School Reports 2012: PHD Group

Score: 9

At the Campaign Media Awards, PHD was the winner in the public sector and charity category with its work for the British Heart Foundation, while a Christmas campaign for Sainsbury's earned it a commendation in the best total communications programme category. In June, PHD was also rewarded for its 2010 Irn-Bru "Bru-zil" work when it won a gold at the Cannes Media Lions.

PHD has a key weapon with its content business, Drum, which delivered high-profile work for HP and Cadbury in 2011. For Cadbury, Drum arranged for the popular US Minute To Win It gameshow to be replicated over in the UK and broadcast on ITV2. The nature of the show lent itself perfectly to a Cadbury's "spots vs stripes" sponsorship.

In 2011, the only account that left PHD's doors was bmibaby, which moved after the airline's consolidation into its parent company. The agency picked up £40 million of new business from clients such as eHarmony, Learndirect and Wonga.com, and a fiercely fought global review saw PHD prise Sony Ericsson away from the more established incumbent network MEC.

PHD also had an injection of energy last year when Frances Ralston-Good was hired as managing director, after Daren Rubins was moved up to chief executive. And both PHD North and Drum got new MDs in the form of TBWA\Manchester's Dani Briers and OMD's Ella d'Amato respectively. It remains to be seen, however, if PHD's management can help secure a Campaign media hat-trick this year. No pressure, then.

Score last year: 9

How PHD Group rates itself: 9

"2010 was a record year for PHD. In 2011,we were even stronger, with a new MD in London, a new MD in Manchester and a new MD in Drum. And it paid off: 99 per cent client retention, some big new-business wins - including Sony Ericsson and eHarmony - and a record haul of awards, including a gold Cannes Lion."

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This article was first published on campaignlive.co.uk