Winner: MWW Group
For MWW Group, 2005 was a marquee year, judging by its sweeping success across all platforms. Not only did the agency rank number one in client satisfaction for the third year
in a row, but it also boasted an 80 percent close rate on new business wins and nearly a 100 percent close rate on targeted pitches. That's no small feat, considering that the
agency is in good company in the midsize firm category.
The agency can post such impressive numbers thanks, in part, to its embodiment of the "Aim High and Deliver" credo. That motto shines through in such programs as its brand
awareness campaign for Nikon and its Harry Potter book product launch initiative for Amazon.com.
But while individual account success stories add up to a formidable reputation, it is MWW's nontraditional approaches that set it apart. For example, the agency's executives,
headed by President and CEO Michael Kempner, will not segregate media relations from the account team, because they see it as separating the message strategists from the delivery;
nor do they endorse pitch teams, as the executives believe they are deceptive to clients.
In addition to its client-centric mentality, MWW instituted a notable business strategy in 2005. It integrated advanced measurement into every client program, in the form of a
proprietary, customized media management system called "Upshot."
This added bonus gives clients (and, in turn, MWW) a distinct advantage in the ever-changing, increasingly complex business arena. We predict that the company will make steady
progress well into the future.
Honorable Mentions
Lewis Global Public Relations The pool of midsized firms is overflowing with strong performers, but Lewis Global Public Relations stands out as a success story across the
board. With a 51 percent growth rate in 2005, successive profitability for seven years running, a client-retention rate of more than 70 percent and innovative technology
products, Lewis is an industry leader - and all that with an average employee age of just 27. Its youthful demeanor provides clients with fresh perspectives and innovative
offerings, including an account servicing extranet and "virtual" client presentations.
A&R Partners This agency set its sights on client satisfaction, innovation and longevity, and it delivers. Its 20-year history is marked by steady growth, a strong record
of employee retention and client satisfaction. As the largest independent PR agency in Silicon Valley, the firm seeks projects with forward-thinking, clean technologies, and it
counts such names as Adobe among its clients. With its finger on the pulse of its clients' needs, thanks to a flat organizational structure and attention to development goals,
the firm has demonstrated promise over the past 20 years, which will no doubt be borne out over the next two decades.