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Agency Family Trees 2011

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Aegis Group [This record free to all users]

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$2,256.7$2,108.57.0
    U.S.$433.9$388.011.8
    Non-U.S.$1,822.8$1,720.55.9
    Ticker: LON:AGS (LSE)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Publicly traded Aegis Group is a U.K.-based holding company with two segments: Aegis Media, its media-agency operation, and Synovate, its market-research unit.

    The company on June 6, 2011, disclosed the potential sale of its Synovate business to Ipsos, a market-research firm based in Paris. Aegis said: "In response to recent speculation, the board of Aegis Group plc confirms that it is in discussions with Ipsos in relation to a potential transaction regarding its market research business Synovate. There can be no certainty that any agreement will be reached."

    In a June 6, 2011, statement, Ipsos said: "The board of Ipsos decided to approve the steps taken by the company’s management to open discussions with the board of Aegis to gauge the circumstances in which Aegis might sell Synovate--the market research arm of Aegis--to Ipsos. At present it is not possible to predict whether these negotiations will be completed successfully or not. From Ipsos' point of view, these discussions demonstrate its willingness to bring together, in one team and under the Ipsos banner, a combined team of research experts and powerful operational resources, allowing the company to pursue its strategy of profitable growth as it has done over the past decade."

    Aegis Group said its Aegis Media operation generated 32% of 2010 revenue from digital, up from 31% in 2009 and 29% in 2008.

    Jerry Buhlmann in May 2010 became CEO of Aegis Group. He had been CEO of Aegis Media since June 2008.

    Aegis in November 2010 acquired Mitchell Communication Group, a marketing-communications group based in Melbourne and operating across Australia and in Singapore. Mitchell's services include media planning and buying, strategy, digital media and marketing, branded entertainment, public relations, brand experience, sponsorship, sports-ground marketing, direct marketing and corporate social responsibility.

    Revenue shown for Mitchell is estimated pro-forma revenue under U.K. accounting rules. Mitchell reported revenue of U.S. $231.2 million (Australian $262.0 million) in the year ended June 2010, up from U.S. $169.1 million (Australian $226.1 million) in the year ended June 2009, as measured under Australian accounting rules.

    Aegis Group's largest shareholder is Vincent Bollore, who as of March 2011 owned 26.5% of Aegis Group. Bollore is chairman of French ad firm Havas as well as a major Havas shareholder, and Bollore has tried unsuccessfully in recent years to get his representatives on the Aegis board. Aegis Chairman John Napier in March 2010 confirmed that Aegis was not in talks with French rival Havas. Napier said the "love affair" Bollore once promised between the two companies had been played out only in the newspapers. Napier said: "I haven't even had my hand held yet, let alone anything else. I'm getting rather disappointed."

    Top executive: John Napier, chmn-Aegis Group; Jerry Buhlmann, CEO-Aegis Group & Aegis Media; Robert Philpott, CEO-Synovate
    Headquarters: Aegis Group/180 Great Portland St., London, W1W 5QZ/Phone: 44-20-7070-7700/Fax: 44-20-7070-7800

    http://www.aegisplc.com

Acxiom Corp.

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$784.7$781.80.4
    U.S.$623.0$638.6-2.4
    Non-U.S.$161.7$143.212.9
    Ticker: ACXM (Nasdaq)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Acxiom Corp. is an interactive marketing services and infrastructure management company. Its offerings include consumer data and analytics, information technology, data integration and consulting services.

    The company appears in Ad Age's Agency Report based on its work in marketing services and related areas, including a digital agency and a direct marketing agency, both of which go to market under the Acxiom brand. Revenue is from Acxiom for the calendar years shown.

    Acxiom was founded in 1969. It is based in Little Rock, Ark., and has operations in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

    Acxiom in May 2005 bought interactive agency Digital Impact for $107 million. Digital Impact's annual revenue at the time of acquisition was about $45 million, according to Acxiom.

    Acxiom in September 2009 bought a 51% stake in Direct Marketing Services, a Middle East venture with operations in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Purchase price was $3.8 million, not including potential earnouts based on performance. At time of acquisition, the acquired agency had annual revenue of less than $5 million.

    Acxiom in calendar 2010 acquired Go Digital, a marketing-services business based in Brazil (May 2010), and XYZDirect, a digital-marketing business operating in Australia and New Zealand (April 2010).

    Acxiom Corp. reported worldwide revenue of $1.10 billion in the fiscal year ended March 2010, vs. revenue of $1.28 billion in the fiscal year ended March 2009, including revenue from services and products unrelated to marketing services.

    In its own words: Acxiom is a recognized leader in marketing services and technology that enable marketers to successfully manage audiences, personalize consumer experiences and create profitable customer relationships. Our superior industry-focused, consultative approach combines consumer data and analytics, databases, data integration and consulting solutions for personalized multichannel marketing strategies.

    Acxiom leverages over 40 years of experience in data management to deliver high-performance, highly secure, reliable infrastructure management services. Founded in 1969, Acxiom is headquartered in Little Rock, Ark., and serves clients around the world from locations in the United States, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and South America. For more information about Acxiom, visit Acxiom.com.


    Top executive: John Meyer, CEO
    Headquarters: Acxiom Corp./601 E. 3rd St., Little Rock, Ark. 72201/Phone: (501) 342-7799/Fax: (650) 356-3515

    http://www.acxiom.com

AKQA

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$208.0$165.026.1
    U.S.$124.8$99.026.1
    Non-U.S.$83.2$66.026.1
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: AKQA is a San Francisco-based agency with offices in New York and Washington as well as Amsterdam, London and Shanghai.

    AKQA in 2007 gained a new owner when General Atlantic, a Greenwich, Conn.-based private equity firm, bought a majority of the agency about the same time AKQA's previous majority owner, Francisco Partners, cashed out of its position. The action allowed AKQA to retain independence in the heavily consolidated ad industry. Francisco had invested $70 million in AKQA when it formed in March 2001.

    In its own words: Major client wins including Audi and YouTube in first few weeks of 2011 are a great celebration and culmination of AKQA's creativity and passion for innovation during 2010. Highlights from 2010 include: New media innovation for VW Jetta featured on Gilt Group � first automotive sold on flash sales site; WSJ tapped Visa Signature iPad ad as one of their top three coolest iPad ads; Xbox Halo Reach uses robotic arm in an unconventional way, stirring buzz among gamers and mainstream press alike; Gap 1969 Stream for iPad delivered the world's first brand retailer app for the iPad launch; Future Lions competition received 750 entries (25% more than last year, the highest number of entries to date); AKQA's commitment to investing in future generations; AKQA expanded with a seventh office in Berlin, handling Nokia and VW accounts.


    Top executive: Tom Bedecarre, CEO; Ajaz Ahmed, chmn; Jim Rossman, pres
    Headquarters: AKQA/118 King St., 6th Fl., San Francisco, Calif. 94107/Phone: (415) 645-9400/Fax: (415) 645-9420

    http://www.akqa.com

Alliance Data Systems Corp.'s Epsilon

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$613.4$514.319.3
    U.S.$584.4$487.819.8
    Non-U.S.$29.0$26.59.4
    Ticker: ADS (NYSE)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Alliance Data (NYSE: ADS) provides data-driven and transaction-based marketing and customer loyalty solutions. Its range of integrated outsourced marketing solutions includes customer loyalty programs, database marketing services, marketing strategy consulting, analytics and creative services, permission-based email marketing and private-label and co-branded retail credit card programs.

    The company's 10-K for year ended December 2010 explained: "We focus on facilitating and managing interactions between our clients and their customers through a variety of consumer marketing channels, including in-store, on-line, catalog, mail and telephone.

    "We capture and analyze data created during each customer interaction, leveraging the insight derived from that data to enable clients to identify and acquire new customers and to enhance customer loyalty. We believe that our services are becoming increasingly valuable as businesses shift marketing resources away from traditional mass marketing toward more targeted marketing programs that provide measurable returns on marketing investments."

    Alliance Data's ranking among agency companies is based on reported revenue of Epsilon, its marketing-services unit.

    Alliance Data on April 25, 2011, announced an agreement to acquire Aspen Marketing Services for $345 million, expanding the agency business of Alliance Data’s Epsilon operation.

    Upon the deal’s expected closing in second-quarter 2011, Alliance Data said, Epsilon’s agency business and Aspen will be integrated into one agency platform operating under the Aspen Marketing Services name.

    In making the announcement, Alliance Data said Aspen was projected to generate $250 million in revenue in 2011. Alliance Data said Epsilon (including Aspen) would have 2012 run-rate worldwide revenue of about $1 billion.

    Ad Age ranked Aspen Marketing, a marketing-services agency, as the world's No. 25 agency company in 2010; Epsilon ranked No. 11.

    Alliance Data reported 2010 worldwide revenue of $2.8 billion split among three segments: LoyaltyOne (Air Miles reward program in Canada); Epsilon (direct marketing); Private Label Services and Credit (private-label retail credit card programs).

    Alliance Data was formed from the 1996 merger of two entities acquired by private-equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe: J.C. Penney Co.'s transaction services business (BSI Business Services) and Limited Brands' credit-card bank (World Financial Network National Bank). Alliance Data went public in June 2001.

    In May 2007, Alliance Data agreed to be bought by private-equity firm Blackstone Group for $7.8 billion, including assumption of debt. After battling over Blackstone's obligations in the deal, Alliance Data on April 18, 2008 terminated the deal.

    Alliance Data bought Epsilon in October 2004.

    Alliance Data is based in Plano, Texas.

    In its own words: Epsilon is one of the industry's leading marketing-services firms, with a broad array of data-driven, multichannel marketing solutions that leverage consumer insight to help brands deepen their relationships with customers.

    Services include strategic consulting, acquisition and customer database technologies, loyalty management, proprietary data, predictive modeling and a full range of direct and digital agency services, including creative, interactive web design, email deployment, search engine optimization and direct mail production. Epsilon is the world's largest permission-based email marketer.

    In 2010, Epsilon won a great deal of new business and significant client expansions/renewals including top global marketers such as Kraft Foods, 1-800-Flowers, Norwegian Cruise Line, Barclaycard and Macy's.

    Epsilon conducted and released proprietary research including Customer Experience Marketing Study, Pharma and Social Media Study, Quarterly Email Trends and Benchmarks, Private Label Study, and Media Preferences Research.

    New hires in 2010 included: Terry Young (President, Purple@Epsilon), Eric Stein (exec VP, Digital Strategy), Quinn Jalli (VP, Deliverability), Doug Yokoyama (VP, Mobile and Social Media), Mike Doubrava (VP, Digital Strategy) and Paul Johnson (VP, Technology).

    Purple@Epsilon added: Ian Fearn, Laurie Seltzer, Scott Richards and Alex Grady.

    Strategic & Analytic Consulting Group added: Stacey Raiche and John Randolph.

    Epsilon CEO Bryan Kennedy was elected to the DMA board. Epsilon won a number of awards and honors for work with clients such as Marriott and FedEx.


    Top executive: Ed Heffernan, pres & CEO, Alliance Data; Bryan Kennedy, pres & CEO, Epsilon
    Headquarters: Alliance Data Systems Corp.'s Epsilon/7500 Dallas Parkway, Ste. 7800, Plano, Texas 75024/Phone: (214) 494-3000

    http://www.AllianceData.com

Asatsu-DK

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$484.0$451.07.3
    U.S.$5.0$4.121.3
    Non-U.S.$479.0$446.97.2
    Ticker: TYO:9747 (Tokyo)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Asatsu-DK is an ad agency company based in Tokyo. The DK stands for Dai-Ichi Kikaku, an agency with which Asatsu merged in 2002. WPP owned 24.3% of Asatsu-DK as of December 2010.

    Top executive: Yoji Shimizu, pres & grp CEO; Hiroaki Onohara, exec dir; Yoshiki Uemura, exec dir
    Headquarters: Asatsu-DK/1-13-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-8172/Phone: 81-3-3547-2003/Fax: 81-3-3547-2345

    http://www.adk.jp

Aspen Marketing Services

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$244.3$225.48.4
    U.S.$244.3$225.48.4
    Non-U.S.$0.0NANA
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Aspen Marketing Services, founded in 1986, is a privately held marketing services agency largely built through acquisitions.

    Alliance Data Systems on April 25, 2011, announced an agreement to acquire Aspen Marketing Services for $345 million, expanding the agency business of Alliance Data's Epsilon operation.

    Upon the deal’s expected closing in second-quarter 2011, Alliance Data said, Epsilon’s agency business and Aspen will be integrated into one agency platform operating under the Aspen Marketing Services name.

    In making the announcement, Alliance Data said Aspen was projected to generate $250 million in revenue in 2011. Alliance Data said Epsilon (including Aspen) would have 2012 run-rate revenue of about $1 billion.

    Ad Age ranked Aspen Marketing, a marketing-services agency, as the world's No. 25 agency company in 2010; Epsilon ranked No. 11.

    Aspen in January 2008 bought Experiencia, now Aspen Latino. In 2007, it acquired Newgen Results Corp., an auto industry customer-relationship-management company, and Townsend Agency, a digital and relationship-marketing shop. Previous acquisitions included Creative Services International; M-3/Mallworks; B-12/Sudden Impact; Luna Bacardi Group; PhoneWorks; Hanig & Co.; and Corporate Trademarks.

    In its own words: Founded in 1986, Aspen Marketing Services, based outside Chicago, is the largest privately held marketing-services agency in the U.S., with 10 offices throughout North America.

    Aspen builds long-term relationships with clients, many of which are in the Fortune 100, through impactful programs built to engage, sell and retain. Clients benefit from Aspen's comprehensive portfolio of in-house marketing capabilities, including digital marketing; direct marketing; advanced analytics; experiential and event marketing; online and offline word-of-mouth; and Hispanic marketing.

