This year’s winners reflect another transformative year of digital, creative, and tech-forward work from Stagwell’s network on behalf of leading brands including Amazon, HBO’s Max, National Football League, United Airlines, YETI, Tipico and more.

2024 award highlights include:

• 72andSunny named No. 8 on Ad Age’s 2024 Agency A-List after a breakthrough year of purpose-driven campaigns, including urging United Airlines to appoint “Sesame Street” puppet Oscar the Grouch as chief trash officer to highlight its sustainability initiatives, and the agency’s work for Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo video game franchise—an effort that culminated in driving the fastest-selling title in the company’s history. Additionally, 72andSunny’s partnership with the NFL throughout 2023 championed the future of the game at the Super Bowl and ultimately propelled flag football into the Olympic spotlight. 
• Code and Theory named Business Transformation Agency of the Year for doubling down on technology, striking expansive new partnerships and adding key executives to provide a true competitive edge. Examples of Code and Theory’s work that drove significant results for its clients include using AI to create synthetic personas to help European gambling platform Tipico break into the U.S. market, and boosting sales 14% on YETI.com after a complete rebuild and redesign of the brand’s e-commerce experience.
• Colle McVoy, a Standout on Ad Age’s 2024 Agency A-List, for achieving an 88% new-business win rate for the year with its branded practices of Exponent PR and 10 Thousand Design. In 2023, Colle McVoy created the first AI-powered recliner with La-Z-Boy that allows users to generate cancellation excuses via SMS text, doubling website traffic for the brand; tapped the former VP of Footwear at Yeezy to design the ultimate lawnmower shoes with Cub Cadet; and got people hooked on chicken feed with Perdue, elevating the brand’s no-antibiotics stance.
• Team Epiphany, a Standout on Ad Age’s 2024 Agency A-List, for evolving from a self-described “nomadic boutique shop” into a major full-service force in the marketing industry, driving culturalist campaigns for clients including American Express, Coca-Cola, HBO’s Max, Lego and Campari USA. Also this year Team Epiphany forged a strategic partnership with Hoorae Media, co-founded by actress Issa Rae—a move that the companies’ principals said would allow them both to scale their businesses.

“Congratulations to the teams at 72andSunny, Code and Theory, Colle McVoy and Team Epiphany for well-deserved recognition after another year of digital and creative innovation,” said Stagwell Chairman and CEO Mark Penn. “Thank you to our clients who continue to trust us to drive results for the most ambitious B2C, B2B, and DTC brands in the world.”

About Stagwell
Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Contact:
Kara Gelber
pr@stagwellglobal.com 

To better serve its roster of blue-chip clients, Code and Theory doubled down on technology, struck expansive new partnerships and added key executives.

Code and Theory’s work drove significant results for its clients. Highlights include:

• Propelling Amazon Ads to be one of the company’s fastest-growing sectors, with a +26% increase in ad revenues in Q3, totaling more than $12 billion. 
• Boosting sales +14% on YETI.com after a complete rebuild and redesign of the e-commerce experience.
• Improving the perception of Con Edison by +20% as “leading New York’s clean energy transition” from the “Where Clean Energy Lives” campaign.
• Pioneering AI personas for Tipico, a European sportsbook, to deliver real-time ‘4th-party’ data that helped Tipico break into the U.S. market.

Code and Theory made significant moves throughout the year, inking a first-of-its-kind partnership with Oracle to deliver AI at scale while also developing deep partnerships with Figma and Yext to offer new solutions. Recognizing that inclusion is the biggest moral and ethical opportunity of our time, it launched Beyond Words, the industry’s first inclusive language guide and certification program.

Code and Theory was named one of Fast Company’s Design Companies of the Year. Its executives have been in demand, speaking at Davos, Web Summit, SXSW and other top events about harnessing AI and other key aspects of emerging technologies.

Code and Theory Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Dan Gardner says, “Technology remains undefeated in transforming the business landscape. We have always solved our clients’ challenges by focusing on technology-first creative solutions. It’s great to win an award that accurately portrays what we do for our clients every day. Business transformation is what drives impactful, long-term growth for our clients.”

