Meropa is a top-ranked agency in both South Africa and Africa in the rankings released by The Holmes Report.

With the growth of 10.5% in a global PR industry that grew 5% in 2017, Meropa has now ranked as a leading independent African agency. It is the seventh year running that Meropa has been listed as one of the top 250 global PR firms.

"We’re extremely proud that we moved up the rankings this year," says Meropa CEO, Patrick Gearing. "It reflects not only our own growth as we continue to diversify our business but a global trend for independent agencies to lead the industry." 

The Holmes Report aims to provide the clearest picture available of the global PR industry size and growth based on submissions from more than 400 PR firms across the world. It estimates an industry worth $15-billion USD in 2017, with the top 250 agencies contributing $11.7-billion of that value.

However, industry growth – down from 7.4% in 2016 – was driven by growth in independents and by mid-sized agencies.

The Top 10 firms, with $5-billion, or a third of all estimated fee income, grew by 0.9%.

Mid-size agencies, defined as those with revenues of between $50-million USD and $250-million, grew by 6.1%, but by 3.1% on a constant currency basis.

Independent agencies, albeit from a smaller base grew 8.8% in constant currency terms to $5.3-billion USD. Meropa, at 10.4%, was ahead of independent agency growth.

"In an environment of fast-paced change, it seems that while the scale is helpful — at least on a national market level — the ability to adapt is also important," says Holmes Report founder, Paul Holmes.

"That is a benefit to firms in the middle market: large enough to provide integrated services, small enough to be nimble, flexible and entrepreneurial," adds Holmes.

Independent and African, 51% black-owned Meropa Communications, with wholly owned offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth, has a blue-chip client portfolio.

For more information, visit www.meropa.co.za. You can also follow Meropa Communications on Facebook or on Twitter.