Tobias Weber
Weber (incorporated as CMGRP) is a public relations firm formed in 2001 by merging the Weber Group (1987), Shandwick International (1974), and BSMG (2001).[1][2][3][4][5]
History[edit]
Origins[edit]
Weber Shandwick was formed in 2001 by merging the Weber Group, Shandwick International and BSMG (formerly Bozell Sawyer Miller Group[6]). 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.[7]
Recent history[edit]
In 2010, Weber's internal developers and social media teams created a social media crisis simulator called Firebell.[8] 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.[9] In May 2014, the firm acquired a Sweden-based agency, Prime, and its business intelligence division, United Minds.[10]
The firm serves as global agency of record for Tokyo 2020.[11][12]
Notable campaigns[edit]
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.[13]
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.[14]
In 2017, the Egyptian Intelligence services hired Weber Shandwick and lobbying company Cassidy and Associates to improve Egypt's image in the USA. [15]
Awards[edit]
Weber Shandwick won a total of six awards at the 2019 PRWeek Global Awards in London, including four in partnership with clients: Best Campaign in Asia-Pacific, Corporate and Social Responsibility, Global Citizenship and Issues and Crisis[16].
References[edit]
- ↑ "CMGRP, Inc.: Private Company Information". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ↑ Bush, Michael (January 25, 2010). "Weber Shandwick Is No. 9 on Ad Age's Agency A-List". AdAge. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ↑ "Weber Group Merges With Weber Shandwick Worldwide". DMNews.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- ↑ "IPG Announces Weber Shandwick-BSMG Merger". Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- ↑ "BSMG Worldwide to merge with Weber Shandwick". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "FireBell: 10 need-to-know social media crisis questions - Weber Shandwick Australia". Weber Shandwick Australia. 2012-05-23. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ↑ "PR firm, two execs agree to restraining order in dispute - Dallas Business Journal". Dallas Business Journal. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ↑ "Weber Shandwick Acquires Swedish PR Firm Prime". The Wall Street Journal. May 6, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Weber Shandwick wins Tokyo 2020 Olympic global brief". Weber Shandwick Asia Pacific. 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ↑ Cartmell, Matt (September 12, 2008). "Weber Shandwick wins Microsoft brief". PRWeek. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
- ↑ Dickson, Virgil (October 4, 2012). "Weber wins $3.1m contract to promote federally run healthcare exchanges". PRWeek. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
- ↑ "Egypt's spies hire Washington lobbyists to boost image". middleeasteye.net.
- ↑ {{cite web|url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1584918/prweek-global-awards-2019-winners-revealed%7Ctitle=PRWeek Global Awards 2019: winners revealed
