Stagwell doubles its bet on new business
- Aug 13
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Stagwell CEO Mark Penn is doubling the group's new-business team and plans to add roughly 1,000 staff, an aggressive land-grab as holding companies fight harder than ever for a shrinking pool of major accounts.
Going on the offensive
Stagwell is scaling up its pursuit of new business, with CEO Mark Penn doubling the dedicated new-business team and signalling plans to hire around 1,000 additional staff. In a consolidating market, it is a clear bet that aggression wins share.
The move comes as holding companies compete for a limited number of blockbuster reviews. Rather than wait for pitches to come to it, Stagwell is resourcing to go and take them.
Why the timing matters
The agency world is mid-reshuffle: mega-mergers, AI-driven efficiency and clients demanding more for less. Investing heavily in new-business firepower while rivals digest integrations is a calculated way to pounce during a period of disruption.
Our read at Marketing Minute: new business is won by focus and capacity, not luck. Doubling the team that chases accounts is a statement that Stagwell intends to be the disruptor, not the disrupted, while larger holdcos are distracted by their own reorganisations.
What it means for clients and rivals
For advertisers, more competition for their business is good news — expect sharper pitches and more favourable terms as agencies fight harder to win and keep accounts.
For rival holdcos, it is a warning. In a market where growth is scarce, the group that invests in hunting new business while others consolidate can quietly rewrite the league table.
Quick FAQ
What is Stagwell doing with its new-business team?
CEO Mark Penn is doubling Stagwell's dedicated new-business team and has signalled plans to add roughly 1,000 additional staff, escalating its pursuit of major accounts.
Why is Stagwell expanding now?
With rivals absorbing mega-mergers and clients demanding more value, Stagwell is investing in new-business capacity to win share during a period of industry disruption.
What does it mean for advertisers?
More competition among holding companies typically means sharper pitches and better terms for clients as agencies fight harder to win and retain accounts.
— Daniel Nikolla, Founder of Marketing Minute
The takeaway: in a consolidating market, the holdco that invests in hunting new business while rivals digest mergers can quietly rewrite the league table.
When growth is scarce, does your organisation go hunting — or wait to be found?
If you would like to know more about this topic, please contact us on danieln@merxmarketing.co.uk
Sources: Adweek.
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Written by Daniel Nikolla, Founder of Marketing Minute
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