    To learn more about Aspen, please visit www.aspenms.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aspenmarketingservices.


    Top executive: Patrick O'Rahilly, pres & CEO; Cathy Lang, COO
    Headquarters: Aspen Marketing Services/1240 North Ave., West Chicago, Ill. 60185/Phone: (800) 848-0212/Fax: (630) 293-7584

    http://www.aspenms.com

Bartle Bogle Hegarty

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$160.0$155.03.2
    U.S.$39.0$32.021.9
    Non-U.S.$121.0$123.0-1.6
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Bartle Bogle Hegarty, founded in 1982, has offices in London, Singapore, New York, Sao Paulo, Mumbai and Shanghai. Bartle is 49% owned by Publicis Groupe, an investment taken by Publicis' Leo Burnett Worldwide several years ago. BBH New York is Bartle Bogle Hegarty's U.S. outpost. BBH in May 2007 won MillerCoors' $100 million Miller Lite account after a review; DraftFCB in April 2009 replaced BBH as agency of record for Miller Lite.

    In its own words: BBH began 2010 with BBH London winning 6 golds and Agency of the Year at BTAA, Best in Show at the One Show and 3 golds, runner up in film Grand Prix and 2nd in Cyber Agency of the Year at Cannes. BBH Asia Pacific was the most awarded agency at the 2010 Hall of Fame Awards, winning best campaign, press and magazine ad of the year. Across the world we won 21 new assignments, some from existing clients such as Diageo and Google, but most in pitches, which will add $20m in new revenues. Our global revenues for the year are back into positive growth, but most significant has been bottom line recovery which is now back to its pre-recession high. Europe/Latin America now contribute a third of global revenue and North America/Asia one third. Our offer evolved in 2010 with different creative, digital and data talent added. Simultaneously, we have continued to build our own brands through Zag. Our first brand Ila Security floated on the British (AIM) stock market and 9 projects are with retailers or in development. BBH looks to capitalize on a successful 2010 by focusing its energy on creating more outstanding work for its clients around the world.


    Top executive: Nigel Bogle, grp chmn; Sir John Hegarty, chmn & ww creative dir; Kevin Brown, grp head-engagement plng
    Headquarters: Bartle Bogle Hegarty/60 Kingly St., London, W1B 5DS/Phone: 44-207-734-1677/Fax: 44-207-437-3666

    http://www.bartleboglehegarty.com

Brunswick*

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$175.0NANA
    U.S.$61.0NANA
    Non-U.S.$114.0NANA
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Brunswick is an independent global public-relations firm based in London and focused on corporate relations and communications.

    The agency's website as of March 2011 said the firm had "around 80 partners--senior professionals from a range of industry backgrounds--and a total staff of more than 470."

    The website as of March 2011 said: "Brunswick provides strategic advice to companies helping them address communications challenges that may affect their valuation, reputation or ability to achieve business objectives. Our service offer comprises corporate communications, investor relations, public affairs, internal communications and opinion research."

    Brunswick was founded in London in 1987 by Alan Parker, Louise Charlton and Andrew Fenwick.

    Top executive: Alan Parker, chmn
    Headquarters: Brunswick/16 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3ED/Phone: 44 20 7404 5959

    http://www.brunswickgroup.com

Cheil Worldwide

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$385.7$311.623.8
    U.S.$31.8$27.017.6
    Non-U.S.$353.9$284.624.4
    Ticker: SEO:030000 (Korea)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Cheil Worldwide, founded in 1973, began to expand internationally in 1988, opening its first international branch office in Tokyo. It has since established offices and branches throughout the world, including shops in New York, London, Beijing, Sao Paulo and Singapore. Cheil became listed on the Korean Stock Exchange in 1998. Samsung (Samsung Corp., Samsung Card and Samsung Electronics), its largest shareholder, holds 15% of Cheil stock. In fact, Cheil grew out of the Samsung network and retains its global business with the help of strategic alliance agreements with other agencies. Samsung is its biggest client, but global marketers are well represented on its client roster in South Korea.

    Cheil in December 2008 bought a 49% stake in Beattie McGuinness Bungay, a London-based agency, in a step to build its international presence. Cheil said it plans to eventually purchase the remaining stake.

    Cheil in September 2009 bought a 58% stake in OpenTide Greater China, an agency based in Beijing.

    Cheil in December 2009 bought a 47% share of digital agency Barbarian Group and in April 2010 increased its ownership to 75.56% with plans to increase its ownership to 100%.

    Corporate returns are not pro forma.

    In its own words: Cheil Worldwide, established in 1973, has 30 operations in 26 countries, and employs more than 2,200 employees. Over the past two decades, Cheil has expanded its focus beyond Korea's borders, establishing an acquisitions portfolio which includes leading international agencies, such as the U.K.'s Beattie McGuinness Bungay, U.S. digital agency The Barbarian Group and Chinese digital agency OpenTide Greater China.

    In 2010, Cheil took a stake in Paris-based ad agency Herezie, a start up led by Andrea Stillacci and Luc Wise, with the experienced backing of Pierre Callegari. Cheil will continue expanding its global businesses by offering world-class brand management and communication services. The industry recognized Cheil's creativity in 2010 with gold (Young Lions Competition) and bronze at Cannes, and bronze at AdFest and Spikes Asia.

    Cheil's clients include Samsung Electronics, Hankook Tire, the Korea Tourism Organization, as well as a list of local Korean companies such as KT Corporation, Shinsegae Emart and Dong Suh Food.


    Top executive: NakHoi Kim, chmn & pres; TaeHo Kim, sr VP; Ina Choi, exec VP
    Headquarters: Cheil Worldwide/736-1, Hannam-2 Dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 140-739/Phone: 82-2-3780-2220/Fax: 82-2-3780-3114-3364

    http://www.cheil.com

Chime Communications

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$230.8$192.819.7
    U.S.$3.2$5.8-45.0
    Non-U.S.$227.6$187.021.7
    Ticker: LON:CHW (LSE)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Chime Communications is a publicly traded U.K. holding company that includes a global public-relations group (Bell Pottinger); market research (Opinion Leader and Facts International); advertising and marketing-services agencies (VCCP; Teamspirit); and sports marketing (Fast Track and Essentially Group).

    Chime in July 2010 bought Pmplegacy, a global sporting events consultancy.

    The company in March 2010 acquired Tree, a U.K. research and data analytics company.

    Chime in 2009 bought Essentially Group, expanding Chime's sports-marketing practice.

    Chime has U.S. offices in New York; Tampa, Fla.; and Washington.

    Chime launched as an independent company in 1989 through a management buyout from Lowe Howard Spink & Bell. Chime went public in 1994.

    Long-time investor WPP owned a 15.0% stake in Chime as of March 2011, down from 15.6% in March 2010 and 19.3% in March 2009, according to Chime.

    In its own words: The Chime Group helps clients create, manage, monitor and market their businesses, brands and reputation both in the U.K. and internationally. Chime is the holding company for the international public relations group, Bell Pottinger; one of the fastest growing advertising and marketing services groups, which includes VCCP and Teamspirit; a global sports marketing group, which includes Fast Track and Essentially; and a market leading research and engagement group, which includes Opinion Leader Research and Facts International Chime is made up of four divisions, 50 agencies and over 1,200 people. We have offices in the U.K., Germany, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, USA, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.


    Top executive: Tim Bell, chmn; Piers Pottinger, deputy chmn; Christopher Satterthwaite, grp chief exec
    Headquarters: Chime Communications/14 Curzon St., London, W1J 5HN/Phone: 44-20-7861-8515/Fax: 44-20-7861-8516

    http://www.chime.plc.uk

Commarco Holding

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$176.5$175.70.4
    U.S.$0.0NANA
    Non-U.S.$176.5$175.70.4
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Commarco Holding is the parent company of about 30 advertising and specialized agencies including flagship Scholz & Friends, Deepblue Networks, GKK DialogGroup and Lowe Deutschland.

    WPP in April 2011 struck a deal to acquire Commarco, subject to regulatory approval.

    Commarco as of 2011 was about 35% owned by a management group of about 40 people and 65% by private-equity firm Cognetas (formerly Electra Europe).

    Commarco's primary market is Germany.

    Commarco in March 2011 expanded its network with the launch of Blumberry, a Berlin-based agency offering services including strategy, public relations, advertising, events, digital content, social media, publishing and public affairs.

    Scholz & Friends opened in Hamburg in 1981 and was a major independent agency when it was acquired by Cordiant, a now-defunct agency holding company that was once part of Saatchi & Saatchi.

    In 2003, private-equity firm Cognetas bought Scholz & Friends from Cordiant and formed Scholz & Friends Holding. (WPP, meanwhile, acquired Cordiant Communications Group in 2003, bringing Bates, Fitch,141 Worldwide and HealthWorld into WPP.)

    Scholz & Friends Holding was renamed Commarco in 2008.

    Commarco claims to have almost doubled revenue between 2003 and 2011, from $99 million to $190 million.

    Frank-Michael Schmidt, co-CEO of Commarco, said in a statement in April 2011: "Following the successful Cognetas era, entering the WPP world opens the doors to the next level in our company's development."

    Schmidt and Christian Tiedemann became Commarco's co-CEOs in 2008.

    Schmidt is managing director of Commarco Holding and partner of Commarco as well as CEO of Scholz & Friends Group.

    Tiedemann is managing director of Commarco Holding and partner of Commarco as well as CFO of Scholz & Friends Group. He is responsible for finance, controlling, legal affairs and information technology.

    The company in 2007 formed Scholz & Friends Public Relations Group and followed that in March 2007 by acquiring a top-ranking direct-marketing agency, GKK DialogGroup, Frankfurt, which employed 450 and generated about $25 million in revenue.

    Scholz & Friends and Interpublic's Lowe started Lowe Deutschland, 80% owned by Commarco and 20% by Lowe, after Lowe shuttered its German offices early in 2007. The main client of the venture was Unilever, which came with Lowe. (Lowe was a successor to Unilever's one-time in-house agency, Lintas.) Separately, Scholz & Friends reached a cooperative agreement with Lowe that enabled S&F to use Lowe's network in Asia, North America and South America as well as other Interpublic offices worldwide.

    Commarco in fall 2009 held merger talks with Springer & Jacoby, a German agency owned by Avantaxx Group. Commarco said in December 2009: "In the wake of a detailed and comprehensive due diligence inspection, the decision was taken to break off negotiations because of differences in opinion concerning the financial conditions." Springer & Jacoby, an agency founded in 1979 and credited with inventing modern German advertising, was unable to recover from account losses and effects of the deep recession. Springer & Jacoby closed and filed for bankruptcy in April 2010.

    In its own words: Commarco is one of the leading German holdings for communications and marketing services agencies. Under the roof of the holding company, about 30 advertising and specialized agencies provide the entire spectrum of communications disciplines. Among the best-known agency brands are Scholz & Friends, Deepblue networks, GKK DialogGroup and Lowe Deutschland.

    Commarco has continually enlarged the traditional core business of classical marketing via advertisements, billboards, TV and radio commercials with comprehensive non-classical services such as public relations, dialogue marketing, online marketing as well as specialized services such as design and film production. The non-classical sector accounts for considerably more than half of revenue.

    Agencies of the holding company employ approximately 1,600 persons across Europe.

    Business activity is focused focused on the German speaking region. Through agencies in various European cities and via a strategic alliance with Lowe & Partners for international markets in which Commarco does not have its own presence, the network is also able to successfully coordinate and implement global campaigns.

    The agencies of Commarco rank among the top addresses in the industry and, every year, scoop numerous awards in creativity and efficiency.


    Top executive: Frank-Michael Schmidt, co-CEO; Christian Tiedemann, co-CEO
    Headquarters: Commarco Holding/Hanseatic Trade Center, Am Sandtorkai 76, Hamburg, 20457/Phone: 49 40 37 681-900/Fax: 49 40 37 681-999

    http://www.commarco.com

Cramer-Krasselt

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$149.6$148.60.7
    U.S.$149.6$148.60.7
    Non-U.S.$0.0NANA
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Cramer-Krasselt, founded in 1898, is an integrated agency owned by senior managers. The agency, one of the largest independent agencies in the U.S., has offices in Chicago, Milwaukee, Phoenix and New York.

    In its own words: Cramer-Krasselt is the second-largest independent marketing and communications agency in the U.S., with billings nearing $1 billion. A proud Ad Age "Next in Line" agency for three of the past four years, C-K has grown by more than 50 percent since 2005. We handle everything from cars to beer to ketchup to airplanes to investment funds to shoes to sausages. And we do more than our share of best-in-category work on behalf of this diverse client roster. But what's behind that great work is often what you'll hear our clients value most: the boldness of the insights we bring. Thanks to the depth of our analytic resources, our process and even how we're organized--with no separate profit centers--we have the culture and capability to get at insights, emotions and new truths that insprire consumers to think differently about a brand--and even change the way they think about an entire category. From spreading the love and sparking a turnaround for Crocs, to redefining utility for the 2011 Porsche Cayenne to encouraging Corona fans to "Find Your Beach," we deliver insights that change the conversation.


    Top executive: Peter G. Krivkovich, pres & CEO; Marshall Ross, exec VP & chief creative officer; Karen Seamen, COO, exec VP & genl mgr
    Headquarters: Cramer-Krasselt/225 N. Michigan Ave., 12th Fl., Chicago, Ill. 60601/Phone: (312) 616-9600/Fax: (312) 616-3839

    http://www.c-k.com

Daniel J. Edelman

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$544.0$457.918.8
    U.S.$361.7$305.018.6
    Non-U.S.$182.3$152.919.3
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Daniel J. Edelman is a public-relations agency network group based in Chicago. The company owns the Edelman public-relations network and Zeno Group, a marketing-communications agency that operates in the U.S., separately from the Edelman PR network.