Code and Theory CEO Michael Treff says, “We are at an inflection point for clients looking to undergo true business transformation. As an agency that is 50% engineers and 50% creative, we can not only meet our clients’ immediate needs but also put them on a path to harness technology for the long term. We can help them use technology to drive ROI versus being a cost center and drag on growth. Sometimes, it’s introducing new products and services that push toward the edge of what’s possible. Sometimes it’s the acquisition of customers. Sometimes, it’s repositioning the business itself. Often, it’s all of the above. To be able to innovate alongside our partners at the companies we work with each day is an inspiration. And when we see the impact of our work, that’s all the affirmation we need.”

Stagwell Chairman and CEO Mark Penn says, “Code and Theory knows how to impact clients’ businesses. They’ve been at the forefront of technology-led creativity for more than two decades. It’s their comfort zone. Their ability to build capabilities that drive business transformation and premium customer experiences is best-in-class. Whether it’s their partnership with Oracle to enable AI at scale or industry-leading collaboration with Figma, they continue to fearlessly leverage technology as a multiplier while others are scrambling to figure it out.”

About Code and Theory Network
Code and Theory Network is the only network with a balance of 50% creative and 50% engineers at scale. The technology-first group within Stagwell Group is built to partner with businesses to navigate the complexity of changing consumer behaviors, emerging technologies and AI. With a global footprint and the capabilities to work across the entire consumer journey, we crave the hardest problems to solve. The network includes the flagship agency Code and Theory as well as Kettle, Mediacurrent, Rhythm and Truelogic. Code and Theory clients include Amazon Ads, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, MSNBC, NFL, Pfizer and Zappos. For more, visit codeandtheory.com.

CONTACT: 
Kenneth Hein
press@codeandtheory.com  

–     Bridget Lynn, previously SVP and Strategic Leader, assumes the role of EVP, Managing Partner of Assembly Midwest, overseeing operations in Detroit and Minneapolis. Lynn’s focus will be on brick-and-mortar clients, as well as the CPG and Home sectors. 

–     Kevin Tarpey, formerly SVP, Integrated Communications Group Director, has been promoted to EVP, Managing Partner of Assembly West. Based in Los Angeles, Tarpey will lead efforts to serve Health and wellness clients, franchises, and co-ops. 

–     Megan Warfield, who joined Assembly in 2023 as EVP of Client Excellence, now serves as EVP, Managing Partner of Assembly East. Based in New York, Warfield will lead teams across New York, Baltimore, and Toronto, specializing in Finance, Luxury, Fashion, and Beauty clients. 

–     Toni Box has been promoted from Senior Vice President of Social Media to EVP, Brand Experience. In her new role, Box will orchestrate full-funnel, cross-channel campaign strategies and integrated activations, delivering clients comprehensive, omnichannel media solutions. 

–     Nicole Jennings, previously EVP, Experience & Activation, has been appointed Managing Director. Jennings brings a wealth of strategic insight and a visionary approach to her new role. With over two decades of transformative client leadership at Assembly (formerly ForwardPMX), Jennings is well-positioned to unlock operational excellence in the North American market as well as partner with our Growth team to bring our solutions to potential clients. 

Jennings will collaborate closely with Assembly North America CEO Valerie Davis and the agency’s executive management team to set strategic priorities, drive innovation, and ensure Assembly remains at the forefront of the industry.

Assembly North America CEO Valerie Davis says, “Assembly is experiencing tremendous growth in the North American market, and we’re excited to make these intentional changes in our org design and executive team to meet our clients where they need us. With these exceptional leaders at the helm, we will unlock unlimited potential for our clients and continue to build Assembly’s reputation as a modern agency partner for brands on a journey of transformation.” 

All appointments are effective immediately. 

ABOUT ASSEMBLY
Assembly is the modern global omnichannel media agency, bringing data, talent, and technology together to find the change that fuels growth for the best brands on the planet. Our approach connects big, bold brand stories with integrated, global media capabilities that deliver performance and drive large-scale business growth. Our work is powered by our proprietary, in-house technology solution, STAGE, and led by our global talent base of over 1,900 people around the world. We’re purpose-driven at our core and pioneers in social and environmental impact in the agency world. Assembly is a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing. For more information, visit assemblyglobal.com.

