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International Consultancy of the Year
WINNER
Financial Dynamics
The acquisition of Financial Dynamics for £139m by US firm FTI Consulting in September capped a remarkable year for the City PR specialist headed by Charles Watson (left).
Even before the purchase, this year had already marked the agency's most successful period of growth in its 20-year history. Revenues soared by 35 per cent to £52m globally, of which £29m came from the UK, where growth was an impressive 24 per cent.
These strong figures were the result of major business wins that included electrical retailer DSG International, Capita, Partygaming, Coca-Cola, and Disney.
By the end of May this year, FD boasted a rise in its retained client list from 477 to 778, and could claim involvement in 16 UK flotations and 143 M&A deals (worth €47.8bn) in the UK, as well as 204 across the rest of Europe. To crown such achievements, mergermarket.com ranked the consultancy the number one financial PR firm in Europe based on number of deals, as well as number one in the UK and Germany and second in the US.
But the year also saw FD widen its geographical reach (it has 16 offices worldwide), as well as its range of services, including property, crisis comms, consumer and public affairs. These services now go far beyond its core specialist base, and FD claims it has created a 'virtuous circle' of cross-referral of business between regional offices and practice areas.
New offices in Hong Kong, Chicago and Moscow, coupled with its own acquisitions in Washington, New York, Johannesburg and Cape Town, saw FD grow in four continents.
Despite all this activity, the firm has not failed to recognise and invest in its people. While staff numbers have ballooned from 321 to 440 over the period, the firm increased investment in staff training by 50 per cent to £250,000 a year. Nine members of staff were also promoted to managing director level.
This remarkable year was achieved without the help of a parent company (it went through an MBO in 2003), relying instead on its own cash flow and debt facilities.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Hill & Knowlton
Hill & Knowlton, the agency which helped London 2012 win the Olympics, saw its client list grow by 6.9 per cent during 2005.
Servicing 38 per cent of its clients in three or more markets, H&K added AstraZeneca, HSBC, Pepsi, Shopping.com and Helly Hansen to its stellar client list.
Staff have also been well-supported, with a wide range of training and development initiatives. Significant appointments were also made from within its own ranks, including promotion of Sally Costerton to UK chief executive.
FINALISTS
Lewis PR
Weber Shandwick