    In its own words: Edelman is the world's largest independent public relations firm, with wholly owned offices in 53 cities and 3,700 employees worldwide, growing by 19% in the U.S. and 18.6% worldwide organically in 2010.

    Edelman has expanded its services from public relations to public engagement to engage clients' multiple stakeholders in long-term relationships across all communications channels, demonstrated by 1) the orchestration of Microsoft's global launch of Kinect - one of the biggest product launches in entertainment history; 2) the communication and awareness surrounding the Pepsi Refresh Project; 3) the development of Ben & Jerry's "Scoop of Happiness" application, the world's first markerless mobile augmented reality app to educate people about Fair Trade ingredients; 4) the expansion of the National Dairy Council's partnership with the NFL for "Fuel up to Play 60" to address the growing rate of childhood obesity; and 5) the successful launch of Adobe's most important product - Creative Suite 5 (CS5).

    Zeno Group is the award-winning, medium-sized, independent agency that is a part of the Daniel J. Edelman family. We are a marketing communications agency committed to helping clients make the most of the new realities of audience engagement and the evolving role of public relations. Zeno Group has been recognized for our firm's growth, talent, innovation and culture as contributing factors to the win.

    With nearly 80 employees operating in a network of four wholly-owned U.S. offices and the recently opened Zeno Group Toronto, Zeno's primary areas of focus are consumer, healthcare, technology and corporate with a robust social media capability. Privately held, we pride ourselves on being nimble and fast, fearless and highly collaborative - qualities that have served us well in dramatically growing the firm.


    Top executive: Richard Edelman, pres & CEO; Matthew Harrington, pres & CEO, U.S.; Mitch Markson, global creative dir
    Headquarters: Daniel J. Edelman/200 E. Randolph St., 63rd Fl., Chicago, Ill. 60601/Phone: (312) 240-3000/Fax: (312) 240-2900

    http://www.edelman.com

Dentsu Inc.*

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$3,599.7$3,112.915.6
    U.S.$218.4$96.9125.3
    Non-U.S.$3,381.3$3,016.012.1
    Ticker: TYO:4324 (Tokyo)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Dentsu Inc. is the largest agency company based in Japan.

    Dentsu Inc. is largely composed of lead agency Dentsu, based in Tokyo with offices and subsidiaries throughout Japan, as well as a network of Asian, European and North American agencies.

    Dentsu Inc. includes two agency networks:

    The Dentsu network consists of Dentsu's agency network in Japan and in regions excluding the Americas and Europe (but including Russia).

    Dentsu Inc.'s other agency network is Dentsu Network West, formed in October 2010. Dentsu Network West consists of agency ventures in the Americas (North America and Latin America) and Europe (excluding Russia).

    The Dentsu ad agency is the world's largest advertising agency.

    Dentsu has been building up its U.S. base:

    Dentsu in February 2011 acquired Firstborn, a digital agency based in New York.

    Dentsu on Jan. 26, 2010, acquired Innovation Interactive, a New York-based digital marketing-services company with three operating units (360i, a digital marketing agency; SearchIgnite, a paid search management technology venture; and Netmining, an audience optimization platform). Innovation Interactive became a wholly owned subsidiary of Dentsu Holdings USA. In the sale announcement, Innovation Interactive said it had 300 employees and 2008 worldwide revenue of $60.98 million.

    Dentsu Holdings USA in November 2008 bought New York-based McGarryBowen for an undisclosed amount. Ad Age named McGarryBowen agency of the year in 2010.

    Dentsu Holdings USA Oct. 31, 2007, bought Attik, a San Francisco creative boutique with 58 employees, and Attik Ltd., Attik's U.K. branch with 10 employees. Attik became a division of Dentsu USA Holdings' Dentsu America.

    Dentsu has a 15% stake in Publicis Groupe under a strategic relationship forged when Publicis bought Dentsu-backed Bcom3 Group (the then-parent of Leo Burnett and Starcom MediaVest) in 2002. Dentsu also owns a minority stake in the Asian ad network Dentsu Y&R, a joint venture originally formed in 1981. WPP, parent of Young & Rubicam Brands, owns the rest of DYR.

    Publicis in May 2010 announced the buyback of a portion of Dentsu's Publicis shares. Specifically, Publicis on May 10, 2010, bought back 7.5 million Publicis shares for 217.5 million euros ($278.0 million). Under the companies' earlier agreements, Dentsu had the right to sell a portion of its shares. This transaction concerned the Publicis shares held by Dentsu that were above Dentsu's threshold of 15% voting rights in Publicis Groupe. Publicis said the buyback did not change any of the agreements the firms entered on Nov. 30, 2003. Those agreements limited Dentsu to 15% of voting rights.

    The November 2003 agreements replaced a "memorandum of understanding" that Dentsu and Publicis entered in March 2002. Under the agreements, Dentsu gets two seats on the Publicis supervisory board.

    Publicis' reference document for year ended December 2009 said: "Until July 12, 2012, Dentsu will be subject to a 'standstill' limiting its ownership of Publicis shares to the number of shares that entitles it to 15% of voting rights in Publicis Groupe S.A., unless the supervisory board agrees otherwise. . . . Dentsu may not sell or transfer any shares of Publicis Groupe S.A. to a third party prior to July 12, 2012. . . . The agreement between Publicis Groupe S.A. and Dentsu. . . will expire on July 12, 2012, unless Publicis and Dentsu agree to renew it for an additional 10-year term."

    Dentsu was founded in 1901 as Japan Advertising Ltd. and Telegraphic Service Co. In 1906, Telegraphic Service Co. changed its name to Japan Telegraphic Communication Co. Ltd. A year later, Japan Advertising Ltd. merged with Japan Telegraphic Communication Co. Ltd. and launched its communication and advertising operations. In 1936, Japan Telegraphic Communication Co. Ltd. spun off its news-services department to Domei News Agency and relaunched itself as a specialized advertising agency. The company changed its name to Dentsu Advertising Ltd. in 1955.

    In its own words: In 2010, the Dentsu Group took several definitive actions to accelerate our global strategy, enhance our digital capabilities and deliver even more client-centric solutions.

    In addition to acquiring Innovation Interactive, a leading U.S. digital marketing services company, we established Dentsu Network West in New York to strengthen and expand our business in the Americas and Europe.

    In Russia, we established Dentsu New Ideas as a second business base, while in the Asia-Pacific region we bolstered our network through a capital and business alliance with Suntrend Group, which maintains the largest sales promotion network in China, and the establishment of a joint venture company with BlueFocus, a major Chinese PR company. We also established Dentsu Media Hong Kong, a new media agency directed at strengthening business in Asia, and Dentsu Sports Asia, a new sports marketing company.

    On the home front, we established the Dentsu Digital Fund to accelerate the growth of the Dentsu Group's digital businesses and to contribute to the healthy development of the digital communications market not only in Japan but also in countries such as the United States and China.

    Looking to further growth, we also launched the Dentsu Management Institute and other talent initiatives directed at strengthening the group's management capabilities and ensuring the delivery of precisely targeted solutions.


    Top executive: Mr. Tadashi Ishii, pres & CEO
    Headquarters: Dentsu Inc./1-8-1, Higashi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-7001/Phone: 81-3-6216-5111/Fax: 81-3-6217-5516

    http://www.dentsu.com

Doner*

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$142.0$152.0-6.6
    U.S.$133.0$142.0-6.3
    Non-U.S.$9.0$10.0-10.0
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Doner, one of the world's largest independent agencies, has been managing through a challenging period of change. The agency's largest account, Mazda, went into review in March 2010. Doner won the Mazda account in 1997.

    In 2009, the agency's longtime creative force and vice chairman, John DeCerchio, departed the agency and then sued Doner in a dispute over the size of the payout related to his 32% equity stake in the shop. DeCerchio said he was owed $55 million over 10 years; Doner said he was owed $51.5 million.

    Another partner and 30-plus-year executive at the agency, H. Barry Levine, quit in 2009 after then-CEO Alan Kalter admitted that the agency's pension fund was not in compliance with federal disclosure laws and regulations. In December 2009, Kalter sold his stake in the agency to Chief Operating Officer David DeMuth, Chief Creative Officer Rob Strasberg and President Tim Blett, saying that "the next chapter is ready to be written." Kalter left Doner after 43 years with the agency.

    Doner laid off more than 100 people or about 12% of staff in April 2009, a response to client cutbacks and a review of the agency's structure in light of the ascension of digital media.

    Doner's rise from a regional to a national and international agency was literally sparked by a fire that destroyed its Southfield office in 1996. The agency used that occasion to strategize big rather than small, including reinventing its media and direct-marketing operations with new hires, and going after high-profile clients like Mazda.

    Doner was founded in Baltimore in 1937 by W.B. "Brod" Doner, who died in 1990. The agency dropped the initials in 1999.

    In its own words: The last six months have been a demonstration of what's possible when our talent, our operating model and our initiative fire on all cylinders. Having installed new leadership and affected cultural and organizational transformation, we've been thriving. We're the epitome of an integrated agency, devoid of the silos and borders that frustrate clients and compromise work. We've blown up the traditional creative group model in favor of "ecosystems" in which every creative discipline - digital, direct, social media, etc. - live and work in a state of intense collaboration.

    We closed out 2010 with six straight new-business wins, and we're finalists in a significant pitch that began in the fourth quarter. The wins included Harman, Choice Hotels International, Oil-Dri (Cat's Pride), multiple projects from Capital One, and all retail marketing for Chrysler Group. The last one is especially sweet, not only because it encompasses several great brands (Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and Chrysler), but because we were engaged just a short time after our contract with Mazda expired. Losing Mazda might have been the kind of psychological blow that paralyzes an agency for a while. For us, it proved catalytic; dialing up the tenacity and competitiveness at the heart of our culture.


    Top executive: David DeMuth, co-CEO & pres; Rob Strasberg, co-CEO & chief creative officer; Tim Blett, sr ptnr; Greg Clausen, exec VP & chief media officer
    Headquarters: Doner/25900 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield, Mich. 48075/Phone: (248) 354-9700/Fax: (248) 354-0203

    http://www.doner.com

FTI Consulting's FD*

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$193.2$180.17.3
    U.S.$77.3$72.07.3
    Non-U.S.$115.9$108.17.3
    Ticker: FCN (NYSE)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: FTI Consulting is a global business advisory firm. FTI appears in Ad Age's Agency Report based on the worldwide revenue of FD, the Strategic Communications division of FTI.

    FD's services include financial public relations, investor relations, public affairs, crisis and issues management, and corporate, business-to-business and business-to-consumer communications.

    FD changed its name from Financial Dynamics in March 2007.

    The firm was acquired in October 2006 by FTI Consulting, a business advisory firm with corporate offices in Baltimore and executive offices in West Palm Beach, Fla. FTI bought 97% of FD in October 2006 and the remaining 3% in February 2007 for a total price tag of $307.5 million including transaction costs.

    FD was founded in 1986. FTI was founded in 1982.

    Worldwide revenue shown is for FTI's Strategic Communications Division. U.S. revenue is estimated. FTI's CEO said FD generated more than 60% of revenue outside the U.S. when FTI bought FD in 2006.

    FTI reported worldwide revenue of $1.4 billion both in 2010 and 2009 from five business segments: corporate finance/restructuring; forensic and litigation consulting; economic consulting; technology; and strategic communications.

    Top executive: Jack B. Dunn IV, pres & CEO, FTI
    Headquarters: FTI Consulting's FD/88 Pine St., 32nd Fl., New York, N.Y. 10005/Holborn Gate, 26 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1PB/Phone: (212) 850-5600

    http://www.fticonsulting.com

FullSix Group

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$130.6$113.015.6
    U.S.$7.8$7.110.0
    Non-U.S.$122.8$105.916.0
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: FullSix Group is a marketing-services group based in France.

    FullSix, founded in 1997, began as an agency venture based in Italy; WPP owned a minority stake. Cognetas, a European private-equity firm, and the agency's management team in August 2008 bought FullSix's operations outside Italy for 40 million euros (a bit less than $60 million). The business bought by Cognetas operates as FullSix Group (formerly known as FullSix International).

    FullSix Group in 2010 purchased U.K. digital agency Grand Union.

    WPP (through an entity called WPP Dotcom Holdings (Fourteen) LLC) has a 26.22% stake in FullSix Italy, according to a March 2011 report on corporate governance at FullSix Italy's website.

    FullSix Group in 2011 reentered the Italian market with a fully owned agency, Grand Union Italy, after two years of exclusive partnership with FullSix Italy.

    WPP Group Chief Executive Martin Sorrell in October 2008 ended a long-running legal standoff with Marco Benatti, who is another major shareholder in FullSix's Italian operation and the former director of WPP Italy. Sorrell and Benatti agreed to an out-of-court settlement of their multi-lawsuit feud. No details of the settlement were released. A joint statement released in October 2008 said: "WPP and Marco Benatti have agreed to a full and final settlement of the disputes between them, which are the subject of the proceedings currently before the English High Court and related proceedings in Italy. The terms of the settlement are confidential."

    In its own words: FullSix Group is a leading independent marketing communications group created in 1997 and now present in eight countries. We believe that digital has deeply changed consumers' behavior and that advertisers need a new generation of "digital native" marketing communications agencies to help them win in this fast changing and radically new environment.

    We work for blue chip clients that want more Sense & Synchronisation. Our daily focus is to increase their marketing ROI by delivering cutting-edge brand thinking for the digital age, as well as outstanding, integrated consumer experiences, from communication campaigns to relationship marketing, interaction platforms to reputation management.

