Huge (digital agency)

Huge
IndustryDesign, Technology, AI, Marketing
Founded1999
HeadquartersNew York, NY
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Josh Campo, CEO
Number of employees
1000[1][2]
ParentAEA Investors
Websitewww.hugeinc.com

Huge is an American digital design and technology company founded in Dumbo, Brooklyn, in 1999.

History

Huge was founded by David Skokna, Sasha Kirovski, Gene Liebel, and Aaron Shapiro. Skokna and Kirovski, who had worked together at Deutsch, established the company in Skokna's apartment in 1999.[3]

Huge's first client was IKEA, which hired the firm to redesign its websites.[4] Between 2005 and 2010, the company launched websites for JetBlue, CNN, Reuters, Four Seasons, Pepsi, and Target.[3]

In 2008, The Interpublic Group acquired a stake in Huge for close to $40 million.[5][6][7] In 2009, Huge was named the fastest-growing company across marketing disciplines by Advertising Age.[3]

In 2010, Pepsi worked with Huge on the Pepsi Refresh project, which used social media to fund public initiatives.[8] Later that year, Aaron Shapiro was appointed CEO, and IPG announced an investment of between $8 million and $10 million to support the company's international expansion, including new offices in Brazil, China, Singapore, and Japan. Skokna and Kirovski departed the company around this time.[9]

In 2011, Huge launched a UX School program offering 12-week apprenticeships[10] and opened offices in Rio de Janeiro and London.

In 2013, Huge opened a production studio as part of its expansion into marketing and worked with Samsung[11][12] and Audi on digital and social media projects.[13] The company also led a redesign of New York City's municipal website, the first in a decade.[14][15]

In 2018, Aaron Shapiro stepped down as CEO and was succeeded by Michael Koziol.[16] In 2019, Pete Stein was appointed CEO.[17] In June 2021, IPG named Mat Baxter as Global Chief Executive Officer.[18] In January 2024, Lisa De Bonis became CEO.[19]

In July 2022, Huge laid off approximately 3% of its global workforce following a decline in client activity.[20] The company also signed a lease for a Global Experience Center at Dock 72 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.[21][22][23]

In July 2024, Huge, in partnership with NBCUniversal, developed OLI,[24] a generative AI chat tool for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. The company described OLI as part of its "Intelligent Experiences" initiative.[25] NBCUniversal later partnered with Huge to develop an updated version of OLI for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.[26]

In December 2024, Huge was acquired by AEA Investors, which merged its previously acquired agency Hero Digital into Huge in April 2025.[27]

In April 2025, the company reported that 62% of its clients were using AI-related projects, compared to 25% in June 2024.[28]

In January 2026, Josh Campo became Chief Executive Officer.[29]

References

  1. ↑ Shellenbarger, Sue (November 7, 2017). "Can You Keep Your Meeting to Five Minutes?". The Wall Street Journal.
  2. ↑ "A tour of New York's startup 'Silicon Beach'". Fortune, November 2010. December 6, 2010. Archived from the original on December 2, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 Berger, Warren (November 1, 2010). "Huge". Communication Arts.
  4. ↑ Anderson, Ariston. "David Skokna: There's No Such Thing as a B-Team". 99U. Archived from the original on August 12, 2012.
  5. ↑ Spencer, Benjamin. "40 Under 40 Class of 2011: Aaron Shapiro, 39". Crain's New York Business. Archived from the original on December 16, 2016.
  6. ↑ Morrisey, Brian (July 30, 2008). "IPG Buys Digital Shop Huge". Adweek. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  7. ↑ Parekh, Rupal (July 30, 2008). "Interpublic Buys Into Huge". Advertising Age. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  8. ↑ Elliot, Stuart (February 2010). "Pepsi Invites the Public to Do Good". The New York Times.
  9. ↑ Patel, Kunur (October 13, 2010). "Two Founders of Digital Shop Huge to Depart; Amid Leadership Shuffle, Interpublic Touts Big Investment for Global Expansion". Advertising Age. Kunur Patel.
  10. ↑ Riley-Adams, Ella (July 20, 2011). "At Huge, School's Not Out for the Summer". The New York Egotist.
  11. ↑ Popescu, Adam (June 21, 2013). "Usher and Samsung: A Blueprint for Viral Success". Mashable.
  12. ↑ Faull, Jennifer (June 17, 2013). "Samsung teams up with Usher to create film for its Smart TV". The Drum.
  13. ↑ Bruell, Alexandra (May 8, 2013). "Audi Taps Brooklyn Based Huge to Handle Social Media Efforts". Advertising Age.
  14. ↑ Yee, Vivian (September 29, 2013). "City's Web Site is Redesigned for First Time in a Decade". The New York Times.
  15. ↑ Wilson, Mark (September 30, 2013). "New York City's Website Gets A Hurricane-Proof Makeover". Fast Company.
  16. ↑ Bruell, Alexandra (March 29, 2018). "Huge CEO Aaron Shapiro to Leave the IPG Digital Agency". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Huge hands global CEO job to Razorfish vet as Michael Koziol steps down". The Drum. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  18. ↑ "IPG Names Mat Baxter CEO of Huge" (Press release). June 24, 2021.
  19. ↑ "IPG Names Lisa De Bonis CEO of Huge".
  20. ↑ Fleming, Jameson (July 6, 2022). "Huge Lays Off 37—About 3% of Its Workforce". Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Design firm to drop anchor at Dock 72 on Brooklyn waterfront". July 31, 2022.
  22. ↑ Nehring, Abigail (June 20, 2024). "The Plan: Huge Designs an Office to Spark Creativity at Dock 72". Commercial Observer. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Why Huge is swapping many of its physical offices for experiences and co-working spaces". May 17, 2022.
  24. ↑ "NBCUniversal Introduces "OLI" – AI-powered Chat". NBCUniversal. July 2024.
  25. ↑ "Introducing Huge IX". hugeinc.com. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  26. ↑ ""OLI" – NBCUniversal's AI-powered Olympic guide – returns with enhanced features to provide fans with up-to-date info about NBCU's coverage of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games". NBC Sports. January 5, 2026. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  27. ↑ Kemp, Audrey (April 10, 2025). "Huge Absorbs Hero Digital, Expands Capabilities". Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  28. ↑ "After Merging With Hero, Huge Will Be Go-To-Market Brand". mediapost.com. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Huge Appoints Josh Campo as CEO". hugeinc.com. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
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