"We see this creatively focused agency as a terrific opportunity," he added, "to provide a really interesting alternative in the market."

Martin, which has estimated billings of $352 million, is among the nation's most lauded creatively focused agencies.

Mr. Carroll's departure was the second instance in five months of a top executive's leaving a creatively focused four-man shop.

Citron Haligman, a creatively focused shop with $100 million in billings, is counting on the campaign to help it develop a national reputation.

The campaign, by a creatively focused New York shop, the Ad Store, has a budget estimated at more than $7 million.

The assignment is a major gain for Goldsmith/Jeffrey, a creatively focused shop with billings of $47 million and 34 employees.

He and four other high-profile refugees from mainstream agencies are now partners in a creatively focused New York boutique named Anomaly.

It joins Goodby, Berlin as creatively focused agencies outside the orbits of Omnicom's two networks.

A SMALL, creatively focused agency is fervently hoping that, as the bromide goes, one person can make a difference.

"Big, but creatively focused."