    We are proud to work for clients such as Boots, Waitrose, Coca-Cola, Vodafone SFR, Club Med, Diesel, Novartis and Adidas.


    Top executive: Marco Tinelli, pres
    Headquarters: FullSix Group/157 Rue Anatole France, Levallois Perret, 92309/Phone: +33 (0) 1 49 68 73 00/Fax: +33 (0) 1 49 68 73 73

    http://www.group.fullsix.com

Groupe Aeroplan's Carlson Marketing*

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$592.9$575.33.0
    U.S.$436.8$420.04.0
    Non-U.S.$156.1$155.30.5
    Ticker: TSE:AER (TSX)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Carlson Marketing is a loyalty and marketing-services agency.

    Groupe Aeroplan, a loyalty management firm based in Montreal, acquired Carlson Marketing in December 2009.

    Revenue shown here reflects stated 2010 worldwide "total revenue" (converted to U.S. dollars) for Carlson Marketing, not of parent company Groupe Aeroplan. Figures for U.S. and non-U.S. revenue and for 2009 worldwide revenue are Ad Age estimates for Carlson Marketing.

    Headquarters information shown here is for Groupe Aeroplan. Click on "Carlson Marketing*" below for more information about Carlson Marketing.

    Groupe Aeroplan said Carlson Marketing had 2010 worldwide gross billings of Canadian $635.275 million (U.S. $616.865 million); worldwide total revenue of Canadian $610.580 million (U.S. $592.885 million); and worldwide gross margin of Canadian $280.274 million (U.S. $272.152 million).

    Groupe Aeroplan reported 2010 worldwide total revenue of Canadian $2.054 billion (U.S. $1.994 billion).

    Groupe Aeroplan bought Carlson Marketing from privately held Carlson Cos. on Dec. 7, 2009, for $175.3 million ($188.0 million in Canadian dollars).

    Groupe Aeroplan (www.groupeaeroplan.com) began as Air Canada's Aeroplan Program, a frequent-flyer program launched in July 1984. Aeroplan's operations were integrated with those of Air Canada until the end of 2001. On Jan. 1, 2002, Aeroplan was established as a wholly owned limited partnership of Air Canada with a dedicated management team focused on the development of the Aeroplan Program. In June 2005, Aeroplan completed its initial public offering. It trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

    In addition to Carlson Marketing, Groupe Aeroplan owns Aeroplan, a Canadian loyalty program; and Nectar, a U.K.-based loyalty program.

    Groupe Aeroplan also operates LMG Insight & Communication, a customer-driven insight and data analytics business offering worldwide services to retailers and their suppliers.

    In addition, Groupe Aeroplan has majority equity positions in Air Miles Middle East and NectarItalia as well as a minority position in Club Premier, a loyalty program in Mexico.

    In its own words: Carlson Marketing, the world's leading relationship building company, designs and delivers customer loyalty and business loyalty programs for some of the world's best known brands across several vertical markets: airline, hotel, auto, finance/insurance, retail, consumer packaged goods, pharmaceuticals and high tech.

    Carlson Marketing's two global service offerings--Customer Loyalty and Business Loyalty--are supported by six core capabilities: Strategy & Customer Planning; Decision Sciences; Creative, Interactive, Media & Mobile; Award Services; Technology Services & Operations; and Incentive & Event Management.

    Carlson Marketing is owned by Groupe Aeroplan, a global leader in loyalty management. During 2010, Carlson Marketing completed the transition from being part of Carlson Companies (including developing totally new technology infrastructures) to become the lead loyalty company for Groupe Aeroplan in the United States.


    Top executive: Rupert Duchesne, pres & CEO, Groupe Aeroplan; Jeff Balagna, pres & CEO, Carlson Marketing
    Headquarters: Groupe Aeroplan's Carlson Marketing/5100, De Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montreal, Quebec H4A 3T2/Phone: (514) 205-7315/Fax: (514) 205-7578

    http://www.carlsonmarketing.com

Grupo ABC

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$361.9$277.330.5
    U.S.$13.8$12.015.5
    Non-U.S.$348.1$265.431.2
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Grupo ABC is a marketing organization in Brazil run by high-profile ad executive Nizan Guanaes.

    Grupo ABC expanded into the U.S. in March 2008 with a $30 million investment in ad agency startup Pereira & O'Dell, San Francisco. Grupo ABC owned 51% of the agency as of March 2010.

    Grupo ABC extended its U.S. presence by backing Dojo, another San Francisco agency startup that launched in November 2009. Grupo ABC in December 2010 increased its stake to 51% from its original 31% interest. The agency is run by veteran creatives Geoff Edwards and Mauro Alencar and operations chief Jeremy Brown.

    Grupo ABC closed Brazil-based digital agency Hello in 2009. Clients stayed in the Grupo ABC network.

    The company in late 2007 changed its name from Grupo Ypy to ABC Group, which stands for "Advertising,'' "Branding Services" and "Content."

    Guanaes started his first ad agency, DM9, in the late 1980s. In 1997, he sold a majority stake in DM9 to DDB Worldwide and left in 2000 to become CEO of IG, an early internet-service provider in which he'd invested. He two years later returned to DM9 DDB (now called DDB). He then started another Brazilian ad agency, Africa, in 2002.

    Grupo ABC owns a stake in Omnicom's DDB Brazil and in ad agency Africa.

    Top executive: Nizan Guanaes, chmn; Joao Augusto Valente, CEO
    Headquarters: Grupo ABC/Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima 2277, 18th Fl., Sao Paulo, 01452-000/Phone: 55 11 30947258/Fax: 55 11 30947220

    http://www.grupoabc.com

GSI Commerce Inc.'s Global Marketing Services*

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$189.9$127.648.8
    U.S.$162.9$109.448.8
    Non-U.S.$27.0$18.248.8
    Ticker: GSIC (Nasdaq)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: GSI Commerce is a publicly traded company offering e-commerce and interactive marketing services through three segments: Global e-Commerce Services, Global Marketing Services and Consumer Engagement.

    EBay and GSI Commerce in March 2011 struck a deal for eBay, the e-commerce firm, to buy GSI Commerce for about $2.4 billion. EBay expected to close in the third quarter of 2011.

    GSI Commerce is ranked among Agency Companies based on stated worldwide revenue of its Global Marketing Services division. The U.S./non-U.S. revenue split is estimated by Ad Age.

    In its own words: GSI's Global Marketing Services division provides a comprehensive set of interactive marketing solutions to help clients drive customer acquisition, conversion and loyalty across multiple channels, integrated through the TrueAction Network. The division provides innovative digital marketing products and services comprised of marketing strategy and design through TrueAction and Silverlign, e-mail marketing through e-Dialog, affiliate marketing through Pepperjam, retargeting through Fetchback, mobile marketing through M3 Mobile, and database marketing through MBS Insight. With the addition of ClearSaleing in 2011, a provider of advanced advertising analytics and attribution management, the division now includes eight leading marketing services companies.


    Top executive: Chris Saridakis, CEO-global mktg svcs; Gerry McGoldrick/Stuart Bogaty, VPs-interactive mktg svcs, TrueAction; Reuben Hendell, CEO-global agency svcs
    Headquarters: GSI Commerce Inc.'s Global Marketing Services/935 First Ave., King of Prussia, Pa. 19406/Phone: (610) 491-7000/Fax: (610) 265-2866

    http://www.gsicommerce.com

GyroHSR*

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$128.0$128.00.0
    U.S.$88.7$85.24.1
    Non-U.S.$39.3$42.8-8.2
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Gyro International and HSR Business to Business in April 2009 merged to form GyroHSR, an international integrated marketing agency. Management and staff from Thomas Taber & Drazen in December 2009 joined GyroHSR's Denver office.

    In its own words: Who are we: A collective of 600 influencers, curators, editors, thinkers, inventors and talkers, spread across continents, acting as one.

    Why are we here: In a numb world, Gyro exists to build intimacy between businesses, brands and people.

    What do we do: We create ideas that are humanly relevant.

    How do we do it: With an ignition process that puts the spark of emotion into every brief. With a curation process that generates ideas that matter. With a unique �one shop' culture called UNO that makes the most our diverse talent.


    Top executive: Christop Becker, CEO & chief creative officer; Rick Segal, ww pres & chief practice officer
    Headquarters: GyroHSR/60 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10010/Phone: (212) 915-2490

    http://www.gyroHSR.com

Hakuhodo DY Holdings*

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$1,674.0$1,512.010.7
    U.S.$8.9$10.3-13.3
    Non-U.S.$1,665.1$1,501.710.9
    Ticker: TYO:2433 (Tokyo)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Hakuhodo DY Holdings is a Japanese-based agency holding company created in October 2003 to integrate business operations of Hakuhodo, Daiko Advertising and Yomiko Advertising. Hakuhodo, Daiko, DY Media Partners and Yomiko are wholly owned subsidiaries of the holding company. Hakuhodo's results are estimates configured to a calendar year ended Dec. 31, although Hakuhodo's fiscal year ends in March. Returns include U.S. operation Mendelsohn Zien, Los Angeles, of which Hakuhodo acquired the remaining 51% in August 2009.

    Top executive: Junji Narita, chmn & CEO; Hirokazu Toda, pres & CEO
    Headquarters: Hakuhodo DY Holdings/Akasaka Business Tower, 5-3-1 Asasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-6320/Phone: 81-3-6441-9033/Fax: 81-3-6441-9065

    http://www.hakuhodody-holdings.co.jp

Harte-Hanks

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$148.6$148.30.3
    U.S.$138.6$141.2-1.8
    Non-U.S.$10.1$7.142.1
    Ticker: HHS (NYSE)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Harte-Hanks Inc. is a San Antonio-based company involved in customer relationship management and publishing.

    In its own words: The Agency Inside Harte-Hanks understands how to bring your brand to life in the moment, that instant when a consumer needs or wants something that you offer, that special transformation when a customer becomes a brand advocate. We achieve this with an enviable breadth of services, including strategy, creative, market research, execution, analytics, web sites, mobile, social media, email, digital media and preference centers. That we apply all of them in perfect harmony is what makes us invaluable to our clients and unique in the agency world. Our results-driven acquisition, conversion, retention and loyalty programs have had enormous success in the automotive, pharmaceutical, retail, insurance and financial industries. All the tools and expertise you need to successfully engage customers with your brand can be found at The Agency Inside.


    Top executive: Jeanine Falcone, corp officer & agency VP; Matthew Rosenblatt, exec VP-creative devel; Michele Fitzpatrick, sr VP-strategy & insight
    Headquarters: Harte-Hanks/777 Township Line Rd., Ste. 300, Yardley, Pa. 19067/Phone: (215) 944-9692/Fax: (215) 944-9710

    http://www.harte-hanks.com

Havas

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$2,068.9$2,009.63.0
    U.S.$675.9$638.75.8
    Non-U.S.$1,393.0$1,370.91.6
    Ticker: EPA:HAV (Euronext Paris)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Havas is a publicly traded agency company based in France. Havas consists of two key umbrella groups: Havas Media and Havas Worldwide.

    U.S. revenue shown reflects Havas' stated North American revenue.Employees shown for U.S. in this listing reflect Havas' North American staff.

    Havas Chairman Vincent Bollore in March 2011 named David Jones as CEO of Havas, succeeding Fernando Rodes, who took on the title of vice chairman. Jones kept his post as global CEO of Euro RSCG Worldwide and of Havas Worldwide.

    Bollore as of March 2011 owned 26.52% of Aegis Group, a U.K.-based agency and market-research firm, making him the largest shareholder in Aegis. Havas in 2006 created Havas Media as the umbrella for its media-agency holdings. Havas Media includes MPG, a global media network; Arena Media, which Havas calls a "network for tailor-made communication services"; Havas Digital, a global digital network; and Havas Sports & Entertainment, a global sports and entertainment communication and brand integration network. Havas Media agencies expanded from 10 markets in 1999 to 101 markets in 2009.

    Havas in February 2009 formed Havas Worldwide as an umbrella organization for its ad agency holdings. Havas Worldwide includes the Euro RSCG network and Arnold Worldwide.

    The Euro RSCG network includes Euro RSGG Worldwide; Euro RSCG Life, a healthcare agency; Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, the network's public relations holding; and Euro RSCG Worldwide Strat Farm, a strategic and creative agency in New York. Havas' Euro RSCG group acquired a 100% stake in Strat Farm in January 2011.

    Havas in early 2008 completed the integration of Euro RSCG's 4D U.S. operations into the main Euro RSCG Worldwide agency. (Havas had created Euro RSCG 4D in 2004 to manage Euro RSCG's marketing-services operations.) Outside the U.S., the 4D brand continues to operate autonomously. For the purpose of this report, all Euro RSCG 4D U.S. and non-U.S. revenue is in Euro RSCG Worldwide's figures. McKinney, a regional agency based in Durham, N.C., in June 2008 bought itself back from Havas. The French ad firm bought the shop in April 2001 from internet consultancy MarchFirst; MarchFirst's predecessor, CKS Group, bought McKinney in 1997.

    Top executive: Vincent Bollore, chmn; David Jones, global CEO-Havas Worldwide & Euro RSCG Worldwide; Herve Philippe, CFO
    Headquarters: Havas/2 allee de Longchamp, Suresnes, France 92281/Phone: 33-1-58-47-90-00/Fax: 33-1-58-47-99-99

    http://www.havas.com

Hearst Corp.'s iCrossing*

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$152.7$136.511.9
    U.S.$136.1$121.512.0
    Non-U.S.$16.6$15.010.7
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: ICrossing is a digital agency with a strong search component.

