Kastner

What Kastner does

Kastner is a privately held global creative agency that provides brand strategy and positioning services to enterprise clients. Founded in 1984 and operating from a stated London headquarters, the firm runs 8 offices across Europe (Brunnen, Budapest, Frankfurt, Madrid, Milano, Oberhofen) and the United States (Los Angeles), with a claimed service footprint covering 108 markets worldwide. The firm reports a headcount of 51–100 employees and is led by Partner Thomas Grabner alongside a layered creative leadership team that includes Chief Creative Officer & Managing Director Andrea Tóth and Global Creative Director Gregor Maier.

Kastner's core offering is the Pola*riser®, a registered trademark and proprietary strategic framework that the firm states has guided its brand-positioning work for 40 years. The methodology is positioned as the agency's primary differentiator: a codified approach to help brands avoid 'middle-of-the-road' positioning and instead claim a distinct market position and engage consumers in unexpected ways. Aside from the Pola*riser®, the firm delivers the conventional creative-agency service stack (brand development, creative direction, client services) under a direct-to-client engagement model with Managing Directors in each regional office.

The business model is professional-services based: custom, quote-based project and retainer engagements with no publicly disclosed pricing. Distribution is exclusively direct sales through the office network, supported by a top-of-funnel presence on LinkedIn and Instagram and a bottom-of-funnel direct-email outreach channel ([email protected]). The firm targets 'ambitious global brands' seeking differentiation, with no named client logos, case studies, partnerships, or alliances disclosed in the available source material. No parent company, institutional investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity are reported, and the company operates as an independent private entity.

Name

Kastner

Legal name

Kastner

Website

https://kastner.agency

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kastner is a privately held global creative agency providing brand strategy and positioning services to enterprise clients through 8 offices across Europe and the United States, anchored by its proprietary Pola*riser® strategic framework and serving clients in 108 markets worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Advertising and Brand Strategy Services

NAICS

Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Marketing Consulting Services (541613)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Strategy & Transformation (BPAHAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Reputation Management & Online PR (BPAFADAN)

Keywords

• Brand strategy services
• Creative agency services
• Brand positioning consulting
• Integrated marketing communications
• Advertising agency services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kastner is a creative and brand strategy agency that provides brand positioning, design, and integrated communications services for global brands. Its work is grounded in the proprietary Pola*riser® framework, a methodology the firm has used for 40 years to shape brand strategy engagements.

Product overview

Kastner is a global creative agency offering brand development and strategic positioning services. The core offering centers around the Pola*riser® strategic tool, which provides brands with a methodology to establish distinctive market positions and engage consumers. The agency operates across 8 offices worldwide (Brunnen, Budapest, Frankfurt, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Milano, and Oberhofen) serving 108 markets globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pola*riser®: A proprietary strategic tool that gives brands the power to claim a lasting position and engage consumers in unexpected ways.

Products and services

• Brand Strategy and Positioning Services Strategy-led brand positioning engagements for global brands, grounded in the proprietary Pola*riser® framework, delivered to marketing and brand leadership teams.
• Design and Integrated Communications Services Creative and design services, including integrated marketing communications, delivered alongside brand strategy work to global brand clients.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WPP: World's largest advertising holding company with global brand strategy, creative, and media capabilities across hundreds of offices. Comparable as a multi-office global brand-services provider, though vastly larger and broader in scope than Kastner.
• Publicis Groupe: Global advertising and communications group offering brand strategy, creative, and digital services across multiple agency brands. Comparable as a global, multi-office provider of brand strategy services serving enterprise clients.
• Omnicom Group: Global marketing and corporate communications holding company encompassing creative, media, and brand strategy networks. Comparable as a multi-office, enterprise-focused brand services competitor.
• Dentsu: Japan-headquartered global advertising and brand services group with strong European and US presence. Comparable as a large-scale, multi-office provider of brand strategy and creative work for global brands.
• Interpublic Group (IPG): Global advertising holding company with major creative networks (e.g., McCann, MullenLowe) serving enterprise clients worldwide. Comparable in serving global brand strategy mandates across multiple offices.

Direct peers

• Droga5: Independent creative agency known for brand strategy and integrated campaigns for ambitious global brands. Directly comparable to Kastner in positioning, target client type, and emphasis on distinctive brand work.
• Wolff Olins: Global brand consultancy offering brand strategy, identity, and experience design for ambitious global brands. Directly comparable as a multi-office, premium brand strategy firm.
• Pentagram: Independent design and brand identity firm with multiple partner-led studios. Comparable as a privately held, multi-office agency focused on brand identity and strategic positioning for high-profile clients.
• Mother Design: Independent creative and design agency with global offices serving ambitious brands. Directly comparable as a multi-office independent pursuing premium creative and brand positioning work.
• Anomaly: Independent creative agency offering brand strategy, advertising, and innovation services to global brands. Directly comparable in business model, client profile, and emphasis on non-traditional brand building.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kastner-la
• Instagraminstagram.com/kastner_global
• Xx.com/kastner_la
• Facebookfacebook.com/kastnerla

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kastner