman as global strategy MD, and Liz Etherington as technology lead. Financial veteran Richard Barton took on a senior advisor role, while North Head owners John Russell and Robert Magyar exited, as did Hong Kong GM Natalie Siu. Keeping pace with its rapid growth, the firm has significantly elevate its workplace focus, bringing in an external consultant to develop DEI policies and offering tailored employee career plans alongside a a three-tier employee ownership and reward structure. Sandpiper invests 1% of revenue in a formal training and development curriculum, supported by salary benchmarking and competitive benefits. The board is 75% female, and a conscious focus on elevating women has seen seven recently moved up to senior roles.

Thought Leadership & Work

Sandpiper’s research arm has quietly developed into a formidable competitive edge, helping it develop proprietary intellectual property across such as areas as reputation capital, consumer expectations, financial services reputation, and — perhaps most notably — AI in comms, the first global survey of its kind. There are also regular insight newsletter and reports into ESG, healthcare, public affairs, China finance, and sustainability — all of which helps explain why Sandpiper launched a formalised research and insights business earlier last year. There has also been a noticeable improvement in Sandpiper’s campaign work, exemplified by SABRE nominated efforts for Rita Ku and Ser.

— Arun Sudhaman

The Sway Effect (Independent)

Backstory

In July 2019, Jennifer Risi stepped down from an eight-year career at Ogilvy to launch The Sway Effect, operating under a business model built to foster alliances, as well as diversity and inclusion. The idea: create a network of agencies with a range of expertise beyond PR and comms, to address broader client needs and expand geographic reach across the US, Caribbean, and Latin America. In the time since, Sway Effect has grown into a $4.3 million business with a full range of offerings including PR, brand marketing, social impact and DEI programming.

Locations

Headquartered in New York, the Sway Effect's footprint spans the US, Mexico, Argentina, the UK and China.

Performance

2023 started off strong for The Sway Effect, with the agency winning two new accounts — Female Quotient and Collibra – contributing to the firm's $4.3 million in fee income. When the agency lost one of its major clients to budget cuts, the team used the opportunity to diversify its client portfolio and break into new industries. From May August, Sway Effect pursued — and won — five new pieces of businesses, expanding into the hospitality, real estate, CPG and non-profit work. And, after a four-month hiatus, the client that left — medtech company Becton Dickinson — returned. Sway Effect won PR AOR assignments from Nusr-Et Steakhouse, Business for Good, AJ Capital Partners and Female Quotient. Longtime partners include Signet Jewelers, Intrepid Travel, Appian, and 4A’s.

People & Culture

The Sway Effect strengthen its leadership bench last year, promoting Megan Trivelli and Julia Tisdal to account directors, giving each of them oversight of 50% of clients in the process. The agency also hired Nicole Barbosa as a media relations specialist, strengthening a core competency. In 2023, 82% of the agency identified themselves as diverse, with 95% of its partners and staff identifying as female. Risi gives employees voice letting them, for instance, decide how they wanted to return to work. The Sway Effect continues to be a strategic advisor to UN Women and supports Unsilenced, an organization focused on stopping institutional child abuse.

Thought Leadership & Work

An advocate for DEI in PR, Risi over the last 12 months, moderated a panel at The Female Quotient’s Equality Lounge at Cannes Lions entitled “Women Owning It. Advertising and Marketing Leaders Forging Their Own Path” and most recently hosted a panel at The Female Quotient’s Equality Lounge at Advertising Week NY, “Rewriting the Rules for RTO so Everyone Wins.” The Sway Effect partnered with B corp consultancy, Overview, to create an AI Governance framework for marketing and PR leaders, providing guidance towards ethical and effective AI implementation. It also expanded its DEI Barometer, which measures how well people are responding to companies’ DEI initiatives and The Sway Effect Index, a product suite helping brands assess if they “hold sway” with their stakeholders. The year’s hallmark work included the agency’s SABRE Award-winning campaign for Appian which focused on elevating the CEO’s profile. Client Intrepid Travel recorded record growth in the US.

— Diana Marszalek

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