    Hearst Corp. in May 2010 bought iCrossing, following months of industry speculation that the media company would acquire the digital venture. Prior to the sale to Hearst, the agency's investors included Goldman Sachs and Oak Investment Partners.

    ICrossing has expanded over time with its own acquisitions. ICrossing in February 2007 acquired Spannerworks, a U.K.-based search agency. In July 2007, it bought Proxicom, a web-development firm. ICrossing in April 2008 acquired German digital marketing agency 3Gnet.

    In its own words: iCrossing is a global digital marketing agency that combines talent and technology to help world-class brands find and connect with their customers. The company blends best-in-class digital marketing services, including paid search, search engine optimization, web development, social media, mobile, research and analytics, to create integrated digital marketing programs that engage consumers and drive ROI.

    iCrossing's client base includes such recognized brands as LEGO Group, Epson America and Toyota, and 40 Fortune 500 companies, including The Coca-Cola Company, MasterCard and FedEx.

    Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., the company has 650 employees in 12 offices in the U.S. and Europe. iCrossing is a unit of Hearst Corp., one of the nation's largest diversified media companies. For more information, please visit www.icrossing.com.


    Top executive: Don Scales, pres & CEO; Chris Wallace, sr VP-digital media svcs; Stephen Thompson, exec VP & exec creative dir
    Headquarters: Hearst Corp.'s iCrossing/15169 N. Scottsdale Rd., Ste. 400, Scottsdale, Ariz. 85254/Phone: (480) 505-5800/Fax: (480) 505-5801

    http://www.icrossing.com

Huntsworth

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$268.4$244.89.7
    U.S.$93.9$68.237.6
    Non-U.S.$174.6$176.5-1.1
    Ticker: LON:HNT (LSE)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Huntsworth is a global public relations and healthcare communications company.

    The London-based firm operates three PR agencies (Grayling, Citigate, Red) and a healthcare marketing-communications agency network (Huntsworth Health).

    Revenue shown is Huntsworth's stated revenue, converted to U.S. dollars at Ad Age DataCenter's average 2010 and 2009 exchange rates.

    Huntsworth on March 22, 2011, bought Atomic, a San Francisco-based, tech-focused PR agency. Atomic had 2010 revenue of $11.3 million. Huntsworth said in March 2011: "The initial cash consideration was US$13.3 million (8.3 million pounds). Additional consideration is payable dependent on future performance during the period to December 2015 and will be paid in cash or a combination of cash and shares at Huntsworth's discretion. The maximum total consideration payable is US$50 million (31.3 million pounds)."

    Coinciding with the acquisition of Atomic, Huntsworth transferred Red's U.S. operation to Atomic, "which in turn will be combined with Grayling's operations in North America."

    Top executive: Peter Chadlington, CEO
    Headquarters: Huntsworth/15-17 Huntsworth Mews, London, NW1 6DD/Phone: 44 (0)20 7224 8778

    http://www.huntsworth.com

IBM Corp.'s IBM Interactive*

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$367.8$322.414.1
    U.S.$233.6$210.710.9
    Non-U.S.$134.2$111.720.1
    Ticker: IBM (NYSE)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Computer, software and technology services giant.

    IBM Corp. in early 2008 restaged its digital-agency services business under the banner of IBM Interactive.

    Revenue shown reflects estimated revenue of IBM Corp.'s agency business, IBM Interactive.

    In its own words: IBM Interactive is a digital agency backed by the breadth and depth of one of the world's leading technology companies.

    Our global scale gives our clients the unique ability to target local markets wherever they may be. We fully leverage our deep expertise to provide compelling and innovative solutions to the needs of our clients as they compete in today's challenging market.

    Our strength lies in our ability to envision the possible and deliver on that promise. To do so, we leverage the full spectrum of IBM's capabilities - strategy, research, industrial design, accessibility and creative.

    Our core offerings include: design and branding; user research; accelerated visioning; multichannel and interactive strategy.

    In 2011 we expanded our offerings to incorporate acquisitions in firms specializing in analytics and alignment with IBM's smarter commerce.


    Top executive: Jim Rudd, ptnr & IBM Interactive practice leader; Shervin B. Hawley, chief creative officer, IBMi; Paul Flack, assoc ptnr
    Headquarters: IBM Corp.'s IBM Interactive/71 S. Wacker Dr., Chicago, Ill. 60606/Phone: (276) 546-7833/Fax: (877) 600-8959

    http://www.ibm.com

Interpublic Group of Cos.

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$6,531.9$6,027.68.4
    U.S.$3,709.5$3,372.310.0
    Non-U.S.$2,822.4$2,655.36.3
    Ticker: IPG (NYSE)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Interpublic Group of Cos. is the world's fourth-largest agency company.

    New York-based Interpublic reported 2010 revenue of $6.5 billion, vs. $6.0 billion in 2009 and $7.0 billion in 2008.

    Interpublic employed about 41,000 people worldwide at year-end 2010, vs. 40,000 at year-end 2009; 45,000 at year-end 2008; 43,000 at year-end 2007; 42,000 at year-end 2006; and 43,000 at year-end 2005.

    Interpublic in July 2010 bought U.K. shop Delaney Lund Knox Warren from agency firm Creston, making the renamed DLKW Lowe the U.K. hub of Lowe Worldwide.

    In the period from 2010 through early 2011, Interpublic increased its stake in Brooklyn-based digital agency Huge to 75% from 51%; and did two deals in Brazil, acquiring digital shop Cubocc and merging McCann Erickson's Brazil operation with local agency W/Brasil.

    Interpublic in December 2010 sold U.S. public-relations agency MWW Group back to MWW's management.

    Interpublic's investments/minority holdings as of April 2011 included:

    Facebook (2006 investment; less than 0.5% stake).

    Accentmarketing (U.S. Hispanic agency, 49%).

    IW Group (U.S. Asian-American agency, 49%).

    Siboney USA (U.S. Hispanic agency, 49%).

    Interpublic, the original major agency holding company, ranked as the world's largest agency firm as recently as 2000. It slipped to second place in revenue, behind Omnicom Group, in 2001, and third, behind WPP, in 2003. Publicis Groupe surpassed Interpublic as the third-largest agency firm in 2009.

    Top executive: Michael I. Roth, chmn & CEO
    Headquarters: Interpublic Group of Cos./1114 Ave. of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10036 / Phone: (212) 704-1200 / Fax: (212) 704-1201

    http://www.interpublic.com

inVentiv Group Holdings*

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$312.8$272.015.0
    U.S.$269.4$231.316.5
    Non-U.S.$43.3$40.76.5
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: InVentiv Group Holdings, parent of inVentiv Health, provides clinical, consulting and commercial services to the biopharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

    Revenue shown in this record reflects the estimated revenue of inVentiv Group Holdings' marketing-communications agencies, operating under the inVentiv Health network.

    InVentiv Health, formerly a public company, in August 2010 was acquired for about $1.1 billion by inVentiv Group Holdings, a private investor group formed by affiliates of Thomas H. Lee Partners, Liberty Lane Partners and members of inVentiv management. Under terms of the deal, inVentiv shareholders received $26.05 in cash for each share of stock. As a result of the merger, inVentiv's common stock is no longer listed on Nasdaq.

    The company in January 2011 reorganized into three sectors: Clinical, Consulting and Commercial.

    Clinical consists of a clinical research organization operating under the i3 brand. (InVentiv announced a deal to acquire i3 in January 2011.)

    Consulting consists of Campbell Alliance, a pharmaceutical and biotech management consulting firm. (InVentiv announced a deal to acquire Campbell Alliance in January 2011 and completed the transaction in February 2011.)

    Commercial, operating under the name inVentiv Health, consists of the legacy inVentiv Health operations (Communications, Selling Solutions, Selling Accelerators and Patient Outcomes).

    InVentiv Communications grew out of healthcare agency group inChord Communications, bought by inVentiv Health in October 2005, and later acquisitions. The inChord acquisition included healthcare agencies GSW Worldwide, Palio Communications, Navicor Group and Stonefly Communications Group. InVentiv Health bought inChord for $196.8 million in cash and stock plus earn-out payments contingent on performance from 2005 through 2007.

    InVentiv Group Holdings expanded its communications practice in September 2010 by acquiring SubstratHomme SA, commonly known as Star Terre Sante, a group of healthcare marketing and communications agencies based in Paris.

    In 2008, inVentiv Communications expanded its global reach by forming inVentiv Europe. That operation included Angela Liedler. InVentiv in 2008 increased its stake in Angela Liedler, a German healthcare advertising agency, to 85% from 44%. In December 2009, the company increased its stake in Angela Liedler to 100% from 85%.

    InVentiv Health bought four communications companies in 2007: Ignite Health, a digital healthcare agency; healthcare PR shops Chandler Chicco Agency and Chamberlain Healthcare Public Relations; and healthcare branding firm Addison Whitney.

    InVentiv Health acquired Jeffrey Simbrow Associates, a Toronto-based healthcare marketing and communications agency, in April 2006, expanding the inVentiv Communications operation.

    In addition to its ad, PR and branding agencies, inVentiv Health operates two medical communications companies, Cadent Medical Communications and the Selva Group. Those companies provide continuing-education programs for doctors and nurses; some of the programs are sponsored by drug makers. InVentiv Health in 2009 had stated worldwide revenue of $1.07 billion and employed 6,400 people at year-end 2009.

    In 2009, 2008 and 2007, inVentiv Health said in 10-K filings, no single client exceeded 10% of total revenue. InVentiv Health said it in 2009 served more than 350 clients and supported more than 850 client brands. About 55% and 50% of inVentiv Health's revenue in 2009 and 2008, respectively, came from its 10 largest clients, which in 2009 were (alphabetically): Allergan, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Cephalon, Eli Lilly & Co., Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and Sanofi-Aventis.

    Top executive: Paul Meister, exec chmn & CEO; Bill O'Donnell, pres & COO-inVentiv Comms
    Headquarters: inVentiv Group Holdings/500 Atrium Dr., Somerset, N.J. 08873/Phone: (800) 416-0555

    http://www.inventivhealth.com

LBi International

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$233.0$220.05.9
    U.S.$46.0$43.07.0
    Non-U.S.$187.0$177.05.6
    Ticker: LBI:AS (Euronext Amsterdam)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: LBi International N.V. (NYSE Euronext Amsterdam: LBI) is a marketing and technology-services agency company based in Amsterdam.

    LBi International N.V. was formed Aug. 1, 2010, when Obtineo Netherlands Holding N.V. acquired LBi International AB; the merged company took the name LBi International N.V. The merger was announced in February 2010.

    Revenue shown in this record is pro forma, including revenue from both LBi International AB and Obtineo for both years.

    LBi International AB was formed by the July 31, 2006, merger of LB Icon of the Netherlands and Framfab of Sweden.

    Obtineo was a combination of Bigmouthmedia GmbH and 40 million euros ($53 million) of new capital from Carlyle Group, a private-equity firm, and Cyrte and Janivo, a privately owned investment company based in the Netherlands.

    Prior to the 2010 merger, Bigmouthmedia had a staff of more than 200 people in 13 offices in 10 countries on three continents, positioning itself as "Europe's largest search engine marketing company." Bigmouthmedia had been backed by Carlyle Group. Bigmouthmedia was founded in 1997 and merged with German competitor GlobalMedia GmbH in 2006. Carlyle continued as an investor in LBi International N.V. after the 2010 merger.

    LBi International N.V.'s operations in the U.S. came via LBi International AB, including New York-based IconNicholson; Creative Digital Group, which LBi acquired in May 2007 and renamed LBi Atlanta; Syrup, acquired in August 2007; and Special Ops Media, bought in April 2008. IconNicholson and Special Ops Media in March 2010 merged, rebranding simply as LBi; and from Bigmouthmedia, with an office in New York. U.S. revenue shown in this record reflects LBi International N.V.'s entire U.S. revenue.

    In its own words: LBi is a new type of agency, expert at blending insight, creativity and technology to solve business problems for brands. Employing nearly 1,800 people worldwide, LBi is the world's largest independent agency of its kind.

    We work with all types of organizations: from famous global brands to disruptive start-ups; from healthcare giants to entertainment firms; from those still plugging in their computers to those at the bleeding edge of technology. But what unifies all of our clients is a belief that mastering digital content and services is essential to success.

    With a dedicated healthcare division and boutique communications agency Syrup under its umbrella, LBi is happiest when helping brands create momentum and cultural relevance through a unique blend of advertising, branded content, digital marketing, user-experience design and other emerging forms of storytelling.


    Top executive: Luke Taylor, global CEO; Judith Carr, pres-LBi U.S.; Laurent Ezekiel, ww client svcs dir
    Headquarters: LBi International/Joop Geesinkweg 209, P.O Box 94829, Amsterdam, 1096 AV/Phone: 31-20-460-4500/Fax: 31-20-460-4502

    http://www.lbi.com

M&C Saatchi

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$208.4$171.221.7
    U.S.$4.0$7.2-44.1
    Non-U.S.$204.4$164.024.7
    Ticker: LON:SAA (AIM)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: M&C Saatchi is a publicly held agency based in London.

    The agency was founded in 1995 by brothers Maurice and Charles Saatchi following their departure from international agency network Saatchi & Saatchi, an agency founded in 1970. (Saatchi & Saatchi now is owned by Publicis Groupe.)

    M&C Saatchi went public in 2004.

    Charles Saatchi left M&C Saatchi in October 2006, selling his 7% stake for about $7 million. Charles had largely been a passive investor, dedicating his efforts instead to his modern-art collection.

    In its own words: In 1995 Maurice, Charles and partners left Saatchi & Saatchi to start M&C Saatchi. M&C Saatchi was international from birth, with offices in Europe, the U.S. and Australia. Today our network has 28 offices, making M&C Saatchi the largest independent network in the world. We are united by brutal simplicity of thought and the belief that nothing is impossible. The client who wants to challenge the status quo, is the one who will get the most out of our network.

