Anomaly
MDC Partners’ Anomaly reports that its profit grew 40 percent in 2019 on revenue of $192 million, with its margins growing from 19 percent to 24 percent. The agency did so by continuing its long-running strategy of building its own intellectual property and being selective on what clients it takes; the shop says it turned down 70 percent of pitch invites last year.
The Dosist cannabis brand, which Anomaly created and co-owns, opened its first retail store last year in Los Angeles. Anomaly’s L.A. office had a stellar year onboarding new business from Facebook, Twitch and Uber Eats. The shop in September plugged Facebook’s Portal video calling service with a new campaign starring the Muppets. Anomaly also strengthened its relationship with Diageo, regaining the Johnnie Walker global creative account from 72andSunny.
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But this year has proven no one is immune from the economic fallout from the coronavirus; in mid-March, Anomaly laid off 22 employees, with most execs taking a 10 percent pay cut. —E.J. Schultz