Grey Is Ad Age’s 2014 Agency of the Year
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When a headhunter approached Michael Houston in 2007 about coming to Grey, he had no interest. The WPP agency was widely regarded as an old-school shop that had lost its cachet with both clients and talent. But when Mr. Houston demurred, the recruiter told him: “You just passed the first test, because they don’t want anyone who wants to work at Grey,” Mr. Houston said.
He took the job as chief marketing officer, rising to North American CEO this past summer. Ever since, he, and others like Chief Creative and New York President Tor Myhren, have been part of an effort led by global CEO Jim Heekin to change the agency’s culture and reputation.
In 2010 Ad Age called it an Agency to Watch (“things might not be looking so gray anymore,” we noted). Two years later it made the A-List at No. 7 (“Grey may have earned the right to be a little arrogant. [having retained] important accounts and crafted work with mass recognition”). In 2012 it rose to No. 3 (“Heekin has permitted the agency to … do things the agency can really be proud of”). And last year marked its best to date, or as Mr. Heekin puts it, Grey’s “watershed year” — earning it the top spot on our list.
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