    Brutal simplicity of thought is a deep distaste for waffle and vagueness, a preference to get to the point. It is a threshing machine that separates the intellectual wheat from the chaff. It is a modern form of good manners, because the world is short of time.

    Nothing is impossible is a romantic belief in our ability to change the world by an act of will. It is a flat refusal to accept the status quo. It is a conviction that an individual can make what seems highly improbable happen.


    Top executive: Moray MacLennan, ww CEO
    Headquarters: M&C Saatchi/36 Golden Square, London, W1F 9EE/Phone: 44-20-7543-4500/Fax: 44-20-7543-4501

    http://www.mcsaatchiplc.com

Marketing Store

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$132.2$130.31.5
    U.S.$36.7$42.0-12.6
    Non-U.S.$95.5$88.38.2
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Marketing Store, founded in 1986, is a marketing-services company that focuses on in-store promotion, including merchandising and point-of-purchase. Marketing Store has 13 offices worldwide. Marketing Store's parent is Havi Group, a private company founded in 1974 to provide distribution services to McDonald's stores in the Chicago area. Havi Group, in addition to Marketing Store, owns companies that provide infrastructure/logistics management, supply chain services and equipment rental/maintenance services.

    In its own words: The Marketing Store creates connections that count � tangible interactions that engage people, influence purchase and build brands. As one of the largest promotion agencies in the world, The Marketing Store's unmatched global expertise in youth and family marketing, loyalty programs, contest/sweepstakes/games and shopper marketing, delivers game-changing marketing programs yielding results that count: sales. The Marketing Store is also one of the world's premier toy design and manufacturing companies, producing nearly 1 billion toys each year. The Marketing Store has offices across the globe in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Hong Kong, Japan, U.K. and the U.S. Clients include McDonald's, Coca Cola, Nissan, Shell Oil, and Southern Comfort. The Marketing Store is part of the Havi Group, a privately held company headquartered just outside Chicago with over 8,000 employees serving 100 countries worldwide. Visit themarketingstore.com for more information. Follow The Marketing Store on Twitter at @marketingstore.


    Top executive: Mark Landlot, global CEO; Fred Jasinski, chief creative officer; Mark Watson, mg dir
    Headquarters: Marketing Store/701 E. 22nd St., Lombard, Ill. 60148/Phone: (630) 693-1400/Fax: (630) 693-6999

    http://themarketingstore.com/

MDC Partners

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$697.8$545.128.0
    U.S.$582.7$456.027.8
    Non-U.S.$115.1$89.229.1
    Ticker: MDCA (Nasdaq)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: MDC Partners is a publicly traded agency holding company with stakes or full ownership in various ad and marketing-services shops.

    MDC's 10-K for year ended December 2010 explained: "In the competitive, highly fragmented marketing and communications industry, the company's operating companies compete for business with the operating subsidiaries of large global holding companies such as Omnicom Group Inc., Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc., WPP Group plc,"--now WPP--"Publicis Group SA"--Publicis Groupe--"and Havas Advertising," which now is known as Havas.

    MDC breaks its marketing-communications business into two segments:

    Strategic Marketing Services: Firms offering "a full suite of integrated marketing communication and consulting services, including advertising and media, interactive marketing, direct marketing, public relations, corporate communications, market research, corporate identity and branding, and sales promotion to national and global clients."

    Strategic Marketing Services agencies: 72andSunny; Allison & Partners; Attention; Bruce Mau Design; Capital C Partners; Colle & McVoy (ad agency); Core Strategy Group; Crispin Porter & Bogusky (ad agency); Hello Design; Henderson Bas Kohn; HL Group Partners (marketing strategy and corporate communications firm; acquired majority stake in 2007); Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal & Partners (ad agency); Mono Advertising (ad agency and branding); Redscout (brand development consultancy; 60% stake bought in 2007); Skinny NYC (marketing consultancy; bought 50.1% stake in 2008); Sloane & Company; Veritas Communications; Vitro (ad agency); and Yamamoto Moss MacKenzie. Performance Marketing Services: "Firms that provide consumer insights to satisfy the growing need for targetable, measurable solutions or cost effective means of driving return on marketing investment and growth for regional, national and global clients."

    Performance Marketing Services agencies: 6degrees Communications (formerly known as Accumark Communications); Accent Marketing Services; Bryan Mills Iradesso; Computer Composition; Hudson and Sunset Media (formerly known as Shout Media); Integrated Media Solutions; Kenna Communications; Northstar Research Partners; Onbrand; Relevent; Source Marketing; TargetCom; and Team Enterprises (which MDC refers to as The Arsenal LLC).

    MDC Nov. 1, 2007, increased its stake in Crispin Porter & Bogusky to 77% from 49%. In November 2008, MDC boosted its Crispin stake to 94%. In October 2009, MDC bought the remaining 6% stake.

    On Oct. 18, 2007, MDC increased its ownership of Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal & Partners to 100% from 60%.

    Cliff Freeman & Partners in February 2009 gained back the 20% equity stake that had been owned by MDC Partners; MDC originally bought that 20% stake in March 2004.

    MDC's 10-K for the year ended December 2010 said MDC generated about 8% of 2010 revenue from its largest client, Sprint, vs. 16%, 19% and 17% in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

    MDC said its10 largest clients (by revenue) accounted for 37%, 49% and 45% of 2010, 2009 and 2008 revenues, respectively.

    In December 2010, MDC discontinued a startup division of Redscout called 007, taking a loss of $722,000 as discontinued operations. Effective September 30, 2010, MDC ceased Zig US's operations and as a result incurred a goodwill impairment charge of $232,000. The 10-K for year-end December 2010 said: "Including the impairment charge Zig US's results of operations, net of income tax benefits, for the year ended 2010, there was a loss of" $1,046,000.

    In June 2010, MDC discontinued a startup called Fearless Progression. As a result, MDC wrote off its investment in Fearless of $710,000. Including the impairment charge, Fearless's results of operations net of income tax benefits for the year ended 2010, was a loss of $743,000.

    Top executive: Miles S. Nadal, chmn & CEO
    Headquarters: MDC Partners/45 Hazelton Ave., Toronto, Ont., Canada M5R 2E3 / 950 Third Ave., New York, N.Y., USA 10022 / Phone: (416) 960-9000/ (646) 429-1800

    http://www.mdc-partners.com

Media Consulta

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$407.6$401.01.6
    U.S.$12.3$11.93.8
    Non-U.S.$395.3$389.11.6
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Media Consulta is an independent agency network for integrated communications. It was founded in Berlin in 1993.

    Media Consulta services include advertising and media, public relations, corporate publishing, interactive marketing, sports, youth and music marketing, event management and TV production.

    The Media Consulta network includes 59 offices worldwide, including one U.S. office (in New York).

    Revenue figures reflect worldwide turnover including revenue of partner agencies as reported by Media Consulta.

    In its own words: Media Consulta is a leading independent PR and advertising agency in Europe and is the only German agency network with agencies in all 27 EU member states, the accession states and all key business centres throughout the world, totaling 59 countries.

    Alongside internationality, our second unique selling proposition is to offer an integrated communication portfolio. This includes advertising and media, public relations, corporate publishing, interactive marketing, sports, youth and music marketing, event management and TV production.

    Following in our success in working for institutions and political clients, e.g., the European Union, we are also currently looking to position ourselves as a market leader in serving brand clients.


    Top executive: Harald Zulauf, CEO
    Headquarters: Media Consulta/Wassergasse 3, Berlin, 10179/Phone: 0049-30-65000-0/Fax: 0049-30-65000-192

    http://www.media-consulta.com

Meredith Corp.'s Meredith Integrated Marketing

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$173.0$178.0-2.8
    U.S.$173.0$178.0-2.8
    Non-U.S.$0.0NANA
    Ticker: MDP (NYSE)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Meredith Integrated Marketing (MIM) is the agency-services division of Meredith Corp. MIM specializes in direct, database, digital, and word-of-mouth marketing to corporate customers, as well as custom publishing.

    Recent acquisitions include Genex and New Media Strategies in fiscal year 2007, Big Communications and Directive in fiscal year 2008, and a 19.9% stake in The Hyper Factory, a mobile marketing agency, in fiscal year 2009. Major clients in 2009 included Kraft, DirecTV, Nestl�, Kia Motors America, Publix, Honda, State Farm, and Sony.

    Revenue shown is for Meredith Integrated Marketing, and not Meredith Corp.

    In its own words: Meredith Integrated Marketing is a full-service direct and digital marketing agency with a unique publishing/agency model approach. We have over 40 years of experience creating custom content and relationship marketing platforms. We have over 700 employees in offices throughout the U.S and Australasia (India, New Zealand & Australia). Backed by our parent company, Meredith Corporation, Meredith Integrated Marketing has an ideal infrastructure, with insights, analytics, digital and social media expertise all in-house and bundled with our deep consumer communications development expertise. Our publishing/agency model enables us to offer unique consumer insights to our clients which allow us to create the most compelling content, resulting in deeper consumer engagement and higher returns on our clients' marketing investments. Our proven approach is to acquire the best-in-class specialty agencies to deliver the most relevant services that our clients demand. Evidence of this approach is our acquisitions of O'Grady Meyers, Directive, Genex, New Media Strategies, Big Communications and, most recently, Hyperfactory. Our umbrella strategy to integrate these agencies under one roof and seamlessly interact with clients continues to pay dividends for Meredith and our clients.


    Top executive: Martin Reidy, pres & CEO; Walter Schild, founder & CEO; Keith Sedlak, CMO
    Headquarters: Meredith Corp.'s Meredith Integrated Marketing/1716 Locust St., Des Moines, Iowa 50309/Phone: (515) 284-3000

    http://www.meredith.com

Merkle

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$254.0$223.013.9
    U.S.$254.0$223.013.9
    Non-U.S.$0.0NANA
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Merkle, founded in 1971, specializes in database marketing services.

    Merkle on March 29, 2011, acquired Impaqt, a Pittsburgh-based search-marketing agency. Impaqt revenue for 2010 and for 2009 is not included in this Merkle record.

    Merkle in January 2007 acquired the response services division of AB&C Group, a provider of direct response processing services, merging it into Merkle/Response.

    In its own words: Merkle is the nation's largest and fastest growing customer relationship marketing agency. For more than 20 years, Fortune 1000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations have partnered with Merkle to maximize the value of their customer portfolios. By combining a complete range of marketing, technical, analytical and creative disciplines, Merkle works with clients to design, execute and evaluate integrated customer marketing programs. With more than 1,400 employees, the privately held corporation is headquartered near Baltimore in Columbia, Maryland with additional offices in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Little Rock, Ark., Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Hagerstown, MD, and Shanghai.


    Top executive: David Williams, chmn & CEO; Craig Dempster, exec VP & CMO; Dave Paulus, exec VP-bus devel
    Headquarters: Merkle/7001 Columbia Gateway Dr., Columbia, Md. 21046/Phone: (443) 542-4000

    http://www.merkleinc.com

Omnicom Group

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$12,542.5$11,720.77.0
    U.S.$6,683.1$6,178.48.2
    Non-U.S.$5,859.4$5,542.35.7
    Ticker: OMC (NYSE)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Omnicom Group is the world's second-largest agency company. The New York-based firm reported $12.5 billion in 2010 worldwide revenue, vs. revenue of $11.7 billion in 2009 and $13.4 billion in 2008.

    Omnicom employed 65,500 people at year-end 2010, vs. 63,000 at year-end 2009; 68,000 at year-end 2008; 70,000 at year-end 2007; and 66,000 at year-end 2006.

    Omnicom in 2010 initiated a global review of operations with the aim to reorganize or dispose of what President-CEO John Wren has termed "non-core, low-growth, low-margin businesses ... generally in smaller markets." As of April 2011, Omnicom had disposed of units with combined annual revenue of about $120 million.

    Omnicom in February 2011 acquired majority ownership in Clemenger Group, an Australian agency company in which Omnicom's BBDO Worldwide had been a minority investor since 1972.

    Among other deals completed from 2010 through early 2011, Omnicom purchased Communispace, a digital market-research-services firm; bought The Modellers, a market-research company; acquired The Core, a U.K. design and branding agency; bought Sales Power, an in-store promotion company in China; and purchased a majority stake in Maslov PR, a PR agency in Russia.

    Omnicom in 2010 disbanded pioneering digital agency Agency.com, splitting its offices among TBWA Worldwide network agencies.

    Omnicom in March 2011 sold a majority stake in U.S. PR firm Brodeur Partners.

    Omnicom in 2008 dropped to No. 2 in worldwide revenue among agency companies, behind WPP. Dublin-based WPP leapfrogged Omnicom with revenue from Taylor Nelson Sofres, a market research company WPP bought in October 2008.

    Omnicom's investments/minority holdings as of April 2011 included:

    SpikeDDB (U.S. African-American agency, 49%).

    Footsteps (U.S. multicultural agency, 49%).

    LatinWorks (U.S. Hispanic agency, 49%).

    Top executive: John D. Wren, pres & CEO; Bruce Crawford, chmn
    Headquarters: Omnicom Group/437 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10022/Phone: (212) 415-3600/Fax: (212) 415-3530

    http://www.omnicomgroup.com

Photon Group

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$334.0$329.61.3
    U.S.$0.0NANA
    Non-U.S.$334.0$329.61.3
    Ticker: ASX:PGA (ASE)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Photon is an Australian-based holding company for advertising and marketing-services companies.

    Revenue for 2010 is for fiscal year ended June 30, 2010 (stated net revenue of $378.6 million in Australian dollars), and 2009 is for year ended June 30, 2009 (stated net revenue of $440.6 million), converted to U.S. dollars by Ad Age.

