LLYC reported that global fee income rose by 12.4% in 2019 to 43.1 million euros from the previous year. Organic growth, excluding takeovers, acquisitions or mergers, was 12.1% at a constant exchange rate.
LLYC operates its own offices in Europe (Spain and Portugal) Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Dominican Republic), and the United States (Miami and the Latam Desk in New York and Washington). LLYC’s operations in the Americas currently account for 55% of company revenue. Growth was outstanding in Spain, where it rose by 21%. It increased by the same percentage in Brazil, where the company has its largest operation outside Spain, with a team of nearly 100 professionals. Growth was up by 20% in Mexico, by 19% in Portugal, and by 18% in Colombia.
José Antonio Llorente, founding partner and Chairman of LLYC, said “We have achieved good results and met ambitious goals. Our growth has been driven by consolidating our operations, managing by region, orienting our brand towards a consulting service focused on client needs, and by bringing on board new talent. The results are an inspiration for us to further improve and to focus on anticipating the challenges faced by our clients so that we can provide them with effective, global and innovative solutions.”
Strategic Plan, 2020-2022
For the three-year period 2020-22, LLYC plans to accelerate growth through acquisitions and to focus investment on the digital transformation of the business. “Investment in technology will be the main pillar of our investment strategy,” said José Antonio Llorente. “We aim to achieve an outstanding position in our sector and position ourselves at the cutting-edge of today’s most modern, advanced and efficient solutions. We expect a great deal from the innovation strategy we have defined for this period, which is why we have provided it with leadership and resources.”
Leveraging Talent
In 2019, the number of professionals in the company grew by 12% to 610, an increase consistent with LLYC’s growth. Of the total new hires, 16 were for executive positions. Internal promotion was also very significant, in line with our commitment to develop internal talent and draw on the enormous potential of our professionals. Last year, 85 people were promoted within the organization.
LLYC’s commitment to diversity and equal opportunities has seen female talent play a key role: women now account for 42% of senior management.
As well as strengthening our structure with new senior professionals, in 2019 we took on two new professional partners: Juan Carlos Gozzer, as Regional Managing Director for the South Region, and Cleber Martins, as Managing Director for operations in Brazil.
For the sixth year in a row, LLYC was ranked by Actualidad Económica as one of the 50 best companies to work for in Spain. It is the only communications consulting firm to make the top 50 ranking.
New value proposition
In 2019, LLYC adapted its value proposition to the current disruptive environment, in order to offer the best solutions to the challenges faced by its clients. The refocusing of our strategy drove a major rebranding exercise that gave rise to a new brand and corporate image. The key concept was anticipation with a focus on clients aimed at offering solutions to new challenges, based on innovation, technology and combining a global vision and scope.
Expanding our alliances
The commitment to globalization and a better value proposition in 2019 also lie behind LLYC’s associate membership of the Global Partnership of consulting firms Finsbury, Hering Schuppener and Glover Park Group (GPG). The partnership provides access to a network of more than 500 professionals specializing in capital markets, crisis management, corporate reputation and public affairs. They operate across the world, including the main financial and regulatory centers.
The focus on innovation and technology is also reflected in the partnership with Torre Juana Space Technology, strengthening the development of the Data & Analytics and Digital Transformation disciplines; and membership as a corporate partner of Barcelona Tech City, a private association that represents over 900 companies in the technological and digital sector, and is a model cluster for the sector in southern Europe.
Awards for innovation, creativity and track record
LLYC has won 71 new awards at international and regional events in the fields of communication, creativity and business.
Among projects winning the most awards are: “El Sentido del Cacao” for BBVA; “GeneradorES“, for Coca-Cola Spain; “Screen Pollution” for Multiópticas; and the magazine Wood Made Stories for Sonae Arauco.
LLYC swept the board at the 2019 International Business Awards as the communication consulting firm receiving most awards and the greatest number of golds ever in the history of the event. Once more it was voted Consultancy of the Year in Latin America and Europe.