Press Contact:
Jess Santini, VP, Global Marketing
jess.santini@assemblyglobal.com  

“Unlock Surveys is arguably the most significant research panel launched in nearly a decade, in an industry that has seen research means consolidated, leading to commoditization, poor data quality and high participant turnover,” said Mark Penn, chairman and CEO, Stagwell. “From brand competition for customer satisfaction and loyalty, to understanding voters in the political arena, the demand for capturing the public’s opinion online is at an all-time high. As a pioneering pollster, I’m proud to see this advanced, member-first offering come under the Stagwell umbrella, making it easier than ever for brands to unlock quality insights that inform vital business decisions.”

“Under the current model, researchers and brands can spend tens of millions of dollars per year collecting online research from an increasingly unreliable pool of external suppliers. In exchange, the quality of that deliverable has declined dramatically over the past decade as fraud rates have increased, respondent engagement has dropped, and trust has diminished,” said Adam Dietrich, managing director, Unlock Surveys. “We’re building Unlock Surveys in a way that connects with authentic people and is underpinned by proven, time-tested research principles.”

Why this matters for modern marketing
Beyond the standard single-use research panels, the Stagwell Marketing Cloud will tap into proprietary data from Unlock Surveys to drive more comprehensive, two-way consumer behavioral analytics, thereby enhancing media targeting capabilities and providing marketers with more granular insights into the demands of modern-day consumers.

Brand marketers, media buyers and planners, researchers and other professionals in need of an international, representative collection of trustworthy respondents benefit from Unlock Surveys in a myriad of ways:

• Data purity enables speed and agility: Clients of any of Stagwell’s 70+ agencies benefit from access to a centralized data house and the flexibility to pursue follow-up surveys, longitudinal studies, qualitative interviews, and other activities without the need to consult new or outside sources.
• Members are trusted, verified participants: All members are double-opted-in via email verification, and must pass a series of stringent quality measures that include cutting-edge bot deterrents and the latest in fraud prevention systems before ever being placed into a client survey. This weeds out bad actors and technology fraudsters, also ensuring the client is receiving a participant that is most likely to qualify for and complete their survey. These panels have been built to score highly in any “research on research” metric such as quality, consistency, and census representation.
• Applying science to behavior: As brands push the limits of quantitative research, it is vital to have a people engine to unlock the next phase of meaningful insights. This panel provides not only the respondents to participate in traditional research, but also the loyal, engaged group required for the ever-evolving complexities of behavioral understanding that come with ongoing engagement and analysis.

Consumers interested in becoming part of the panel can visit www.unlocksurveys.com. Organizations interested in using Unlock Surveys to conduct research can reach out to support@unlocksurveys.com.

About Stagwell Marketing Cloud
Stagwell Marketing Cloud (SMC) is a marketing-focused, AI-enablement platform built for the modern marketer. Born out of Stagwell’s (NASDAQ: STGW) network of award-winning marketing agencies, SMC’s technology empowers marketers to drive business impact by giving them intuitive tools equipped with proprietary, actionable data. SMC’s portfolio of solutions powers strategic consumer research, communications, and media activation for brands worldwide by leveraging technology such as generative and predictive artificial intelligence, shared augmented reality, and more. Get your head in the cloud at www.stagwellmarketingcloud.com.

Media Contact
Sarah Arvizo
pr@stagwellglobal.com

WNP is one of the leading digital creative firms in Europe, exemplified in its work for clients such as Cora, Danone, Ecoutier Voir, Meetic Europe, and Savencia. WNP will deepen Anomaly’s presence in Europe and add capabilities in scaled digital content and AI-enabled CRM and data, as well as the leadership in-market to compete for and service larger European accounts.

“Anomaly continues to surge around the world because clients resonate with our relentless pursuit of effectiveness, the leveraging of the widest possible meaning of ‘creativity’ across all marketing tools, and our entrepreneurial ambition. That equation is not easily replicable and, as we expand across continents, it’s essential our clients know our partners exemplify what it means to be an anomaly,” said Carl Johnson, Anomaly Founding Partner and Executive Chairman. “In What’s Next Partners, we have found kindred spirits in Europe, and I could not be more excited to welcome them to our team.”

