Introducing the 2023 Ad Age Agency A-List winners
No matter what their speciality, the shops on this list pour creativity into their disciplines using all the tools at their disposal to connect consumers with brands.
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The agencies on this year’s Agency A-List have taken different routes to the same destination: Creating business-building work for clients. Some have captured consumers’ attention with ingenious creative campaigns, attention-getting stunts or experiential events. Others have dived deep into data to find undiscovered insights and media options to engage existing consumers or find new ones. And still, others have developed e-commerce capabilities, navigated retail media networks, designed websites or crafted social voices for brands.
On this list you will find shops that focus on culture, consumer experience, commerce, CRM, business transformation, design and more. This is an age where the term “creative agency” is anachronistic; no matter what their specialty, the shops on this list pour creativity into their disciplines using all the tools at their disposal to connect consumers with brands.
In our stories about our 2023 A-Listers, you will read about mind-blowing creative campaigns, but also how agencies are building their own brand narratives and building diverse, healthy workplaces for talent. Their stories are about reeling in new business, but also about relationship building that results in organic growth from existing clients in an increasingly fickle marketing world. These are the shops that are future-proofing against economic downturns and successfully navigating an environment in which agency of record assignments are few and project work is rife by building trust.
How did we pick this year’s list?
It’s never an easy choice. Winners are selected not just for their creative chops but for their overall financial performance, along with factors such as diversity and culture. Judges look for shops that are pulling in new business and scoring additional business from clients already on the roster. They look for agencies that are building places where employees are proud to work. They look for shops breaking creative boundaries and geographic ones; putting purposeful work into the world; and who are generally making a name for themselves in a crowded industry. We look for shops that top themselves every year.
Who judges the A-List?
The list is judged by a team of Ad Age editors and reporters who cover all corners of the marketing business, not strictly agencies. Their expertise spans areas from tech, social, media, influencers and more.
Buy your ticket for the Ad Age A-List & Creativity Awards Gala here.
Who qualifies for the A-List?
The A-List is open to agencies of any size based in the U.S., except the International Agency of the Year category. Shops can apply for Agency of the Year, and in multiple other categories including Media Agency of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Social Agency of the Year, Production Company of the Year and more.
What separates an A-List agency from a Standout?
Since the A-List is limited to 10 agencies, the Standout category was created to highlight agencies that are strong shops with a lot of potential. This honor celebrates agencies that are up and coming on the industry’s radar and have a good shot at moving up to the Top 10 in the future.
Is there an event to celebrate the A-List?
There is an annual gala held in New York to officially award and recognize the Ad Age A-List. This year the event will be held on April 24. Tickets can be ordered here.
Where can I apply for next year’s A-List award?
We appreciate your enthusiasm, but entries for 2024 aren't expected to open until September of 2023.
