Edelman: Profile, CEO, Ownership and Leadership

Edelman is a public relations firm founded in Chicago in 1952 by Daniel J. Edelman and headquartered in New York. Richard Edelman has been CEO since 1996, and the firm describes itself as independent and family owned, with more than 6,000 employees in 66 offices across 28 countries, per Richard Edelman's company biography. Edelman announced a leadership reshuffle on October 6, 2025, naming Mainardo de Nardis global president and COO.

Originally published October 2009. Updated October 23, 2026.

How did Edelman start?

Daniel J. Edelman opened the firm in Chicago in 1952. Edelman's own company history describes him as a former journalist and World War II public information officer who believed he could offer clients a broader range of services than the press-agent firms that dominated public relations at the time. Wikipedia reports that the Toni home-permanent company became his first client. EPR's Daniel J. Edelman profile covers the founder's life and his death in 2013.

What is Edelman's history and timeline?

The firm grew from a consumer-marketing base into health, public affairs, technology and crisis work, according to its company history. In the 1990s it added research, experiential, paid and consulting offerings, including the units that became Edelman Data and Intelligence and Edelman Digital, and expanded into corporate social responsibility. Wikipedia reports that the New York office under Richard Edelman grew from $1 million to $20 million in revenue between 1979 and the late 1980s.

Who leads Edelman?

Edelman's company biography says Richard Edelman was named CEO in 1996, taking over from his father, who stayed chairman until his death in 2013, and that he was inducted into the American Advertising Hall of Fame in 2022. In its October 6, 2025 announcement, Edelman named Matthew Harrington executive vice chairman, Mainardo de Nardis global president and chief operating officer, and Brian Buchwald president of global transformation and performance. PRWeek reported that de Nardis, a board member for the past five years, took over Harrington's roles on October 13, and that Harrington would focus on the largest global clients.

What does Edelman do?

Edelman describes a practice built on consumer marketing that later added health, public affairs, technology and crisis management. Its company history also names a research, analytics and data consultancy, now Edelman Data and Intelligence, an interactive services division, now Edelman Digital, and corporate social responsibility work. The company history adds that more than 80 percent of its largest clients are long-standing partners, a figure the firm reports about itself.

What is the Edelman Trust Barometer?

The Trust Barometer is Edelman's annual survey of public trust in business, government, media and nongovernmental organizations. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Corporate Reputation says Edelman began the annual research in 2001, and the methodology and results are open for public review. It is the firm's best-known research product and the one most often cited outside the industry. EPR's Edelman Trust Barometer analysis covers the 2026 edition.

What happened with Edelman's layoffs and revenue?

Campaign reported in December 2024 that Edelman was laying off 330 employees, about 5.3% of its workforce, after expecting 2024 revenue to fall about 8% in the U.S. and 3% globally. It reported 2023 global revenue of $1.037 billion. PRWeek later reported a 5% drop to $986 million in 2024, and an 8% decline in the U.S. to $588 million.

Who owns Edelman?

The firm says it remains independent and family owned. Richard Edelman's biography calls him chairman of Daniel J. Edelman Holdings, the firm's holding company. Edelman is privately held, so it does not publish audited financial statements, and the revenue figures above come from trade-press reporting.

How does Edelman compare with other global PR networks?

Edelman is one of the few global networks that is not owned by a listed holding company. The comparison below uses figures from EPR's own profiles of each firm.

Other global network profiles include FleishmanHillard, Golin Ketchum, MSL, Ogilvy PR and Havas Red. Large independents include Ruder Finn and MikeWorldWide. For crisis and corporate competitors, see Brunswick Group, FGS Global, Joele Frank, Kekst CNC and Teneo.

Related: PR agency profiles, PR leaders, PR industry map, Top crisis PR firms, 5W, a PR, creative and GEO agency

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