Guy Chauvel, Founder and CEO of WNP, brings an exceptional track record of creative leadership to the partnership, with prior tenures as EVP of J. W. T., the 3^rd largest global agency, and CEO of Europe at Havas. He has directly advised on marketing and/or communication strategies for a variety of blue-chip companies including P&G, L’Oréal, Unilever, Rolex, Disney, and more.  He will drive the creation of new client solutions for WNP and the Anomaly Alliance with Carl Johnson, leveraging the breadth and depth of the Stagwell portfolio.

“Advertisers we are talking to or working with are pushing us to go international. We have always kept a close eye on Anomaly over the past 15 years as a source of inspiration and are fascinated by their model and culture,” said Guy Chauvel. “When the decision came to choose our new partner, Anomaly was the obvious choice. I am thrilled they agreed. We were also very impressed when meeting a committed, open-minded, and disruptive Stagwell executive team, and are excited to grow further as part of the network.”

“2023’s exceptional new business pipeline made it clear Stagwell’s proposition resonates with clients,” added Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO, Stagwell. “We’re all-in on expanding our unique tech-forward approach to transforming marketing in France and Europe more broadly. In 2024, we’re excited to welcome tested leaders like WNP and Guy and to build a best-in-class European team to support our clients and our talent.”

Currently, Anomaly has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, Berlin and Shanghai. Further acquisitions for the Anomaly Alliance will follow ranging from Latin America to Asia Pacific.

WNP will mark Stagwell’s third acquisition announced in 2024 following the purchase of Team Epiphany, a culturalist creative agency connecting brands to multicultural consumers, in January 2024; and Sidekick, a creative collective in the U.K., in February 2024.

Lazare Consulting LLC served as the exclusive strategic M&A advisor to WNP.

About Stagwell
Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com

About What’s Next Partners

WNP has grown to be one of the leading independent players on the French market thanks to the successful integration of varied talents and skillsets such as consumer intelligence, strategic planning, creative advertising campaigns, digital content production, social media & influence, CRM & data analytics, and brand/product marketing innovation. Among its active client portfolio, WNP has gained the trust of large national and international advertisers such as: Danone, Meetic Europe, LVMH, Panzani, Savencia, La Poste, Ecouter Voir, Cora, La Centrale, BASF, Maaf.”

CONTACT: 
Sarah Arvizo
pr@stagwellglobal.com 

“After spending more than 20 years working in both agency and brand-side roles, I’ve come to understand the headache marketers face when brand and performance marketing operate in silos. The Brand Performance Network flips the script by treating brand and performance as a single, unified action,” said Shannon Pruitt.

After joining Stagwell in 2020, Shannon was elevated to Global Chief Content & Partnership Innovation Officer of BxP in 2021. In this role, Shannon spearheaded partnerships with emerging platforms like Roblox and Audio, while collaborating with BxP agencies and Stagwell on key business initiatives. In 2023, Shannon launched Partners for Progress, Assembly’s Global Diversity & Inclusion initiative, and consolidated Assembly Global’s ESG efforts into Assembly Impact.

Prior to joining Stagwell, Shannon was the Chief Marketing Officer of The Honest Company and the co-founder and CEO of Dentsu’s The Story Lab, amassing experience across Fortune 100 brands including GM, XBox, P&G, Fox, Microsoft, Mondelez, MasterCard and Macy’s. Shannon has also led creative, marketing and business development teams at entertainment powerhouses 19 Entertainment, Mark Burnett Productions, Warner Bros and Octagon. Throughout this time, she was responsible for the strategy and activation of MasterCard’s FIFA World Cup, Major League Baseball, and National Football League sponsorships.

“Given Shannon’s deep background in brand storytelling, partnerships, content creation, and omnichannel campaigns, she is the ideal person to drive forward the Brand Performance Network’s mission. Shannon understands the necessity for connected solutions across creative, media and commerce and can help us tell the story for brands seeking a modern alternative to the legacy players,” said James Townsend, CEO of the Brand Performance Network.

