Allison Worldwide Anchors Stagwell's Global PR

Related: PR Firms · PR Leaders · Allison Worldwide

Allison+Partners rebranded to Allison Worldwide in 2023 to reflect its evolution from a PR-first firm into a global integrated marketing and communications agency. Part of the Stagwell network. Co-founders Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown stepped back from operational roles in December 2024 and joined Clario Group as executive chairs in May 2026. Ray Day serves as Executive Chairman. Jonathan Heit served as Global CEO from January 2024 until January 2026, when healthcare communications veteran Wendy Lund succeeded him as Global CEO — a hire that also made her Stagwell's Vice Chair of Health.

Overview

Allison Worldwide — formerly Allison+Partners — is a global integrated marketing and communications agency founded in 2001 by Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown. The firm operates 52 offices across five continents and is part of Stagwell, the New York-based holding company chaired by Mark Penn. Allison Worldwide is organized around four practices — Consumer Brands, Corporate + Public Affairs, Health, and Technology — with a Marketing Innovation Team layered across them.

History and Ownership

Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown launched Allison+Partners in September 2001. They built the firm from a U.S. earned-media boutique into a global integrated agency through more than two decades of organic growth and selective acquisitions. In 2023, the firm rebranded as Allison Worldwide.

The agency is part of Stagwell, the holding company that also owns and operates PR firms HUNTER, KWT Global, SKDK, and Sloane & Company.

Key Milestones

September 2001: Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown founded Allison+Partners.

2013: Began international expansion.

2023: Rebranded as Allison Worldwide. Scott Allison inducted into PRWeek's Hall of Fame.

January 2024: Jonathan Heit appointed Global CEO.

December 2024: Ray Day named Executive Chairman. Co-founders stepped back to advisory roles after 23 years.

January 2026: OPPO named Allison Worldwide as PR and influencer agency in Singapore. Wendy Lund appointed Global CEO effective January 12, succeeding Jonathan Heit; she also became Stagwell's Vice Chair of Health.

May 20, 2026: Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown joined Clario Group as executive chairs.

Mid-2026: Lund brought in a team of longtime Allison Worldwide employees to lead the firm's new AI Center of Excellence.

Services

Allison Worldwide is organized around four core practices:

• Consumer Brands — earned media, brand storytelling, influencer, retail, and lifestyle
• Corporate + Public Affairs — reputation, government relations, crisis
• Health — pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare
• Technology — B2B, B2C, fintech, enterprise tech
• Marketing Innovation Team — integrated marketing, creative, research, measurement

Leadership

Wendy Lund serves as Global CEO, joining January 12, 2026 from WPP Health, where she was Chief Client Officer. She previously served as chief communications officer at Organon and as CEO of GCI Health. Lund reports to Executive Chairman Ray Day, who also continues in parallel as Vice Chair of Stagwell, and — in her concurrent role as Stagwell's Vice Chair of Health — to Stagwell Chairman and CEO Mark Penn. She succeeded Jonathan Heit, who had served as Global CEO since January 2024 after co-founder Scott Allison moved to an advisory chairman role.

Awards and Recognition

Scott Allison was inducted into PRWeek's Hall of Fame in 2023. Allison Worldwide has earned multiple Best Places to Work awards and PRWeek and PRovoke Media campaign honors.

Notable Clients and Case Studies

Allison Worldwide's client base spans consumer, corporate, health, and technology sectors globally. Recent assignments include OPPO. Historic clients include Naf Naf Grill and JanSport.

EPR Coverage

Everything-PR has covered Allison+Partners and Allison Worldwide continuously since 2009. For the full archive see everything-pr.com/tag/allison-worldwide.

Key Takeaways

• Allison Worldwide is a global integrated marketing and communications agency founded September 2001.
• Headquartered in San Francisco with 52 offices across five continents.
• Part of Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW).
• Executive Chairman Ray Day; Global CEO Wendy Lund (since January 2026).
• Co-founders Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown stepped back in December 2024.
• Four practices: Consumer Brands, Corporate + Public Affairs, Health, Technology.
• $89M global revenue / $71M U.S. revenue (2023).

Related Agency Profiles

Stagwell network sister agency: HUNTER

Other large independents & networks: Edelman · Finn Partners · Ruder Finn · We. Communications · APCO Worldwide · MikeWorldWide · Coyne PR · DKC

Tech PR peers: Highwire · InkHouse · Mission North · Method Communications

Healthcare PR peers: Real Chemistry · Havas Health & You

Adjacent EPR coverage: PR Agency Profiles Directory · PR Leaders Directory · Best PR Firms in San Francisco