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PHD had a hell of a year when it nearly lost one of its biggest clients in a secret review just as the agency was changing chief executive. The Argos-Sainsbury’s contest was the biggest pitch drama in years as the retailer held a closed process and decided to move its business to data-savvy M/SIX after 22 years with PHD.

Miraculously, parent company Omnicom Media Group lodged an appeal over the way the pitch was run and kept the account. However, it was a mighty shock that suggested PHD needed to raise its game, which, to give the agency credit, it did.

The timing was a nightmare for Verica Djurdjevic, who took over as chief executive after long-serving Daren Rubins left midway through the saga. She did well to keep the ship steady, and it’s worth noting PHD successfully defended other big accounts, including Experian, picked up business from Virgin Holidays, Bet Victor and others, and bedded in the big Volkswagen Group win from 2016. The six account losses, including Elizabeth Arden, were minor. Some of PHD’s work such as "Continuity Bat" for Warner Bros’ The Lego Batman Movie was top-class and garlanded with awards.

Winning the £51.5m Argos business as part of the Sainsbury’s consolidation has given PHD valuable exposure to ecommerce. The agency has also developed a beguilingly simple, audience-led planning process, Rhythms. It won over clients and Discovery@PHD, the unit responsible for Rhythms, was shortlisted for Agency Team of the Year at the ±±¾©Èü³µpk10 Media Awards.