Partilla, who joined Olson in 2013, recorded his first full year at the helm in 2014 as the Minneapolis-based agency continued its march toward being a national player in the advertising industry.
What happened: In 2014, Olson became agency of record for such brands as Bissell, Wet n Wild Beauty and P.F. Chang's. Its loyalty division landed Hyatt Hotels and Weight Watchers, and its public relations group became agency of record for Planters and Trulia. The employee count grew from 502 to 545 and revenue, excluding a late-in-the-year acquisition, grew 10 percent to $112 million. The year was capped with the sale of Olson by its venture capital owners to ICF International, a large Virginia technology and management consultant, for $295 million.
DAVID PHELPS
