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Mumbrella Media Agency Review: Ikon scores as top media agency

ikon_staff

Ikon: "an employer of choice"

Ikon Communications is Australia’s best media agency, according to an industry perception study released today at Mumbrella360.

The STW Group-owned company, which only ranks seventh in the Nielsen billings rankings, was rated top of a list of 18 media agencies by Mumbrella readers and an expert panel.

Ikon got the highest average score across 10 assessment criteria that included talent, innovation, strategy and industry impact.

It narrowly beat GroupM’s MediaCom and Omnicom Media Group’s PHD – which tied second. PHD’s Omnicom sibling OMD was fourth, followed by independent player Slingshot.

Mumbrella Media Agency Review 2012: average score overall out of 10

Ikon, which was named Mumbrella’s media agency of the year for 2011 and featured in a significant seven best media companies to work for, came top for planning, talent, account management and industry impact.

Both the panel and Mumbrella readers highlighted culture as the agency’s strong point. One panellist said of Ikon: “Consistently an employer of choice. Staff stay and buy into the culture, believe in the values and they want to deliver. Very low churn rate of staff. The passion for the industry is obvious whenever you meet someone from here.”

Mitchells – Australia’s largest media buyer – came top for buying, but bottom for planning.

PHD was top for innovation, reflecting a strong reputation in that area and its ‘Pioneering thinking’ positioning. But planning-led indie Match emerged number one for strategy, pipping PHD.

OMD is seen as the most commercial successful media agency, while rival MediaCom is seen as the player with the most momentum.

TMS came bottom of the 18, but top for client stability – most likely due to long-standing Toyota client.

More than 300 Mumbrella readers completed the survey, as well as a panel of experts that included:

  • Michael Riach, sales director, Fairfax Media
  • Darren Woolley, MD, TrinityP3
  • Michael Harms, managing partner, ConsuMedia
  • Ben Willee, GM and media director, Spinach Advertising
  • Keeley Pope, owner, Keeley Pope Media Recruitment
  • Peter McDonald, MD, The Agency Register
  • Alan Robertson, managing partner, Kinesis Media
  • Simon Joyce, CEO, MCM Entertainment

The scores were weighted, with the results from our panel counting for 60%, and those from our readers, 40%.

Participants were asked to rate each agency out of ten for each assessment criteria, which included:

  • Planning
  • Buying
  • Strategy
  • Innovation
  • Talent
  • Account management
  • Commercial success
  • Industry impact
  • Momentum
  • Client stability

MMARThe research was conducted by online research firm Edentify in April 2012.

The Mumbrella Media Agency Review book, which includes commentary on each agency from readers and experts, as well as each agency’s own account of its performance over the last 12 months, is now on sale here.

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