A Few Closing Thoughts on 2024

What a year!

My version of an understatement.

There’s a reason “time flies” became a cliché.

Reflecting on 2024, the Agency had its best year ever. Many people will associate those words “best year” with financial performance. That’s not what I mean, though we did enjoy strong growth tipping the $30M mark for the first time.

But my definition of “best year” can’t be captured in a spreadsheet.

Let’s start with the mantra, “The status quo is the enemy.” We made a number of changes on the people side over the past 12 months, highlighted by the hiring of Jenny Fieldgate as European managing director and the promotion of Gerard LaFond as North American managing director. We also redefined Caroline Hsu’s role as chief global officer, taking into account that the recruitment of a new MD for APAC didn’t work out. Hey, it happens.

Our superpower lies in our ability to collaborate across geographies. Over 50 percent of revenue now comes from client campaigns that cover two or more markets.

We formalized our HAcademy this year in Asia, with plans to expand it globally. We’ve already kicked off our AI training and accreditation in all offices.

Of course, the litmus test for any consultancy comes down to the work. Are we delivering a world-class product? Are clients happy? While answering these questions calls for a longer missive, the anecdotal evidence suggests we’re hitting the mark.

True to the Agency’s vision, our assignments increasingly depend on multiple channels, not just earned media, to address client pain points. This type of work also keeps us out of PR commodity hell. Plus, integrated campaigns put a premium on critical thinking and creativity. It all adds up to a virtuous circle.

As we seek high-value assignments, we recognize the importance of being good stewards of our own brand. Here, the “Geeks @ Heart” nicely captures our ethos. I also think our website puts forth an accurate “face” to the outside world.

That’s a wrap.

Wishing everyone a 2025 filled with connection, health, laughter and stories (naturally).