Weber Shandwick

Weber Shandwick (incorporated as IPG DXTRA) is a public relations firm formed in 2001 by merging the Weber Group (1987), Shandwick International (1974), and BSMG (2001).[3][4][5][6][7][8]

Weber Shandwick
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryPublic relations
PredecessorWeber Group
Shandwick International
BSMG
FoundedJanuary 2001 (2001-01)
Headquarters909 Third Avenue,
New York, NY 10022
United States
Number of locations
78 offices
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Andy Polansky
(Executive chairman)
Gail Heimann
(President and CEO)[1]
Revenue$500 million[2]
ParentInterpublic Group
Websitewww.webershandwick.com

History

Origins

Weber Shandwick was formed in 2001 by merging the Weber Group, Shandwick International and BSMG (formerly Bozell Sawyer Miller Group[9]). Shandwick International acquired consumer PR firm Mona, Meyer, McGrath & Gavin in 1988. Shandwick was in-turn sold to Interpublic Group (IPG) in 1998 and was renamed Weber Shandwick. BSMG merged with Shandwick that October. The firm had acquired large accounts like Coca-Cola and the insurance company Cigna, but by 2001 the company was going through layoffs due to the loss of a $12 million anti-smoking campaign and the general economic outcome of the September 11th terrorist attacks.[10]

Recent history

In 2010, Weber's internal developers and social media teams created a social media crisis simulator called Firebell.[11] In 2011 Weber hired employees to fill roles as community managers, writers, social media marketing strategists producers and analytics experts, making their digital marketing staff number 300. After a Weber executive moved to Hill & Knowlton, Weber Shandwick secured a restraining order after alleging the firm was taking their employees and clients.[12] In May 2014, the firm acquired a Sweden-based agency, Prime, and its business intelligence division, United Minds.[13]

The firm serves as global agency of record for Tokyo 2020.[14][15]

Notable campaigns

In 2008, Weber Shandwick was hired by Microsoft to provide support for non-consumer PR in the EMEA region for products like Windows Client and Microsoft Dynamics.[16]

In 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services contracted Weber Shandwick to run a $3.1 million campaign to raise awareness for state healthcare insurance exchanges mandated by the Affordable Care Act.[17]

In 2017, the Egyptian Intelligence services hired Weber Shandwick and lobbying company Cassidy and Associates to improve Egypt's image in the USA. [18]

References
  1. Bradley, Diana (July 17, 2019). "Andy Polansky named Interpublic CMG CEO; Gail Heimann appointed Weber Shandwick chief". www.prweek.com (Press release).
  2. Weber Shandwick. (2012). PRWeek (U.S.), 15(5), 43.
  3. "CMGRP, Inc.: Private Company Information". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  4. Bush, Michael (January 25, 2010). "Weber Shandwick Is No. 9 on Ad Age's Agency A-List". AdAge. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  5. "Weber Group Merges With Weber Shandwick Worldwide". DMNews.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  6. "IPG Announces Weber Shandwick-BSMG Merger". Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  7. "BSMG Worldwide to merge with Weber Shandwick". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  8. "Interpublic Group rebrands CMG division as IPG DXTRA | Marketing". Campaign Asia. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  9. Barry Siegel, Los Angeles Times, November 24, 1991, Spin Doctors To The World : The Sawyer Miller Group Uses The Tricks Of Political Campaigns To Change The Way You Think About Foreign Governments, Big Business And Any Client In Need Of An Image Lift
  10. Merrill, Ann; David Phelps; Staff Writers (December 24, 2001). "Weber Shandwick hopes for a happier new year; The public relations firm's Bloomington office is eager to put 2001 behind, after client cutbacks, a hiring freeze, layoffs and merger integration efforts". Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN). pp. 1D.
  11. "FireBell: 10 need-to-know social media crisis questions - Weber Shandwick Australia". Weber Shandwick Australia. 2012-05-23. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  12. "PR firm, two execs agree to restraining order in dispute - Dallas Business Journal". Dallas Business Journal. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  13. "Weber Shandwick Acquires Swedish PR Firm Prime". The Wall Street Journal. May 6, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  14. "Weber Shandwick, Global PR Agency for Tokyo 2020 - PR". Everything-PR: Public Relations, Marketing and Social Media News. 2012-06-06. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  15. "Weber Shandwick wins Tokyo 2020 Olympic global brief". Weber Shandwick Asia Pacific. 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  16. Cartmell, Matt (September 12, 2008). "Weber Shandwick wins Microsoft brief". PRWeek. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  17. Dickson, Virgil (October 4, 2012). "Weber wins $3.1m contract to promote federally run healthcare exchanges". PRWeek. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  18. "Egypt's spies hire Washington lobbyists to boost image". middleeasteye.net.
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