    Photon generated 72% of fiscal-year 2010 revenue from Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

    Photon was founded in 2000 by Tim Hughes and Simon Reynolds. Photon was listed on Australia's stock exchange in 2004.

    Photon named Jeremy Philips as CEO effective June 1, 2010. He succeeded Matt Bailey, who had resigned earlier in 2010. Philips relocated to Australia from New York, where he had been exec VP at News Corp.

    Brian Bickmore, an independent director, was named chairman in July 2010. Hughes, the former exec chairman, resigned from Photon's board in August 2010.

    Photon underwent a strategic review in 2010, resulting in a 2010 recapitalization plan in which it raised equity and restructured debt. The company also restructured operations, merging some agencies and selling others; it operated 26 companies in December 2010, down from 45 in July 2010.

    Photon in January 2011 said it sold U.S. venture Findology Interactive Media "for nominal consideration including assumption of certain liabilities."

    Photon in February 2008 bought Naked Communications, a U.K.-based communications-planning agency. That followed the December 2007 acquisition of Findology Interactive Media, a Los Angeles search and online-advertising agency, and January 2007 acquisition of a 51% stake in OB Media, Houston. OB Media (Online Business Media Group) manages online shopping websites.

    Top executive: Brian Bickmore, exec chmn; Jeremy Philips, CEO
    Headquarters: Photon Group/Level 9, 155 George St., Sydney, NSW 2000/Phone: 61 2 8213 8000/Fax: 61 2 8213 3030

    http://www.photongroup.com

Project WorldWide

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$222.8$181.123.1
    U.S.$128.0$123.53.7
    Non-U.S.$94.8$57.664.6
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Project WorldWide is a holding company focused on engagement marketing through a network of agencies, wholly owned and partly owned by Project, operating in the experiential, digital and content arenas.

    Project's flagship agency is George P. Johnson, a global event-marketing agency founded in 1914.

    George P. Johnson's management group in October 2010 formed Project WorldWide to serve as a holding company for George P. Johnson and other agencies.

    Project's formation came after George P. Johnson made several acquisitions, including California digital shop Juxt Interactive (acquired in 2008), the Spinifex Group (based in Australia) and Raumtechnik (in Germany).

    George P. Johnson Co. opened in 1914.

    Project's formation came after George P. Johnson made several acquisitions in recent years, including Juxt Interactive in 2008.

    Project in January 2011 acquired Partners & Napier, an ad agency in Rochester, N.Y.; Project officially announced the acquisition in March 2011. Project revenue shown here for 2010 and 2009 does not include Partners & Napier.

    In its own words: Project WorldWide is an independent, global network of specialized agencies with an emphasis on engagement marketing, giving clients access to big ideas and the ability to deliver those ideas across multiple channels in a seamless, integrated fashion.

    Project: WorldWide entities include George P. Johnson Experience Marketing, Partners & Napier, Juxt Interactive, The Spinifex Group and Raumtechnik.

    Project WorldWide serves many of the world's top brands through targeted, relevant and meaningful brand experiences that create, deepen and accelerate profitable relationships. To learn more about Project WorldWide, visit www.project.com.


    Top executive: Robert G. Vallee Jr., chmn & CEO; Jeffrey Rutchik, exec VP-client svcs ww; Robert Albitz, exec VP-creative ww
    Headquarters: Project WorldWide/3600 Giddings Rd., Auburn Hills, Mich. 48326/Phone: (248) 475-2500

    http://www.project.com

Publicis Groupe

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$7,175.0$6,287.014.1
    U.S.$3,451.0$2,911.018.6
    Non-U.S.$3,724.0$3,376.010.3
    Ticker: EPA:PUB (Euronext Paris)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Publicis Groupe in 2009 became the world's third-largest agency company, surpassing Interpublic Group of Cos.

    Paris-based Publicis reported 2010 worldwide revenue of $7.2 billion, vs. $6.3 billion in 2009 and $6.9 billion in 2008.

    U.S. revenue shown reflects Publicis' stated North American revenue.

    Publicis employed 48,531 people worldwide at year-end 2010, vs. 45,402 at year-end 2009; 44,727 at year-end 2008; and 43,808 at year-end 2007.

    Publicis in May 2011 announced a deal to buy Rosetta Marketing Group for $575 million cash, paid at deal closing, plus potential deferred payment in 2014 based on the agency’s performance in 2011-2013. Rosetta is a digital agency based in Hamilton, N.J. Publicis expected to complete the deal in second or third quarter 2011. Publicis said Rosetta would be “an autonomous, stand-alone brand within Publicis Groupe."

    Publicis in 2010 made two deals in Brazil, buying digital shop AG2 and a 49% stake in Talent Group, a major independent agency firm. Publicis raised its interest in Talent to 60% in April 2011.

    In the period from 2010 through early 2011, Publicis made a number of other deals: It acquired PR firms Eastwei Relations (now Eastwei MSL) in China and Interactive Communications Ltd. (now ICL MSL) in Taiwan; and bought U.K. integrated/digital-marketing firms Airlock, Chemistry Communications Group, Holler and Kitcatt Nohr.

    Publicis in April 2011 agreed to sell its 56% stake in U.K. PR firm Freud Communications back to Chairman Matthew Freud.

    Publicis Groupe's investments/minority holdings as of April 2011 included:

    Bartle Bogle Hegarty (U.K. ad agency, 49%).

    Bromley Communications (U.S. Hispanic agency, 49%).

    Burrell Communications Group (U.S. African-American agency, 49%).

    Dentsu Razorfish (Japanese digital agency, 19.35%).

    Spillman Felser-Leo Burnett (Swiss agency, 40%).

    Publicis Groupe's 2009 revenue received a boost from the company's October 2009 acquisition of digital agency Razorfish. Publicis bought Razorfish from Microsoft Corp. for $544 million ($547 million including transaction costs). The deal gave Microsoft a 3.3% stake in Publicis. Microsoft later sold its entire stake in Publicis and as of April 2011 had no ownership interest in Publicis.

    Publicis as of April 2011 owned 1% of Interpublic, a holdover from Publicis' earlier investment in FCB; Interpublic bought True North Communications (parent of FCB) in 2001.

    Dentsu as of April 2011 had a 15% voting stake and 11.2% financial stake in Publicis Groupe under a strategic relationship forged when Publicis bought Dentsu-backed Bcom3 Group (the then-parent of Leo Burnett and Starcom MediaVest) in 2002.

    Publicis in May 2010 announced the buyback of a portion of Dentsu's Publicis shares. Specifically, Publicis on May 10, 2010, bought back 7.5 million Publicis shares for 217.5 million euros ($278.0 million). Under the companies' earlier agreements, Dentsu had the right to sell a portion of its shares.

    The May 2010 transaction concerned the Publicis shares held by Dentsu that were above Dentsu's threshold of 15% voting rights in Publicis Groupe. Publicis said the buyback did not change any of the agreements the firms entered on Nov. 30, 2003. Those agreements limited Dentsu to 15% of voting rights. Under the agreements, Dentsu gets two seats on the Publicis supervisory board.

    The November 2003 agreements replaced a "memorandum of understanding" that Dentsu and Publicis entered in March 2002.

    Publicis' reference document for year ended December 2009 said: "Until July 12, 2012, Dentsu will be subject to a ‘standstill' limiting its ownership of Publicis shares to the number of shares that entitles it to 15% of voting rights in Publicis Groupe S.A., unless the supervisory board agrees otherwise. . . . Dentsu may not sell or transfer any shares of Publicis Groupe S.A. to a third party prior to July 12, 2012. … The agreement between Publicis Groupe S.A. and Dentsu ... will expire on July 12, 2012, unless Publicis and Dentsu agree to renew it for an additional 10-year term."

    Top executive: Maurice Levy, chmn & CEO-Publicis Groupe; Jack Klues, mg ptnr-VivaKi; Kevin Roberts, CEO-Saatchi & Saatchi
    Headquarters: Publicis Groupe/133 Ave. des Champs-Elysees, Paris, 75008/Phone: 331-4443-7000/Fax: 331-4443-7525

    http://www.publicisgroupe.com

Richards Group

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$170.0$169.50.3
    U.S.$170.0$169.50.3
    Non-U.S.$0.0NANA
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Richards Group is a major independent advertising and marketing services group based in Dallas.

    In its own words: The Richards Group is the nation's largest independent branding agency. 2010 was another year of stability and doing what we always do: focus on our work, our people and our clients without regard to a holding company (because we don't have one), the shareholders (we're independent) or the distractions of Wall Street (we're private). 2010 was The Richards Group's best financial year yet by a small margin.

    Notable client anniversaries in 2010: Sub-Zero/Wolf (9 years), Motel 6 (24 years), Chick-fil-A (16 years), HEB (13 years), M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (14 years), QuikTrip (8 years), Fruit of the Loom (10 years) and MetroPCS (9 years).

    In addition, The Richards Group received the following awards in 2010: Advertising Age Best Place to Work in Marketing and Media; The Dallas Morning News Best Place to Work in Dallas-Fort Worth; Dallas Business Journal Best Place to Work in North Texas; Ad Bowl Super Bowl Top 10 Commercials ("Whale of a Tale"for Bridgestone); OBIE Award for Chick-fil-A out-of-home; One Show winner for Chick-fil-A out-of-home; OBIE Award for The Home Depot; Gold Dallas Addy award for Fruit of the Loom.


    Top executive: Stan Richards, founder & principal
    Headquarters: Richards Group/8750 N. Central Expressway, Ste. 1200, Dallas, Texas 75231-6437/Phone: (214) 891-5700/Fax: (214) 891-5289

    http://www.richards.com

Rosetta

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$218.4$177.523.1
    U.S.$218.4$177.523.1
    Non-U.S.$0.0NANA
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Rosetta is a digital agency based in Hamilton, N.J.

    Publicis Groupe in May 2011 announced a deal to buy Rosetta Marketing Group for $575 million cash, paid at deal closing, plus potential deferred payment in 2014 based on the agency’s performance in 2011-2013. Publicis expected to complete the deal in second or third quarter 2011. Publicis said Rosetta would be “an autonomous, stand-alone brand within Publicis Groupe”; Rosetta’s founder and CEO, Chris Kuenne, was to remain as head of the agency, reporting to Jean-Yves Naouri, chief operating officer of Publicis Groupe.

    Rosetta opened in 1998 and reported 2011 worldwide revenue of $218.4 million. Publicis’ May 2011 announcement said: "Over the past 6 years Rosetta has grown from an agency of 40 professionals, generating about $10M in annual revenue to a profitable agency which has nearly 1,100 team members serving clients from 9 offices and with expected revenues of nearly $250M in 2011."

    Rosetta in September 2010 acquired digital venture Level Studios, adding its three California offices. Level Studios, which changed its name from Web Associates in late 2008, was based in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and founded in 1995.

    Rosetta in December 2009 acquired Wishbone ITP, a healthcare agency.

    Rosetta in July 2008 bought Brulant, a digital agency in Beachwood, Ohio.

    Revenue figures for 2010 and 2009 are pro forma.

    In its own words: Rosetta is the largest independent interactive agency in the US. Engineered for the connected world, Rosetta was founded in 1998 to pilot brands through an ever-changing marketing landscape and drive measurable business impact. Rosetta enables brands to transform their marketing through the discovery of unique insights about their best consumers' wants and needs and then translating those insights into more personally relevant experiences enabled by technology across all touch points and over time. Rosetta recently acquired Level Studios, a leader in combining content, platforms and devices to create engaging total user experiences.

    Rosetta is headquartered in Princeton, NJ, with additional offices in New York, Cleveland, Denver, Boston, Chicago and Toronto. The addition of Level Studios, a Rosetta Company, adds West Coast presence to Rosetta's footprint with offices in Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo and San Jose.


    Top executive: Chris Kuenne, chmn & CEO
    Headquarters: Rosetta/100 American Metro Blvd., Hamilton, N.J. 08619/Phone: (609) 689-6100/Fax: (609) 631-0184

    http://www.rosetta.com

Sapient Corp.'s SapientNitro

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$515.0$405.027.2
    U.S.$350.0$259.035.1
    Non-U.S.$165.0$146.013.0
    Ticker: SAPE (Nasdaq)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: SapientNitro is an advertising and marketing-services agency with a strong emphasis on digital. It provides brand and marketing strategy and analytics, creative services, web design and technology development, media buying and planning, search-engine marketing, commerce solutions, emerging media expertise (including social media, mobile applications and digital signs) and traditional advertising services.

    SapientNitro is part of Sapient Corp., a global marketing and technology services company.

    Worldwide revenue shown reflects stated (but rounded) worldwide revenue of Sapient Corp.'s SapientNitro division. The division had actual 2010 revenue of $514.727 million and restated 2009 revenue of $405.020 million, according to Sapient Corp.'s 10-K for year ended December 2010.

    Sapient Corp. reported worldwide revenue of $823.5 million in 2010, vs. $638.9 million in 2009, including revenue from all three of its divisions (SapientNitro, Sapient Global Markets, Sapient Government Services).

    Sapient Corp. on July 1, 2009, bought 100% of Nitro Group, a global ad agency network operating in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Nitro employed about 300 people at the time of the acquisition. Nitro had 2008 worldwide revenue of $56.2 million, according to a disclosure in Sapient's 10-K for year ended December 2009. Sapient bought Nitro for $31.0 million (consisting of $11.1 million in cash; plus stock; plus the estimated value of deferred compensation), according to Sapient's 10-K. In that 10-K, Sapient said: "We acquired Nitro to leverage its traditional advertising services with our digital commerce and marketing technology services."

