Record year for Kontrapunkt: CEO passes the torch

The 2025 financial results are the strongest since Kontrapunkt was founded in 1985 and mark the culmination of a seven-year strategic transformation. The ownership succession took place in 2018 when Philip Linnemann took over the leadership of the company. In 2019, Johan Lawaetz joined as COO, and the following year he assumed the role of CEO with a clear mandate: to lead the agency into a new phase of growth and make Kontrapunkt more relevant, more international, and more financially resilient.

“I joined Kontrapunkt with a mission to make the agency relevant on the global stage, build a robust business, and position it as a strategic partner to our clients. My job is done and today Kontrapunkt stands stronger — strategically, commercially, and culturally — than ever before. We now work with clients across three continents and cover the entire creative value chain. I am proud of the journey we have been on and deeply grateful for seven years with ambitious clients and exceptionally talented colleagues. Now feels like the right time for me to pursue a new challenge.” – Johan Lawaetz, stepping down as CEO

Since 2019, Kontrapunkt has grown revenue by 40%, improved EBITDA margins from 0% to 23%, and increased company valuation fivefold. For this reason, Johan Lawaetz and Philip Linnemann agreed that the timing was right to create space for new challenges for both of them.

“Kontrapunkt has always been driven by change. That is how we have built the agency, and it is how we have led it. Over the past year, Johan and I have discussed the next strategic cycle — and the future of both ourselves and Kontrapunkt. It has been a shared decision to seek new challenges, and my next major project is taking on the role of CEO.” – Philip Linnemann, new CEO and Partner

Strategic transformation and international growth
The strategy was shaped by the trends Kontrapunkt identified across the industry in 2019–2020. While large agency networks and alliances promised integration through horizontal consolidation, they often delivered siloed organisations in practice. Kontrapunkt chose a different path: building one fully integrated agency spanning strategy and branding, motion, digital experiences, communications, campaigns, and go-to-market strategy.

Internationally, Kontrapunkt has established a strong presence in the United States while expanding significantly across Japan and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Today, Kontrapunkt maintains long-term client relationships across all three continents.

The client portfolio includes global brands in Japan such as Suntory, Honda, Toyota, Panasonic, NEC, Nissan, Yonex, and Shiseido; Danish icons including Danske Bank, Danfoss, Novo Nordisk, Arla, Pandora, Matas, Royal Copenhagen, and FC Copenhagen; as well as newer American clients such as True Anomaly, Chamberlain Coffee, Chainalysis, Eclipse Capital, and Parallel Systems.

Internally, Kontrapunkt has completed a comprehensive generational transition across both leadership and specialist disciplines without losing the culture on which the agency was built. The talent base has been significantly strengthened across new capabilities, and today Kontrapunkt works across a wide range of industries, serving major public-sector, corporate, and consumer clients.

Focus on 2030
Over recent years, Philip Linnemann has served as Executive Creative Director and Partner at Kontrapunkt and is a second-generation co-owner of the agency. With his appointment, creative and business leadership will once again be united in a single role.

“We are entering a new strategic cycle with 2030 as our horizon. Kontrapunkt should stand among the world's most influential creative agencies — a credible and integrated alternative to investor-owned networks. We will continue to expand the creative value chain and scale our presence across Japan, the wider APAC region, the United States, and Europe. Our ambition is to combine strategic thinking, creative leadership, and emerging technologies in ways that create value for our clients while advancing our profession. The foundation we have built together is our starting point.” – Philip Linnemann

Philip Linnemann assumed the role of CEO on June 1, 2026. Johan Lawaetz will support Kontrapunkt through a transition period until the summer holidays.