Anomaly has launched an office in Paris, a milestone expansion that extends the agency’s global network to one of the world’s most influential creative capitals. The opening complements Anomaly’s established presence in New York, Los Angeles, London, Toronto, Berlin, and Shanghai.
Mehdi Benali and Olivier Aumard, globally recognized leaders recruited from France’s top-tier agency landscape, will lead the operation as CEO and chief creative officer (CCO), respectively.
Benali and Aumard will partner to drive Anomaly’s presence in the market, setting a high standard of excellence for the agency and its France-based client roster. The pair will work directly with Anomaly co-founder Carl Johnson, with Aumard also collaborating closely with Anomaly co-founder & global CCO Mike Byrne on matters of creative leadership and excellence.
“Anomaly was founded with an awareness of the age-old observation that ‘to a man with a hammer every problem’s a nail.’ Consequently, we leverage the broadest definition of creativity, from product innovation to design to long-form content, in pursuit of effectiveness,” said Johnson. “This philosophy has driven our global expansion and now guides our next chapter as we grow our network across EMEA. Mehdi and Olivier are bold, unconventional thinkers who push against the boundaries that have the potential to inhibit our work; I have no doubt they will bring the best our network has to offer to the French market.”
Benali is an internationally respected creative and business leader with more than two decades of experience building influential brands and agencies. Most recently, he served as managing director at BETC Paris, overseeing global clients including Citroën, Lacoste, and Decathlon, while driving agency growth and culture. Previously, Benali helped launch and scale Sid Lee Paris and has held senior roles at agencies including Fred & Farid, Grey, and BBH in London and Paris. His work has earned accolades from Cannes Lions, D&AD, Effie, Grand Prix Stratégies, Eurobest, and Clios, among other award shows.
“It feels like my previous experiences in Paris and London have led me to Anomaly: a global network with creativity at its core, a model based on finding the right answer beyond traditional advertising, and an agile structure made to disrupt the market,” said Benali. “The agency’s track record and vision for the future precisely reflect what we want to bring to the French market. My ambition is to build the strongest possible version of Anomaly right here in my hometown.”
Aumard is one of France’s most awarded creative leaders, with more than 200 international honors including Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, Clios, and Eurobest. Most recently executive creative director at BETC Paris, he led global brands such as Lacoste and Amazon during a period when WARC named the agency the world’s most creative. Aumard has also served as a juror for Cannes Lions and The One Show.
“To me, Anomaly is about exploring new territories,” said Aumard. “It’s a world-class agency that challenges the status quo, blending diverse talents and influences while staying focused on creative business solutions, exactly how I want to approach every brief. I’m energized by the opportunity to merge Anomaly’s culture with the creative force of Paris and build something truly meaningful.”
