The year has started strongly and the agency remains optimistic about meeting its growth forecast for 2009, despite the general global consensus of a troubled year ahead.

Ogilvy not only passed its targets for 2008, but also saw growth organically and with new business, notes CEO Marcia Silverman.

"In spite of the extremely ambiguous economic environment," Ketchum CEO Ray Kotcher says he was proud of the agency's work in 2008, which helped it to record solid top- and bottom-line growth.

Fleishman president and CEO Dave Senay now considers 2008 to have been a "landmark year" for PR in general, and for his firm in particular.

Last year, all of Edelman's operations grew - in particular its US offices, which exceeded expectations.

Despite the economic crisis, CEO Mark Penn points out that Burson-Marsteller had its strongest year ever in 2008, due in part to the firm's sturdy corporate and public affairs practices, as well as its new crisis and issues practice.

The WeissComm Group continued on its growth plan in 2008, opening offices in London and Washington and exceeding revenue goals by 15%. It also opened Invigorate Communications.

WE cited 2008 as its "best-ever year for growth and revenue," noting that the agency exceeded its expectations.

Text 100 enjoyed client stabilization for most of 2008, but the agency was hit with the global recession as it began fiscal year 2009 and made headcount reductions.

RF's continued focus on its four pillars contributed to its growth and profitability in 2008, says Kathy Bloomgarden, co-CEO.