Edelman

Edelman is an American public relations and marketing consultancy firm, founded in 1952 by, and named after, Daniel Edelman. It is currently run by his son Richard Edelman. As of 2018, it is the largest public relations firm in the world by revenue and with 6,000 employees.

Edelman public relations was founded in Chicago in 1952 by former journalist Daniel J. Edelman as Daniel J. Edelman and Associates. The company started with three employees and grew to serve 25 accounts by 1960.

The agency opened the New York office in 1960. This was followed by a series of office openings around the globe spanning seven decades including London (1967); Washington, D.C. (1968); Hong Kong (1986); Silicon Valley (1992); and Beijing (1994). Between 2010 and 2012, Edelman continued its global expansion opening offices in Calgary, Dubai, and five new branches in India—Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune. In 2013, the firm opened its first office in South Africa with the acquisition of Baird's Renaissance. In 2015 it expanded its footprint in South America through the purchase of Position Comunicaciones in Colombia.

The New York office grew from $1 million to $20 million in revenues from 1979 to the late 1980s under the leadership of Daniel Edelman's son, Richard Edelman. By 1981, Edelman had five international offices and it opened six more over the following decade. Some former employees and industry experts said its focus on financial growth led to high turnover and client service issues as a result. There was also an unsuccessful attempt by some employees to start their own firm with some of Edelman's clients.

Richard Edelman was named Global CEO of the eponymous firm in 1996. He took over for his father Daniel J. Edelman, who remained Chairman of Edelman until he died in 2013 at the age of 92. In the 1990s, offices were opened in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Spain, South Korea, China, and Belgium. In the United States, a Silicon Valley office was opened in 1992 to serve technology clients, and in Sacramento, California, in 1994. It also opened offices in Florida, Georgia, and Washington. The firm grew to $70 million in revenues by 1994.

In 1995, Edelman was the first public relations firm to have a website and began web-based projects for its clients. By the early 2000s it grew to $210 million with about 25% of revenues coming from Europe. In September 2010, Edelman acquired a Houston-based firm, Vollmer public relations.

With the introduction of Edelman Internet Services in 1995, Edelman became the first public relations firm to launch a digital practice.

Edelman Internet Services would go on to become Edelman Digital. And in 2018, the 600-plus-member practice was named Global Digital Agency of the Year by PRovoke Media.

An office was opened in Turkey in 2012.[24] By 2012, it had established the Edelman Digital division with about 600 staff and about half of its work was social media-related. It acquired technology public relations firm, A&R, in 2006.[25] In January 2013, the firm launched The Daniel J. Edelman China Group.

In 2012 it introduced the Business and Social Purpose division. It also introduced the Employee Engagement Connections Index, which helps users evaluate employee engagement through data collected in employee surveys, social media conversations, and feedback from human resources departments.

Edelman launched a joint venture with United Talent Agency in 2014 that resulted in the formation of a unit called United Entertainment Group (UEG). UEG specializes in entertainment, sports and lifestyle marketing. The unit saw 10% growth in 2019.

In September 2018, Edelman was listed by UK-based company Richtopia at number 4 in the list of 200 Most Influential PR Companies.

Matthew Harrington, a 35-year Edelman veteran and current Chief Operating Officer, was named Global President of the firm in 2019.

Judy John was named Edelman's first-ever Global Chief Creative Officer in February 2019.

Lisa Osborne Ross was named CEO of Edelman's U.S. operation in April 2021. Ross became the first Black woman to run a PR operation of that size.