The Building of a World-Leading Global Public Relations Agency
In 1923, George Ketchum founded Ketchum Communications, opening his first office in Pittsburgh, Pa. Even though the agency started off in the advertising business, it quickly expanded to include public relations and, in 1934, the agency launched a public relations department, the first of its kind in a Pittsburgh advertising agency.
Ketchum soon opened additional operations throughout the U.S., helping to expand the company now headquartered in New York into a major national player. Ketchum later expanded globally.
The year 1996 marked another major step on the road to worldwide success -- the acquisition of Ketchum by Omnicom Group, the third-largest marketing communications holding company in the world. Being part of Omnicom Group enabled Ketchum to grow geographically and also to expand the services and expertise it offers clients.
The agency's acquisitions of such prominent firms as Sheppard Associates (in 1999), The Washington Group (in 2001), Stromberg Consulting (in 2001) and Corporate Technology Communications (in 2001) have supplemented Ketchum's strength in its five global practices and portfolio of specialized services.
More than 80 years later, the communications company that still carries George Ketchum's name has grown into a world-leading public relations firm with a network of 24 offices and 40-plus affiliates around the globe.
Secret of Success
The Ketchum culture "always has" been grounded in its strong passion for delivering the best client service and hiring the best people. Ketchum's industry-leading collaborative culture and global "Best Teams" approach continue to set it apart.
In a very competitive marketplace, Ketchum has established itself as a thought leader and set benchmarks in the industry for the longevity of its client relationships as well as the tenure of its employees. The firm also has a reputation for attracting new business.
For years Ketchum has been recognized for its high-profile training programs that include Camp Ketchum and Ketchum College, as well as initiatives such as the Road Scholarship and the sabbatical program. They have received widespread recognition in the industry.
These accomplishments and others have led Ketchum to be included in two recent business books, Practice What You Preach (The Free Press, 2001), by David Maister, and Winning the Talent Wars (W.W. Norton & Company, 2001), by Bruce Tulgan. In addition, for four years in a row, The Holmes Report has ranked Ketchum as the number-one agency where employees want to work.
The Ketchum approach has proven successful, not only with its own people but also when it comes to award-winning work. The agency has won more Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Silver Anvil awards than any other agency.
Practices
With its deep expertise in brand marketing, food and nutrition, healthcare, corporate communications and technology, the Ketchum team offers smart and creative communications approaches to clients' most pressing business challenges around the world.
Going Global
During the '90s, Ketchum reached for Europe and established operations in Munich, Milan, Paris, London and Madrid. Today Ketchum Europe has professionals and a well-established affiliate network that covers all major European markets.
In 1996, Ketchum and Hong Kong-based Newscan launched Ketchum Newscan, which now as Ketchum Greater China serves the agency's Asia Pacific headquarters. With a combination of local talent and international expertise, Ketchum Greater China has expanded to include additional offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Taipei. Ketchum Greater China is one of the top five agencies in China with a staff of multicultural, multilingual professionals and serves as the coordinating office for an Asia Pacific network covering 22 cities across the region.
In 1997, Ketchum established its international operations in Latin America, which now includes 12 offices. In 2001, the agency acquired a share of Estratégia Assessoria de Comunicação in Brazil.
Passion Meets Precision
Ketchum is regarded highly for its unique employee culture, commitment to quality and attention to detail. Enthusiastic about its people and clients, Ketchum creates an environment where "Best Teams" work together worldwide to provide a consistent approach for clients. In 2002, Ketchum was awarded PRWeek's Agency of the Year, a prestigious honor in the public relations industry, for dedication to its people and its work to professionalize the public relations industry.
But it doesn't stop here. The key to establishing the same quality service around the globe has been the launch of two outstanding new services and tools our award-winning intranet, myKGN, and the Ketchum Programming Process.
MyKGN is a state-of-the-art intranet and extranet platform with a collaborative workspace enabling Ketchum and client teams to share information seamlessly in a virtual team room accessible from anywhere. In 2000, CIO magazine chose KGN, the precursor to myKGN, as one of the top 50 intranet sites, and in 2001 myKGN was selected again as one of the top 50 intranet sites.
The Ketchum Programming Process will take Ketchum's programming services to exciting new heights. It combines all of the steps of public relations from generating strategic, yet creative, ideas to measuring results helping to ensure consistent work that packs a measurable impact and work that clients value.
Ketchum Today
A communications innovator, Ketchum ranks among the largest global public relations agencies, operating in more than 50 countries. With five global practices -- Brand Marketing, Corporate, Healthcare, Food and Nutrition, and Technology -- and specialty areas that include Concentric Communications (experiential marketing, events and meetings), Ketchum Entertainment Marketing, Ketchum Global Research Network, Ketchum Sports Network, Stromberg Consulting (change management and workplace communications), and The Washington Group (lobbying and government relations), Ketchum leverages its marketing and corporate communications expertise to build brands and reputations for clients.
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