    Sapient Corp. in February 2010 combined its Sapient Interactive and SapientNitro divisions as a single brand, going to market as SapientNitro.

    Sapient was founded in 1990.

    Nitro Group was founded in 2001 in China and made various acquisitions over the years before being acquired by Sapient. Nitro bought 51% of U.K. digital marketing consultancy Mook in January 2006. Nitro purchased direct marketing agency River Communications in May 2005. Nitro in April 2007 bought New York agency AKA Advertising.

    In its own words: SapientNitro is a marketing partner for the 21st century. Our team of 5,000-plus idea engineers around the world fuses the best of creativity and technology to deliver superior customer experiences across both virtual and physical worlds.

    An attractive alternative to the advertising holding companies, we are digitally centered, but traditionally capable - and we take a holistic approach to understanding changing consumer behavior. In short, SapientNitro is uniquely positioned as the agency best equipped to dominate the new marketing landscape.

    2010 was a game-changing year for us, kicking off with the full integration of Nitro to launch the re-branded SapientNitro in February 2010. We broke into the Middle Eastern market with our office in Dubai, and we nabbed some of the industry's top talent - including European CCO Malcolm Poynton, former ECD at Ogilvy and Saatchi & Saatchi U.K., and CD Scott Linen, a highly awarded 20-year ad vet from Crispin Porter & Bogusky. We landed new leading clients, including Target, Chrysler Group, Unilever, Mars, Coca-Cola's sponsorship for the 2012 Olympic Games, Coke Powerade and more. We showed how far our imagination and technical prowess could take us when we unveiled the first ever smile-activated ice cream vending machine at Cannes and won two CyberLions and a record two D&AD Black Pencils.

    Despite the challenging economy, SapientNitro delivered 27% YOY revenue gains and maintains the industry's best organic growth rate.


    Top executive: Alan Herrick, pres & CEO
    Headquarters: Sapient Corp.'s SapientNitro/131 Dartmouth St., 3rd Fl., Boston, Mass. 02116/Phone: (617) 621-0200/Fax: (617) 621-1300

    http://www.sapientnitro.com

Serviceplan Agenturgruppe

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$197.0$175.812.1
    U.S.$0.0NANA
    Non-U.S.$197.0$175.812.1
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Serviceplan Agenturgruppe, based in Munich, is one of Germany's largest independent agency firms.

    Serviceplan operations include Mediaplus, a media planning and buying unit; Plan.net, an online-media subsidiary; and Facit, a market-research unit.

    The firm's formal name is Serviceplan Agenturgruppe fur innovative Kommunikation GmbH & Co. KG.

    Chairman Florian Haller is the son of Peter Haller, who co-founded Serviceplan in 1970 with Rolf Stempel.

    In its own words: Serviceplan is Germany's largest network-independent agency. As a single group, Serviceplan bundles its numerous units, which cover all present-day communication disciplines, in its unique "house of communications."

    Serviceplan has 994 employees working for German and international clients at offices in Munich, Hamburg and Berlin.

    Its reported euro revenue grew 14.9% in 2010 vs. stagnation in 2009.

    Serviceplan units include Mediaplus, a media planning and buying unit; Plan.net, an online-media subsidiary, and Facit, market research. These units all established themselves in the top 10 of their competitive markets.

    Chairman Florian Haller is the son of Dr. Peter Haller, who co-founded Serviceplan in 1970 together with Rolf Stempel.


    Top executive: Florian Haller, chmn
    Headquarters: Serviceplan Agenturgruppe/Briennerstr. 45 a-d, Munich, 80250/Phone: 0049-89-20-50-20/Fax: 0049-89-20-50-23-14

    http://www.serviceplan.de

STW Group

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$279.9$213.331.2
    U.S.$0.0NANA
    Non-U.S.$279.9$213.331.2
    Ticker: ASX:SGN (ASE)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: STW Group is a publicly traded Australian holding company that holds interests in more than 70 advertising and marketing-communications entities.

    Revenue shown is STW's stated revenue based on its economic interest in those businesses (converted by Ad Age to U.S. dollars).

    WPP (through WPP subsidiary Cavendish Square Holdings BV) had a 20.6% stake in STW as of February 2010, according to STW's annual report. WPP also owned 33.3% of Singleton, Ogilvy & Mather, the Australian arm of WPP's Ogilvy & Mather; STW (formerly Singleton Group) owns the rest of Singleton Ogilvy & Mather.

    STW's services include advertising, digital communication, production, branded content, retail and promotional marketing, sports sponsorship and management, brand and corporate design, business strategy, market research and insight, public relations, corporate communication, employee communication, multicultural communication, training and facilitation.

    Top executive: Michael Connaghan, CEO & exec dir; Lukas Aviani, CFO
    Headquarters: STW Group/Level 6, 72 Christie St., St. Leonards, NSW 2065/Phone: 61-2-9373-6488/Fax: 61-2-9373-6482

    http://www.stwgroup.com.au

Tokyu Agency

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$166.0$150.210.5
    U.S.$0.0NANA
    Non-U.S.$166.0$150.210.5
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Tokyu, established in 1961, is headquartered in Tokyo and operates 17 offices. Tokyu Agency and DDB Japan, Tokyo, operate jointly DDB Tokyu Agency Creative that provides creative services to Tokyu and links Tokyu to DDB offices worldwide.

    Top executive: Tsuneyasu Kuwahara, pres; Tomoyasu Kawabata, sr mg dir; Makoto Hayashi, operating officer
    Headquarters: Tokyu Agency/4-8-18 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 107-8417/Phone: 81-3-3475-3691/Fax: 81-3-3479-2318

    http://www.tokyu-agc.co.jp

Viad Corp.'s Global Experience Specialists*

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$166.0$147.512.5
    U.S.$123.3$113.28.9
    Non-U.S.$42.7$34.324.5
    Ticker: VVI (NYSE)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Global Experience Specialists provides exhibition, event marketing and retail marketing services.

    The venture is owned by Viad Corp., formerly Dial Corp., Greyhound Dial Corp. and Greyhound Corp.

    Revenue shown here is Viad's actual worldwide gross revenue for "exhibits and environments"; U.S. and non-U.S. portions are Ad Age DataCenter estimates.

    Viad's Marketing & Events Group (operating as Global Experience Specialists) reported worldwide gross revenue of $166.0 million in 2010 and $147.5 million in 2009 from exhibits and environments.

    Viad reported total worldwide gross revenue for the Marketing & Events Group (Global Experience Specialists) of $756.5 million in 2010; $730.5 million in 2009; and $1.034 billion in 2008. Most of that revenue came from "convention and event services," revenue that is separate from "exhibits and environments" revenue; Global Experience Specialists is largely an exhibition and event production and services firm.

    Global Experience Specialists dates to 1939 and a company called Manncraft. Greyhound Corp. in 1969 bought Manncraft, which evolved into Greyhound Exposition Services. The business grew into GES Expositions Services (one of the largest exhibition production and services firms) and an Experiential Marketing Services group (including Exhibitgroup/Giltspur and a 2008 acquisition, Becker Group).

    In February 2010, Viad's Marketing & Events Group unified its businesses under a single new brand: Global Experience Specialists.

    In its own words: At Global Experience Specialists (GES), our mission is to create the world's most meaningful and memorable brand experiences. Handling and trying new products, a firm handshake and steady eye contact do wonders for a product and a company's reputation.

    Getting up close and personal is key. Our team of professionals is experienced in creating compelling, in-person brand experiences across multiple channels including trade shows, events, mobile marketing, holiday experiences and museum exhibitions.

    We provide turnkey service to clients by creating, managing and executing their program as well as collecting relevant data to help them deepen relationships with customers and prospects.

    With 58 offices across North America, Europe and the United Arab Emirates and a global network of resources, GES connects brands with consumers throughout the world.

    So, why not make events part of the equation and deliver your brand story, pitch or product launch in person? To learn more about some of the projects we''ve done with Disney, Warner Bros., International CES, CONEXPO-CON/AGG, Bell Helicopter and P&G Pet Care, visit our website or give us a call:

    www.ges.com

    1.800.424.6224.


    Top executive: Paul B. Dykstra, pres & CEO, Viad Corp.; Steve Moster, CEO, Global Experience Specialists
    Headquarters: Viad Corp.'s Global Experience Specialists/950 Grier Dr., Las Vegas, Nev. 89119/Phone: (800) 424-6224/Fax: (702) 263-2765

    http://www.ges.com

Vision7 International

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$192.5$188.62.1
    U.S.$20.7$19.08.7
    Non-U.S.$171.8$169.51.3
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Vision7 International is a Canadian-based marketing-communications holding company. Vision7 took its name in November 2010 in a restructuring of marketing-communications firm Cossette Inc.

    Vision7 has two operating divisions: Cossette, an integrated marketing agency in Canada; and EdC Communications, a group of discipline-specific marketing agencies in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. In the U.S., Vision7's operations include PainePR, Rocket XL and Dare.

    Cossette in July 2010 closed its New York ad agency, which operated under the Cossette name. That office was the former Cossette Post, acquired by Cossette in 2001.

    Cossette Inc. went private in December 2009, and delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange, after becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Mill Road Capital, a Greenwich, Conn.-based investment firm. Cossette originally went public in 1999.

    Cossette in May 2008 bought an 80% stake in Rocket XL, a Los Angeles-based online firm specializing in social media and word-of-mouth marketing.

    Cossette in July 2007 bought a 65.4% stake in Dare, a digital agency with offices in New York, Vancouver and London.

    The company bought a majority stake in PainePR in 2004. Vision7 (under the name Cossette) bought the remaining 20% stake in Paine in January 2009 for U.S. $2,218,000, giving Cossette 100% ownership of that agency.

    Revenues are for fiscal years ended September 2010 and 2009.

    Top executive: Claude Lessard, chmn & CEO
    Headquarters: Vision7 International/801 Grande Allee West, Ste. 200, Quebec City, Quebec G1S 1C1/Phone: (418) 647-2727/Fax: (418) 521-3779

    http://vision7international.com/en/

Wieden & Kennedy*

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$234.2$208.912.1
    U.S.$138.6$114.820.7
    Non-U.S.$95.6$94.11.6
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: Wieden & Kennedy is an independent ad agency with headquarters in Portland, Ore., with offices in Amsterdam, Delhi, London, New York, Sao Paulo, Shanghai and Tokyo.

    The agency opened in 1982.

    In its own words: Wieden & Kennedy, founded in Portland, Ore., in 1982, is an independent, privately held international advertising agency with offices in Amsterdam, Delhi, London, New York City, Portland, Sao Paulo, Shanghai and Tokyo.

    A full-service, creatively led communications company, Wieden & Kennedy has helped build some of the strongest global brands, including Coca-Cola, Electronic Arts, ESPN, Honda, Levi's, Nike and P&G.

    www.wk.com


    Top executive: Dan Wieden, co-founder & exec creative dir; Dave Luhr, COO; John Jay, global exec creative dir
    Headquarters: Wieden & Kennedy/224 NW 13th St., Portland, Ore. 97209/Phone: (503) 937-7000/Fax: (503) 937-8000

    http://www.wk.com

WPP

  • Revenue ($ in millions)20102009% chg
    Worldwide$14,416.2$13,598.26.0
    U.S.$4,786.2$4,440.47.8
    Non-U.S.$9,630.0$9,157.85.2
    Ticker: LON:WPP (LSE)
    Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

    Fast facts: WPP, with 2010 revenue of $14.4 billion, is the world's largest agency company.

    Dublin-based WPP employed 104,052 people worldwide at year-end 2010, vs. (restated) 99,565 employees at year-end 2009 and 112,663 employees at year-end 2008.

    WPP completed 25 small and midsize acquisitions in 2010, including Canadian agency Taxi; I-Behavior, a U.S. database-marketing firm; Marketing Direct Inc., a U.S. marketing-services company; and U.S. digital agencies Blue State Digital and Digitaria.

    WPP in April 2011 agreed to buy Commarco Holding, a German agency group controlled since 2003 by a private-equity firm. See separate Agency Company entry on Commarco.

    WPP in February 2011 rolled up four WPP shops into Possible Worldwide, a global digital agency.

    WPP is incorporated in the British Crown dependency of Jersey and lists Dublin, Ireland, as its principal executive office, though London remains a key office.

    WPP surpassed Omnicom Group as the largest agency company in 2008. WPP leapfrogged Omnicom with help from Taylor Nelson Sofres, a U.K.-based market-research firm that WPP bought in October 2008. Taylor Nelson Sofres became part of WPP's Kantar market-research business.

    WPP's investments/minority holdings as of April 2011 included:

    Asatsu-DK (Japanese agency group, 24.3%).

    BPG Group (Mideast agency group, 40.0%).

    Brierley & Partners (U.S. direct agency, 20.0%).

    CHI & Partners (London ad agency, 49.9%).

    Chime Communications (U.K. agency group, 15.0%).

    Dentsu, Young & Rubicam (Asian joint venture with Dentsu, 49.0%).

    GIIR (South Korean agency group, 22.7%).

    Grass Roots Group (U.K. business processes consulting firm, 44.8%).

    Ibope Latinoamericana (market research, 44.2%).

    Jupiter Drawing Room (South African agency, 49%).

    HighCo (French agency firm, 34.1%).

    OOh!media Group (Australian out-of-home media firm, 25%).

    STW Group (Australian agency group, 20.6%).

    UniWorld Group (U.S. multicultural agency, 49.0%).

    Top executive: Martin Sorrell, grp chief exec; Philip Lader, non-exec chmn; Paul Richardson, finance dir
    Headquarters: WPP/6 Ely Place, Dublin, /Phone: 353-1669-0333/Fax: 353-1669-0334

    http://www.wpp.com