Basis of Presentation	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	1. Basis of Presentation and Recent Developments The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of MDC Partners Inc. (the “Company” or “MDC”) and its subsidiaries. References herein to “Partner Firms” generally refer to the Company’s subsidiary agencies. MDC has prepared the consolidated financial statements included herein in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for reporting financial information on Form 10-K. Nature of Operations MDC is a leading provider of global marketing, advertising, activation, communications and strategic consulting solutions. MDC’s Partner Firms deliver a wide range of customized services in order to drive growth and business performance for its clients. MDC Partners Inc., formerly MDC Corporation Inc., is incorporated under the laws of Canada. The Company commenced using the name MDC Partners Inc. on November 1, 2003 and legally changed its name through amalgamation with a wholly-owned subsidiary on January 1, 2004. The Company operates primarily in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Recent Developments Strategic Review Process and Successor CEO Search On September 20, 2018, the Company announced its evaluation of potential strategic alternatives, which included, among other things, the possible sale of the Company. On September 12, 2018, the Company announced that Scott Kauffman’s employment as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer would terminate, which it did effective December 31, 2018. The strategic review process proceeded in parallel with the Company’s search to identify a successor CEO. During the interim period in which the Company was evaluating strategic alternatives and assessing potential new CEO candidates, the Board of Directors has established an executive committee comprised of David Doft (EVP, Chief Financial Officer), Mitchell Gendel (EVP, General Counsel), Stephanie Nerlich (EVP, Partner Development and Talent), and David Ross (EVP, Strategy & Corporate Development) (collectively, the “Executive Committee”). Effective January 1, 2019, the Executive Committee assumed the role and responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer until the appointment of a successor. The Board of Directors’ Strategic Alternatives Committee, comprised of three independent directors of the Board (Irwin Simon, Larry Kramer and Anne Marie O’Donovan), have provided oversight for the Executive Committee during the interim period. The Company has completed the strategic review process and search for a new CEO. On March 14, 2019, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Stagwell Agency Holdings LLC (“Stagwell Holdings”), an affiliate of Stagwell Group LLC (“Stagwell”), pursuant to which Stagwell Holdings agreed to purchase, (i)14,285,714 newly authorized Class A shares for $3.50 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $50 million and (ii) 50,000 newly authorized Series 6 convertible preference shares for an aggregate purchase price of $50 million. See Note 23 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information. Effective March 18, 2019, the Company’s Board of the Directors appointed Mark Penn as the Chief Executive Officer (succeeding the Executive Committee) and as a director of the Board. Mr. Penn is manager of Stagwell. Amendment to Credit Agreement On March 12, 2019 , the Company, Maxxcom Inc. (a subsidiary of the Company) (“Maxxcom”) and each of their subsidiaries party thereto entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the existing senior secured revolving credit facility, dated as of May 3, 2016 (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Company, Maxxcom Inc., a Delaware corporation, each of their subsidiaries party thereto, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as agent (“Wells Fargo”), and the lenders from time to time party thereto. See Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information regarding the amendments to the Credit Agreement. Sale of Kingsdale On March 8, 2019, the Company consummated the sale of its Kingsdale business, including operations in Toronto and New York City, back to the Kingsdale Founder and CEO. As consideration for the sale, the Company was paid cash plus the assumption of certain liabilities totaling approximately $50 million in the aggregate.

1. Basis of Presentation and Recent Developments

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of MDC Partners Inc. (the “Company” or “MDC”) and its subsidiaries. References herein to “Partner Firms” generally refer to the Company’s subsidiary agencies.

MDC has prepared the consolidated financial statements included herein in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for reporting financial information on Form 10-K.

Nature of Operations

MDC is a leading provider of global marketing, advertising, activation, communications and strategic consulting solutions. MDC’s Partner Firms deliver a wide range of customized services in order to drive growth and business performance for its clients.

MDC Partners Inc., formerly MDC Corporation Inc., is incorporated under the laws of Canada. The Company commenced using the name MDC Partners Inc. on November 1, 2003 and legally changed its name through amalgamation with a wholly-owned subsidiary on January 1, 2004. The Company operates primarily in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Recent Developments

Strategic Review Process and Successor CEO Search

On September 20, 2018, the Company announced its evaluation of potential strategic alternatives, which included, among other things, the possible sale of the Company. On September 12, 2018, the Company announced that Scott Kauffman’s employment as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer would terminate, which it did effective December 31, 2018. The strategic review process proceeded in parallel with the Company’s search to identify a successor CEO.

During the interim period in which the Company was evaluating strategic alternatives and assessing potential new CEO candidates, the Board of Directors has established an executive committee comprised of David Doft (EVP, Chief Financial Officer), Mitchell Gendel (EVP, General Counsel), Stephanie Nerlich (EVP, Partner Development and Talent), and David Ross (EVP, Strategy & Corporate Development) (collectively, the “Executive Committee”). Effective January 1, 2019, the Executive Committee assumed the role and responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer until the appointment of a successor. The Board of Directors’ Strategic Alternatives Committee, comprised of three independent directors of the Board (Irwin Simon, Larry Kramer and Anne Marie O’Donovan), have provided oversight for the Executive Committee during the interim period.

The Company has completed the strategic review process and search for a new CEO. On March 14, 2019, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Stagwell Agency Holdings LLC (“Stagwell Holdings”), an affiliate of Stagwell Group LLC (“Stagwell”), pursuant to which Stagwell Holdings agreed to purchase, (i)14,285,714 newly authorized Class A shares for $3.50 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $50 million and (ii) 50,000 newly authorized Series 6 convertible preference shares for an aggregate purchase price of $50 million. See Note 23 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information.

Effective March 18, 2019, the Company’s Board of the Directors appointed Mark Penn as the Chief Executive Officer (succeeding the Executive Committee) and as a director of the Board. Mr. Penn is manager of Stagwell.

Amendment to Credit Agreement

On March 12, 2019 , the Company, Maxxcom Inc. (a subsidiary of the Company) (“Maxxcom”) and each of their subsidiaries party thereto entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the existing senior secured revolving credit facility, dated as of May 3, 2016 (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Company, Maxxcom Inc., a Delaware corporation, each of their subsidiaries party thereto, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as agent (“Wells Fargo”), and the lenders from time to time party thereto. See Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information regarding the amendments to the Credit Agreement.

Sale of Kingsdale

On March 8, 2019, the Company consummated the sale of its Kingsdale business, including operations in Toronto and New York City, back to the Kingsdale Founder and CEO. As consideration for the sale, the Company was paid cash plus the assumption of certain liabilities totaling approximately $50 million in the aggregate.