LLYC - PR Agency of the Year in Mexico, the Caribbean & Central and South America

Company: LLYC
Company Description: We are a global communications and public affairs consulting firm. We help our clients make strategic decisions within the disruptive and uncertain context in which we live, taking into account their reputational impact. And we collaborate with them to successfully execute them so that they can achieve their business goals, defend their social license to operate and increase their prestige.
Nomination Category: Corporate Communications, Investor Relations, & Public Relations Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Public Relations Agency of the Year in Mexico, the Caribbean & Central and South America

Nomination Title: HELLO, WE ARE LLYC LATAM

Latam and the Caribbean are undoubtedly among the most vibrant regions with the greatest contrasts worldwide. Although the over 650 million inhabitants, divided into 46 countries, share cultural elements, the challenges are very dynamic and differ from one place to another. As such is our DNA: Disruptive.

After 20 years in the Latin American market, today LLYC is present in 19 of those 46 countries, having offices and teams in 9 of them and a network of partners and affiliates reaching another 10, with more than 340 LLYCERS.

We are not several LLYC, but a single company offering the same methodology and work standard, going beyond which Latin American country you are in. This is corroborated by over 50 companies with which, in 2020, we implemented simultaneous communication projects in two or more countries in the region with tangible results.

We do not aspire to be the best consulting firm in Latam just because we operate in 19 countries or because of the trust that 450 companies from over 15 different sectors placed in us last year, we want to be it because in all our projects we bring our purpose of improving society by providing honesty, innovation and intelligence.

Despite the pandemic and the devaluation of the exchange rate in some markets, 2020 was a good year for the firm: LLYC Latin America's fee income has been growing by 14% in the last 5 years, closing 2020 with almost €20 million (52% of LLYC's global fees, which stand at €44.1 million).

LLYC Foundation, launched mid-2020, with the Inter-American Development Bank, the “David-19” app, aimed to track Covid-19 cases in Latin America. Also, as part of our global strategy, in 2020 we created sustainability committees in all our offices to partake in the SDGs.

In November 2020, we announced the acquisition of 90% of Factor C Comunicaciones de Chile. With the transaction, we will double our size in the Chilean market, where we have been operating since 2014 with our own team.

We are very proud to be partners of 50 of the 500 largest Latin American companies, which reinforces our vision and value contribution in the region. Additionally, in 2020, of the 634 proposals won in Latin America (162 in the North region, 196 in the Andean region and 276 in the South region), 263 correspond to new clients that we added to our portfolio in the different regional markets.

All professional and strategic efforts have positioned LLYC in the Latin American market, being recognized for the third consecutive year as the Best Communication Consultancy in Mexico by Merca 2.0; and obtaining the "Best Places to Work LGBT" Certification from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in Mexico.

The results obtained in 2020 have allowed us to remain among the most important communication companies worldwide, being the only Spanish company present in the top 50 of the 2021 global ranking of PRWeek (#36) and PRovoke (#46).

At LLYC we are client-centric, which led us to stand by our clients in this uncertain time, adapting our commercial offer to their new needs, under the motto Anticipate, Embrace The New Normal. In 2020 we reinforced our commitment against Fake News in the region through initiatives such as the Content service on COVID-19 in Argentina or the launch of the Radar COVID-19 in Brazil, with videos and analysis on the Pandemic made with specialists.

The acquisition of Factor C is part of our Strategic Growth Plan. We aim to double our revenues in five years, and reach 100 million euros in 2024. To execute this new plan, we are in the process of listing on the Spanish stock market. We will become the first Spanish communications consultancy to debut on BMe Growth.

We cannot be the best communications consultancy in Latin America without having a firm commitment to the region's talent. LLYC has a predominantly Latin American culture. At the leadership level, 30% of LLYC's global partners are Latin American (Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and Chile) and 50% of all partners are located in and/or work directly with Latin American markets. Moreover, of LLYC's 340 professionals in Latin America, 67% are women, occupying 48% of the top management positions regionally.

Link Podcast Foco América: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Hysl91Qt0E6JP9rruPfF1

The objective of Foco América is to analyze trends in the international politics context, offering information and helping individuals understand the uncertain times we live in. As such, LLYC, as a communications consultancy with a large presence in Latin America, provides knowledge about current affairs with a profound, but easy to understand, vision.

Important figures have been interviewed, such as Laura Chinchilla, former President of Costa Rica (2010-2014); Rebeca Grynspan, Ibero-American Secretary General; Marta Lagos, Director of Latinobarómetro; and Áurea Moltó, Director of the magazine Política Exterior.