Global PR Agency Rankings 2017:

Fast Movers 2017   

Global

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, it is smaller firms that dominate the top of the Global Fast Mover ranking, led by new agencies Vested (US) and Matriochka Influences (France). Indeed, this year's Global growth ranking reflects a diverse group of agencies, China's CYTS-Linkage and the UK's Newgate rounding out the top four. There are also eye-catching performances from South Africa (Clockwork Media), India (Avian Media and Value360), the Czech Republic (PR.Konektor), the UK (W and M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment) and Australia (Red Agency), while the US retains its spot as the top global growth driver by contributing five firms to the top 15 including Praytell, Bulleit, Carmichael Lynch Relate and ReviveHealth.

Interestingly, compared to last year, there is no sector-specific skew among the fastest-growing agencies, coming as they do from a broad range of capabilities including consumer, corporate, technology and healthcare.

	Agency	HQ	Growth (Constant Currency)	Fee Income 2016 ($)
1	Vested	USA	316.9%	3,560,000
2	Matriochka Influences	France	86.2%	2,835,000
3	CYTS-LINKAGE	China	79.9%	18,123,494
4	Newgate Communications	UK	63.0%	48,608,857
5	Praytell	USA	56.1%	9,211,710
6	The Bulleit Group	USA	52.9%	3,100,000
7	Clockwork Media	South Africa	48.6%	2,000,000
8	Avian Media Pvt Ltd	India	45.7%	4,270,000
9	Carmichael Lynch Relate	USA	45.7%	25,500,000
10	W	UK	43.6%	7,170,900
11	PR.Konektor		42.1%	1,360,518
12	M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment	UK	42.1%	17,466,000
13	Value 360 Communications	India	41.6%	3,627,512
14	Red Agency	Australia	40.8%	5,048,706
15	ReviveHealth	USA	39.7%	14,015,000

Above $30M

Because rapid growth tends to favor boutiques, we again looked at the fastest-growing larger PR firms, with revenues of more than $30m. This year, M&A-hungry UK firm Newgate comes out on top. Indeed, acquisitions are a recurring theme behind the fastest-growing bigger players, with the UK's Four Communications Group and Hotwire both benefiting from agency purchases, along with Sweden's H&H Group (which includes Springtime and Jung among others) and the USA's W2O Group. The top 10 also showcases considerable geographic diversity, with Germany (Hering Schuppener), Canada (National PR) and Japan (Vector PR) all represented, along with traditionally strong markets like the US (Prosek Partners) and the UK (Huntsworth Health).  

As usual, independent agencies are favoured, although the presence of private equity (Four, W2O) cannot be discounted. Meanwhile, the top 10 also reflects plenty of breadth across diverse practices and industries, deflecting the notion that midsize firms are in any way challenged in today's global PR industry.

	Agency	HQ	Growth (Constant Currency)	Fee Income 2015 ($)
1	Newgate Communications	UK	63.0%	48,608,857
2	Four Communications Group	UK	39.0%	39,822,192
3	Hotwire	UK	35.5%	31,702,340
4	H&H Group	Sweden	35.2%	33,770,000
5	Hering Schuppener	Germany	33.3%	47,040,000
6	Res Publica (National PR)	Canada	30.0%	78,000,000
7	Vector Inc.	Japan	29.3%	106,000,000
8	W2O Group	USA	29.2%	122,715,000
9	Prosek Partners	USA	29.0%	31,488,000
10	Huntsworth Health	UK	25.6%	111,684,000

USA

A number of newer players make the ranking this year in the US, led financial player Vested, which only launched in 2015. Other boutique firms to outgrow the industry average include tech-focused players Praytell, Bulleit, Day One and Kiterocket, all of which benefit from the stronger returns afforded by their smaller size.

But there are midsize firms that are also delivering eye-catching growth. Minneapolis agency Carmichael Lynch Relate submitted a banner year under new leadership, while W2O Group benefited from new acquisitions that were powered by private equity ownership. And ReviveHealth, Spectrum (healthcare) and Prosek (corporate) demonstrated that challenging sectors are no barrier to impressive topline expansion. 