“Shannon is also deeply passionate about sustainable growth and impact for brands. We know that DEI and environmental sustainability are important not only to consumers but to clients who have also made shareholder and business commitments in these areas. Shannon will continue to serve as a trusted advisor to clients defining their path forward,” Townsend added.

To inquire about partnering with the Brand Performance Network, please contact hello@bxpnetwork.com. 

About Brand Performance Network
The Brand Performance Network (BxP) is a collection of top Stagwell agencies providing B2B and B2C marketers with connected global solutions in creative, media, commerce, data, and technology. BxP has over 5,000 experts across 60 offices in 20 countries, collectively handling over $5 billion in media.

About Stagwell
Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

PR Contact:
Madeleine Maher
pr@stagwellglobal.com

“Sidekick is at the forefront of storytelling and will be an essential part of the challenger marketing network we are building in Europe,” said Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO, Stagwell. “As we embark on our next chapter in Europe, I’m excited to welcome Duncan and Ollie to our network and see Allison continue to transform its content innovation capabilities.”

The addition of Sidekick will further expand Allison’s footprint in Europe and introduce capabilities in the market that are critical for a new era of integrated brand storytelling. It adds tremendous synergies to Allison’s existing core competencies of strategic communications, influencer marketing, digital, performance marketing and data analytics. 

“After a successful period of collaboration with the Sidekick team, we are delighted to have them officially join the Allison family.  The organisation that the Sidekick founders have built together with their colleagues delivers an impressive suite of services that complements those already offered by Allison and leads with a strong and supportive culture that aligns with our own,” said Scott Allison, Global Chairman of Allison.  He added, “As we continue to expand our operations throughout Europe, Sidekick will form an integral part of this growth story.”

The Sidekick Group launched back in 2021 when experiential agency Kreate and content agency Many Makers came together to form a strategic arm of the business, capitalising its collective expertise on behalf of clients.  Kreate delivers ‘real-world’ activations for clients, specialising in brand experience and live events.  Many Makers is a video and brand content agency that uses digital storytelling including social media, video production, gamification and AR/VR content on behalf of the wider group.

Sidekick Co-founders Duncan McCaslin and Ollie Burgoyne will remain as Managing Directors of their respective teams and both will join Allison’s European management team.  Directors William Howe and Stephen Bradley will also move across in their current roles.  No other staffing changes are planned.

“The acquisition represents a significant leap forward in the growth of Sidekick and our people. Having seen our collective teams work successfully together over the last year or so, we knew that joining with Allison and Stagwell was the logical next step. We see this as the perfect time to combine forces, further enhancing our collective capabilities and ensuring that we continue to deliver outstanding results for our clients,” said Duncan McCaslin, MD of Sidekick and Kreate.

“This is an extremely exciting next step for Sidekick. Having worked alongside the team at Allison for the last two years, we quickly realised that we share the same vision and values.  I can’t wait for our teams to work as one and to be a part of the exciting growth plans that Scott and team have in place,” added Ollie Burgoyne, MD of Sidekick and Many Makers.

This acquisition comes amid a significant European acceleration at Stagwell, which has in recent months appointed James Townsend as CEO, EMEA, and launched a regional hub at the Blue Fin Building in London to connect its 15+ agencies and over 1900 employees within the region.

Sidekick is Stagwell’s second acquisition of the year, following the purchase of Team Epiphany, a culturalist creative agency connecting brands to multicultural consumers, in January 2024.

About Stagwell
Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com

About Allison
Allison is a global integrated marketing and communications consultancy dedicated to driving growth, innovation, and positive change for clients, colleagues, and communities. With a diverse range of expertise and a forward-looking mindset, Allison delivers game-changing results that make a lasting impact. Allison is owned by Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), one of the fastest growing and most influential marketing and communications networks in the world. Agency partners leverage Stagwell’s technology, data analytics, insights and strategic consulting solutions to drive measurable results and optimize return on marketing investment for more than 1,700 clients worldwide. Learn more at www.allisonworldwide.com  

Stagwell PR Contact
Beth Sidhu
pr@stagwellglobal.com 

Stagwell IR Contact
Ben Allanson
ir@stagwellglobal.com 

Allison PR Contact
Kate Lynch
kate.lynch@allisonworldwide.com