Matchmaker
Looking for the right agency?
Our extensive experience and unique methodology allow us to identify and confirm the ideal agency for your brand’s specific needs. Our review process reduces the risk and maximizes the value of your new agency hire.
100+ Brand Reviews Managed
What We Offer
Brand Brief & Prep
All successful creative work starts with a great Brief.
Whether you’re planning to relaunch your Brand or develop breakthrough project work, the Brief is the single most important input from the Brand Marketing team. It’s essential that it be simple, inspiring and focused — as it’s the springboard for all agency thinking to come. We coach teams through this process and provide clear and consistent strategic guidelines for success.
Creative Agency of Record Search
Our goal is creating long-term, mutually profitable partnerships that drive BUSINESS GROWTH.
This is our version of a “traditional” review; but it is anything but typical. By replacing dense paperwork with video-first RFP responses and proprietary vetting methods, we’ve revolutionized the conventional review.
The result? A streamlined, high-energy process that moves from kickoff to selection in 45–75 days.
Project-Based Agency Search
Our “fast-timeline” search to engage the right agency for projects that require specific skills or expertise.
Project-based creative agency search is the “new normal” in today’s marketing world. As marketing budgets and initiatives change quarterly, so has agency search. The speed and pace of business has changed in the new marketing world. We were the first search consultancy to successfully implement the remote, project-based creative agency review. This review can be completed within 30–45 days.
Media Agency Search
In the fast-evolving landscape of modern advertising, the effectiveness of a brand’s media strategy is often the difference between market leadership and digital obscurity.
This assessment-driven process provides a comprehensive evaluation of agency performance, examining the alignment between current media expenditures and overarching business objectives.
By auditing key performance indicators, channel efficiency, and the transparency of the agency-client relationship, we aim to identify specific opportunities for optimization and ensure that every dollar invested is driving measurable growth and brand equity.
Client Testimonials
“We would have fallen short of multiple aggressive brief deadlines, not to mention placed sub-par agency partners, if we worked with anyone else.”
—Doug Busk, Global Group Director, Digital Communications & Social Media
The Coca-Cola Company
“Mike was a pleasure to work with. He moved quickly and effectively to understand our needs, timeline, and budget for our upcoming project. Mike selected a handful of quality agency partners that not only met our criteria, but also had passion for our brand and meshed well with our company culture. He made the whole process seamless and greatly reduced the time/effort required on our part. I would highly recommend his services to any marketing leader looking for assistance in their search for a new agency partner.”
—Keith Legro, Director of Marketing
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
“His agency review process is not ‘best-in-class’ —it’s in a class of its own. His intimate knowledge of different agency cultures and specialties sets him apart from other search consultants.”
—Joel Bulger, CMO
Zaxby’s
“In the course of 100 days, Michael helped us get to a ‘great, no debate’ new agency partner that had the exact right credentials, capabilities and chemistry…and importantly, one that the entire organization embraced.”
—Steve Davis, Former CEO, Heineken USA,
Arby’s Restaurant Group, Church’s Chicken
“Mike knows how to interpret client needs to match agency strengths. In an expedited time frame he found the exact solution. I had the most impact and fun in many years during this process.”
—Linda SanGiacomo, SVP Marketing
Johnny Rockets
“When it came time to go through our agency review process here at Yamaha Motorsports, Michael Palma and his team went above and beyond. The Palma Group spent a lot of time with our group deep-diving not only into our core business needs, but they also provided an analysis of the competitive landscape and how we stacked up as a business. We immediately felt that Michael and his group were invested in our business and our company culture. His attention to detail and extra efforts made the entire review process go as seamlessly as we could have hoped for.”
—John Howell, Motorsports National Advertising & Content Manager, Yamaha
Approved by the Association of National Advertisers and the American Association of Advertising Agencies
A Strategic Alliance with Roth Ryan Hayes
The Palma Group recently formed a strategic alliance with NY-based Roth Ryan Hayes, one of America’s first (and best) Agency Search Consultancies. This joint venture allows us to upgrade our agency reviews for creative brands.
In the news:“Agency search consultant Roth Ryan Hayes partners with recruiter as marketers take reviews in-house” — Ad Age, October 14, 2026
You’ve put a lot of time and energy into finding the right agency. Let’s make sure you get the most out of your agency relationship. We are experienced in coaching clients and agencies to achieve strong and mutually profitable relationships based on brand KPIs.
Agency Onboarding
We know a Brand’s marketing success is built on a strong client/agency relationship. The first 100 days are critical to a productive relationship. Our coaches mentor marketing teams and their new agencies through an onboarding process. Creativity is an art and managing the process takes special care.
Client/Agency Performance evaluations (relationship counseling)
We’ve learned regular evaluations help inspire greater efficiencies in the client/agency relationship. They also repair leaky relationships. Our advisory coaches have been on all sides of the table at the world’s best brands and agencies.
Agency Compensation Audits
We’ve learned quite often the most creative people are actually the CFO’s and Controllers at the agencies and client companies. There’s a better way to bill, be billed, get paid and pay out in the creative agency/client relationship.
GET STARTED
If you are a brand marketer and you need a better creative agency, please call for details on our unique agency search & selection process: 404-408-8375.