	Agency	HQ	Growth (Constant Currency)	Fee Income 2016 ($)
1	Vested	USA	316.9%	3,560,000
2	Praytell	USA	56.1%	9,211,710
3	The Bulleit Group	USA	52.9%	3,100,000
4	Carmichael Lynch Relate	USA	45.7%	25,500,000
5	ReviveHealth	USA	39.7%	14,015,000
6	Day One Agency	USA	37.5%	6,038,323
7	Kiterocket	USA	37.1%	5,788,068
8	Spectrum	USA	34.8%	20,000,000
9	W2O Group	USA	29.2%	122,715,000
10	Prosek Partners	USA	29.0%	31,488,000

Americas (Excluding USA)

Beyond the US, growth is noticeably slower, with the fastest-growing player (Costa Rica's Comunicación Corporativa Ketchum) clocking in at +28.5%. A number of Canadian firms outperformed the market, led by MSLGroup-owned North Strategic, a newer contender with strong digital and consumer capabilities, alongside industry stalwarts Tact Intelligence-conseil, Environics and Veritas. In Brazil, meanwhile, market leader FSB submits an impressive performance, as do RMA and Inpress. And perennial fast-grower Another Company, from Mexico, makes this list once again.

	Agency	HQ	Growth (Constant Currency)	Fee Income 2016 ($)
1	Comunicación Corporativa Ketchum	Costa Rica	28.5%	4,104,351
2	North Strategic	Canada	22.1%	10,212,000
3	RMA Comunicacao	Brazil	18.5%	5,724,412
4	Another Company	Mexico	17.3%	6,100,000
5	FSB Comunicacoes	Brazil	17.2%	76,338,478
6	Tact Intelligence-conseil	Canada	14.0%	4,413,093
7	Environics Communications	Canada	13.6%	14,076,868
8	Veritas Communications	Canada	11.9%	8,362,000
9	Grupo Inpress	Brazil	11.8%	39,856,031

Europe

Reports of Europe's demise may be exaggerated, given the growth rates exhibited by the agencies on this list. France's Matriochka marks itself out as one of the region's brightest consultancies, bringing a cutting-edge digital approach to a difficult market. Corporate and financial heavyweight Newgate makes its fourth consecutive showing on this list, bolstered by global M&A. And UK consumer consultancy W, meanwhile, continues to dazzle with its business performance and increasingly global ambitions. 

Indeed, four of the top five hail for the UK, rounded out by perennial fast-grower M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, once again demonstrating its ability to blend consumer and lifestyle in multiple markets, and Four Communications, which benefits from several UK acquisitions. And another UK consumer firm — Hope & Glory — cracks the top ten too.

Beyond the UK, there are notable performances from less fashionable markets: Poland's Solski; Swiss corporate heavyweight Farner; Spain's Evercom and Swedish group H&H, which includes highly-rated consultancies Jung and Springtime.

	Agency	HQ	Growth (Constant Currency)	Fee Income 2016 ($)
1	Matriochka Influences	France	86.2%	2,835,000
2	Newgate Communications	UK	63%	48,608,857
3	W	UK	43.6%	7,170,900
4	M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment	UK	42%	17,466,000
5	Four Communications Group	UK	39%	39,822,192
6	Solski Communications	Poland	37.4%	2,026,500
7	Farner Consulting	Switzerland	36.9%	23,215,500
8	Hope&Glory	UK	36.5%	5,710,719
9	Evercom	Spain	36.3%	5,207,922
10	H&H Group	Sweden	35.2%	33,770,000

Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa

Despite missing the global networks that do not break out revenue numbers on a geographic, the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa ranking features a welcome number of consultancies that are outperforming the global industry average to a considerable extent, drawn from a range of markets across a highly diverse group of regions. There is a particularly strong showing from domestic Chinese firms, including CYTS-Linkage in top spot (+79.9%), along with GoodIdea Media and Kiwi Communications in 6th and 7th, respectively. 

India, meanwhile, supplies three firms in Avian Media, Value360 (who both crack the top 5) and market leader Adfactors, reflecting stronger returns in an important PR market. South Africa's Clockwork Media demonstrates that it's modern approach to content is paying off amid difficult economic conditions, while there are also eye-catching performances from Havas-owned consumer shop Red Agency in Australia; Japanese heavyweight Vector; and, Singapore tech darlings IN.FOM.

	Agency	HQ	Growth (Constant Currency)	Fee Income 2016 ($)
1	CYTS-LINKAGE	China	79.9%	18,123,494
2	Clockwork Media	South Africa	48.6%	2,000,000
3	Avian Media Pvt Ltd	India	45.7%	4,270,000
4	Value 360 Communications	India	41.6%	3,627,512
5	Red Agency	Australia	38.9%	5,048,706
6	GOODIDEA MEDIA	China	40.0%	7,000,000
7	Kiwi Communications	China	36.3%	3,103,431
8	Vector Inc.	Japan	29.3%	106,000,000
9	IN.FOM Pte Ltd	Singapore	24.8%	2,286,470
10	Adfactors PR	India	24.0%	24,300,000