BLOG

Why Corporate Clients Are Moving Away from Large, Layered Event Agencies

For decades, scale was seen as a guarantee of reliability. Larger agencies were assumed to be safer, more capable and better resourced.

That assumption is now being questioned.

Across the corporate world, decision-makers are reassessing whether size truly equals value.

The hidden cost of complexity

Large, layered agencies often rely on:

• Multiple teams
• Junior-led execution
• Frequent handovers
• Internal silos

While this structure can work for volume, it introduces complexity — and complexity introduces risk.

Corporate environments reward:

• Accountability
• Continuity
• Speed of decision-making
• Clear ownership

These do not always align with heavily layered agency models.

The return of accountability

Many corporate clients are now favouring senior-led, boutique structures where:

• The person who pitches stays involved
• Decision-making is direct
• Responsibility is visible
• Communication is consistent

This is not about reducing ambition. It is about reducing friction.

In environments where internal scrutiny is high and tolerance for error is low, knowing exactly who is responsible matters more than agency branding.

Experience over scale

The shift is not anti-agency — it is pro-experience.

Senior professionals with extensive operational backgrounds are increasingly preferred because they:

• Anticipate issues sooner
• Speak the language of procurement and governance
• Understand internal constraints
• Balance creativity with realism

The shift reflects a broader corporate trend: fewer suppliers, stronger partnerships, deeper trust.

A changing agency landscape

This evolution suggests a future where:

• Boutique and senior-led models coexist with global agencies
• Projects are allocated based on relevance, not size
• Accountability becomes a core differentiator

For corporate clients, confidence comes not from how big an agency looks — but from how predictably it delivers.