Report by Jim Heekin, chairman and chief executive officer
Jim Heekin, chairman and chief executive officer
We began 2014 with the remarkable feat of being named Global Agency of the Year by Adweek and Agency of the Year by Advertising Age in recognition of our creative and business success. And we ended the year becoming Campaign’s Global Advertising Network of the Year. The magazine wrote that “Overall, 2014 was a triumphant year for the Grey network.”
2014 marked our seventh year in a row of record financial and creative performance. High-profile new business wins included Volvo, Papa John’s Pizza, Symantec Norton, Folger’s Coffees, Nestlé Stouffer’s Lean Cuisine and Vodafone. Many of our longtime clients awarded us significant assignments including Procter & Gamble, HSBC, Hasbro, Canon, Eli Lilly and Allergan. Revenue from our top 20 clients increased by an average of 14% year-on-year.
Our creative reputation continued to soar with the win of 35 Cannes Lions from 11 countries, including the coveted Titanium Lion. True to our mantra of ‘Famously Effective’ work, we produced highly-acclaimed campaigns for Gillette, CoverGirl, Pantene, Febreze, NFL, DirecTV, Canon, HSBC and The Times.
Grey’s flagship agencies in New York and London accelerated their forward momentum. Grey New York was the most-awarded North American agency at Cannes and Grey London won the IPA Effectiveness Agency of the Year and became the most-awarded UK shop at D&AD.
We continued to invest in the world’s developing growth countries. Grey acquired the Volcano Group in South Africa, one of that country’s fastest-growing agencies. Grey United was created in Milan via the merger of Grey Italy and 1861, strengthening our presence in Southern Europe. Grey also acquired Circus, the largest independent agency in Peru, enhancing our capabilities in Latin America. In addition, we expanded our global footprint in digital and shopper marketing and added to our healthcare resources.
Each and every office and region has been integral to this renaissance. Our open, collaborative culture, fueled by an ongoing influx of top talent, is helping us to set the pace for our industry as a truly one-of-a-kind global powerhouse.
Thanks to many of the most forward-thinking clients in the world, we are breaking new ground in brand experience across every platform and creating lasting consumer connections. We are bullish on the future as our centennial beckons in 2017.