The Argyle story has four chapters – so far:
Boutique agency, 1979-2002
Founded by journalist Ray Argyle in 1979, the firm carved out a niche as a premier Toronto-based boutique corporate communications firm, serving major Canadian and multinational brands.
Canadian growth, 2002-2018
Daniel Tisch and his partners acquired Argyle in 2002, growing sixfold to become one of Canada’s largest full-service independent public relations agencies by 2018, with thriving practices in corporate, consumer, health, public affairs, digital and branding and design. Argyle was named IABC Global Mid-Sized Agency of the Year in 2017 and 2018, and appeared on the Canadian Business list of the nation’s fastest-growing companies.
North American growth, 2018-2022
From 2018 through 2022, Argyle grew steadily through acquisition or investment in other exceptional management-owned companies across the continent. These included ChangeMakers Communications, Context Research, Matchstick and the Castlemain Group. Argyle also opened its first U.S. office, grew to more than $30 million in annual revenue, and was selected as Canadian Agency of the Year in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Believeco:Partners, 2022 – today
In 2022, Argyle joined Believeco:Partners, a leading owner, operator and builder of North America’s foremost partner-led marketing, communications and engagement agencies. Argyle’s senior leaders are founding shareholders. We continue to grow Argyle’s client and employee value proposition – and our impact – within this larger corporate family, while remaining proudly committed to independence at scale.
History
Argyle
When Argyle began in 1979, we did the things public relations firms do: we told compelling stories that earned our clients attention from the media and their audiences – and helped them manage issues and crises. But as access to information expanded and people became more empowered, distrust in business and government grew – as did misinformation. While we had always seen communications as both a business imperative and a social good, we asked ourselves what that meant today.
We had a revolutionary idea: instead of “public relations,” we would focus on public relationships. Because every organization’s success is built on relationships. And relationships are built doing two things: communicating truth and earning trust.
You engage people in decisions that affect them. You communicate authentically and creatively to earn trust. You lead the way on the issues that are important to people.
Strong relationships help change attitudes and behaviours. And they help earn strong reputations, brands and businesses.
That’s what Argyle has done for over 40 years. That’s what we can do for you.
ChangeMakers
From a two-person operation working out of a house in Winnipeg, ChangeMakers grew into one of North America’s premier full-service marketing and communications firms, specializing in social marketing.
From the start, we wanted to do good by helping clients do good – and do well. We do that by providing services from creative, media and digital interactive services, to public, corporate and stakeholder relations.
Today, ChangeMakers continues the good work as Argyle’s creative hub, creatively connecting the work of our strategists across Canada.
Matchstick
It may be a digital world, but there are real people behind all those 0s and 1s. Since 2001, Matchstick has been a leading digital agency specializing in social brand building, digital content and performance marketing. They create relationships between people and brands, businesses and organizations in a virtual environment. With real-world results.
Matchstick treats digital relationships like real relationships. Because they are.
