JKR wins finance gong in industry first

Jones Knowles Ritchie has topped a marketing services industry poll for the best financial credentials among privately owned companies, the first time a design consultancy has outperformed other disciplines.

The award is based on income growth, profit margins, efficient use of labour resources and a strong balance sheet. BBH and Mother were second and third respectively.

Overall the performance of privately owned businesses deteriorated, with only 20 per cent of companies retaining sufficient resources to meet three months’ operating costs if income dried up.

JKR was the only company to be awarded maximum points by industry’s research newsletter Marketing Services Financial Intelligence. JKR chief executive Andy Knowles attributes the success to ‘hard work, talented people and trying to play for the long term’.