ATREVIA, a global company specializing in Communication and Strategic Positioning, concluded the 2022 fiscal year with an outstanding sales growth of 28.9% compared to the previous year, surpassing the target set in the company’s Strategic Plan (20%) and achieving significant advances in revenue in all the geographical areas where its activities are established. ATREVIA’s sales reached over 36.1 million euros in consolidated figures, with 27.6 million euros generated in Spain alone, representing a growth rate of 27.1%. In terms of fees, the company recorded 25.9 million euros, with a growth rate of 27.2%.
With these outstanding results, ATREVIA maintains a clear path of strong progression at all levels, in line with the company’s historical trajectory. This progression is primarily based on organic growth, from the company’s geographic expansion to the implementation of innovative practices, as well as the constant development of new specialties in line with contextual and social changes and the needs of clients.
Last year, the company achieved a profit in terms of EBITDA of 4.66 million euros, marking a 16% increase compared to the previous year. This figure, which represents profits before taxes and amortizations, accounts for 12.9% of the company’s total revenues and 18% when measured in terms of professional service fees.
Regarding geographical areas, ATREVIA’s performance was particularly impressive in Latin America, which now contributes 22% of the group’s profits, with a revenue growth rate of 58.5%, reaching 5.7 million euros. In Spain, sales grew by 27.1%, totaling 27.6 million euros. The company’s main business areas grew above 20%. In 2022, the company’s digital and advertising business accounted for 25% of the group’s total revenue. The communication and PR area represented 30% of the revenue; Public Affairs and strategic projects contributed 33%. The Sustainability and Social Trend Analysis units contributed to the remaining 12%.
Last year’s impressive growth was largely organic, with the exception of the acquisition of Apple Tree Colombia, which was the only addition to the company’s global results. Even without this acquisition, the growth rate would still have been an impressive 27.6%. In October of last year, ATREVIA acquired Apple Tree’s digital operation, which added a highly specialized team of ten individuals with expertise in creative campaigns, social media, and digital marketing to the company’s structure.
Furthermore, ATREVIA concluded the 2022 fiscal year with a notable increase in its team, exceeding 500 professionals, of whom nearly 90% are business consultants.
For the second consecutive year, these exceptional results encourage us to continue following the path laid out in our Strategic Plan. These highly satisfying outcomes were made possible by the immense trust that our clients placed in our services, despite the economic uncertainty caused by the war in Ukraine and the lingering effects of the pandemic. We cannot help but feel tremendously proud and satisfied. I want to express my gratitude to every professional in the company whose efforts and dedication have made these results possible,” said Núria Vilanova, President, and Founder of the company. She anticipates an equally positive outcome for 2023.
In addition, last year we saw the acquisition of the production unit of LUIKE by the ATREVIA Innovation and Venture Capital area of the ATREVIA Corporation group, which operates independently from the traditional global business of ATREVIA Communication & Corporate Affairs. This operation included acquiring Autofácil and FórmulaMoto titles and the addition of 12 employees from the reputable company specialized in the automotive industry, intending to create a new company, Mobilitas, focused on demand activation and precision marketing, a fast-growing segment with increasing opportunities.
Over the next three years, the group has announced an estimated investment of 10 million euros as part of a plan to acquire companies focused on Technology and Digital Marketing.
Strengthening the Corporate Structure
In 2022, ATREVIA also focused on strengthening its corporate structure, which included building a strong senior management team to lead this division. This was done with the aim of having highly specialized teams that could provide comprehensive solutions to the ever-changing demands of the consulting industry.
These appointments and additions to the team align with this purpose, including the appointment of Antonio Fernández-Galiano as Chairman of the Advisory Board, Vice President of Strategic Projects, and member of the company’s Executive Committee, as well as the hiring of Ignacio Mut as Director General of People, Fernando Galvache as Director of Technological Innovation and Digital Transformation, MarÃa José González Egea as Director of Global Marketing and Strategic Positioning, and Tomás Fornesa as Director of the Legal Department, among others.
Talent and New Services in the Business Unit
In the meantime, the business unit has also seen continued reinforcement, which has been a top priority for the company in recent years. The growth of these areas has been primarily driven by two strategic factors: the recruitment of talented individuals and the introduction of new services.
In line with this objective, ATREVIA has welcomed Fernando Carruesco to head the new Social Mobilization and Community Management department, which aims to connect and mobilize the organizations’ stakeholders in today’s environment governed by decentralization, volatility, and distrust.
Furthermore, over ten new professionals have joined the Advertising Creativity department, led by Juan Sánchez Rubio, who joined the agency at the end of 2021. Additionally, the company has launched a specialized division in Influencer Marketing led by LÃdia Casanova and Juan Manuel Rivero. These developments respond to the demand for a different and innovative communication approach, which the company is fully aware of, and is required due to the ongoing market transformation. With digitalization increasingly taking the lead, the channels for communication have diversified exponentially, and the users’ habits, priorities, and values have entirely changed.
New Methodology for Culture and People
One of the top priorities for ATREVIA in the present and future is to contribute to resolving the current deficit that companies face in their increasingly high demand for technology profiles. To address this, the company launched a pioneering Employer Branding 5.0 methodology in 2022 to help Spanish companies attract STEM talent.
The project was born out of the need to bridge a deepening gap between the supply and demand of these professionals and aims to build connections between what companies are looking for, what candidates are looking for, and what the market is looking for. The company aims to establish itself as an actor and platform that brings together all parties’ interests and facilitates working towards a common goal.
Sustainable Commitment and Social Responsibility
ATREVIA’s openly declared activist character as a cross-cutting element of its DNA is responsible for other milestones achieved by the company. For instance, in 2022, the company became a pioneering consultancy in measuring its carbon footprint to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and become carbon neutral, thus taking a step forward in its commitment to environmental sustainability.
Regarding social responsibility, the company remains committed to playing an active role as a driving force for the transformations demanded by an increasingly diverse, fair, and balanced society. “Measure to change” is one of the slogans championed by the consultancy and is reflected in the continuation of initiatives such as the Women Directors Report, which assesses the progress of women’s presence in the top management bodies of Spanish listed companies and is now in its eleventh edition. It is also reflected in the continuous development of new projects born out of this same commitment.
Latin America and Brussels
In addition to expanding teams and operations in Latin America, the past year has seen a surge in advertising services in the region, already being offered to clients such as Unicef (Ecuador), Reybanpac (Ecuador), Enel X (Peru), and Coca Cola (Paraguay).
Meanwhile, Brussels is consolidating its position as one of ATREVIA’s fastest-growing branches. The company, which has appointed Ramón González as director of the office in the territory, continues to emphasize its leadership as a reference entity in the area of Public Affairs, being one of the few companies in the sector with its own presence in the country.