HUNTER is a 400-person global consumer and corporate communications agency with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London. Founded in 1989 in New York, the firm operates under the Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) network and is led by an all-female C-suite under CEO Grace Leong. In January 2025, HUNTER integrated KWT Global — a sister Stagwell agency — under the HUNTER banner, expanding its capabilities across consumer, corporate, crisis, financial services, travel, hospitality, and B2B communications. The firm posted five consecutive years of double-digit growth, reaching $67 million in 2024 net fees.
| Founded | 1989 in New York |
| Headquarters | New York, NY |
| Offices | New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London |
| CEO | Grace Leong |
| Global Chief Client Officer | Gabrielle Zucker (formerly KWT Global CEO) |
| Chief Operating Officer | Samantha Turtle |
| Parent Company | Stagwell Inc. (NASDAQ: STGW) |
| Employees | ~400 across four global offices |
| Revenue | $67M net fees (2024); $58M (2023); five consecutive years of double-digit growth |
| Leadership Composition | All-female C-suite; 90% female executive leadership team |
| Specialties | Consumer, food & beverage, beauty, fashion & lifestyle, home, retail, travel & hospitality, financial services, corporate, crisis, B2B, entertainment marketing |
| Major 2025 Move | KWT Global integrated under HUNTER banner (January 29, 2025) |
Overview: What HUNTER Does
HUNTER is one of the larger consumer-led communications agencies in the United States. Founded in 1989, the firm built its reputation over three and a half decades on food, beverage, beauty, fashion, lifestyle, home, and retail brand work — anchored by signature long-term client relationships, most famously TABASCO® Brand Pepper Sauce, which has been a HUNTER client since the agency's founding 35 years ago.
The firm became part of MDC Partners in 2014. MDC merged with Stagwell in 2021 to form Stagwell Inc. (NASDAQ: STGW). In January 2025, Stagwell integrated KWT Global — a sister communications agency it also owned — under the HUNTER banner, expanding HUNTER from a primarily consumer agency into a full-service global consultancy.
Why It Matters
HUNTER's January 2025 absorption of KWT Global is one of the more notable intra-network consolidations in recent PR industry history — turning two Stagwell-owned mid-sized firms into a single 400-person global consultancy. The combined firm expanded its capabilities across consumer, corporate, crisis, financial services, travel, hospitality, and B2B communications. The firm's all-female C-suite and 90%-female executive leadership team make it a structural outlier among large-network PR firms.
History and Ownership
HUNTER (originally Hunter Public Relations) was founded in 1989 in New York. The firm grew steadily as a consumer-led specialist through the 1990s and 2000s, particularly anchored by long-running food, beverage, and lifestyle accounts.
In 2014, MDC Partners acquired a majority stake in HUNTER, joining MDC's roster of communications firms. In 2021, MDC Partners completed its merger with Stagwell, creating Stagwell Inc. (NASDAQ: STGW), the publicly traded marketing holding company led by Mark Penn.
On January 29, 2025, Stagwell announced that HUNTER and KWT Global — both Stagwell-owned firms — would integrate under the HUNTER banner. CEO Grace Leong continued in her role. KWT Global CEO Gabrielle Zucker became Global Chief Client Officer. Samantha Turtle was named Chief Operating Officer. Gigi García Russo became Chief Transformation Officer. The combined leadership represents an all-female C-suite and a 90%-female executive leadership team.
Key Milestones
1989: HUNTER founded in New York. TABASCO® became the firm's first client (and remains a client 35+ years later).
2014: MDC Partners acquired majority stake.
2021: MDC Partners merged with Stagwell to form Stagwell Inc. (NASDAQ: STGW).
2023: Reported $58M in net fees.
2024: Reported $67M in net fees — 17% growth, fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth.
January 29, 2025: Integration of KWT Global expanded HUNTER's London presence and corporate communications capabilities.
Services
HUNTER delivers integrated communications across public relations, social media, influencer and talent engagement, content, experiential marketing, corporate reputation, crisis communications, B2B communications, and entertainment marketing.
Practice Areas
HUNTER's practice areas span food and beverage, travel and hospitality, home, fashion and lifestyle, technology, retail, health, beauty, financial services, corporate communications, crisis, and B2B. The post-KWT integration significantly expanded the corporate, crisis, B2B, and financial services capabilities of what had been a primarily consumer-led firm.
The agency's Entertainment Marketing practice — led from the Los Angeles office by Samantha Turtle (now also COO) — represents a distinct capability tied to the agency's longstanding work with consumer and lifestyle brands seeking talent and entertainment partnerships.
Clients and Accounts
HUNTER's pre-merger client roster included Amazon, Reckitt, Benjamin Moore, Vera Bradley, Danone North America, and TABASCO® Brand Pepper Sauce. The KWT integration added Tanger, Fairmont, PODS, Technogym, Tommy John, IRONMAN, Lovesac, L'Oreal, Liquid I.V., Experian, and Laurel Road — expanding deeply into travel and hospitality, financial services, health, wellness, and luxury categories.
Leadership Team and Executives
Grace Leong serves as CEO. Gabrielle Zucker — previously CEO of KWT Global — is Global Chief Client Officer. Gigi García Russo is Chief Transformation Officer. Samantha Turtle, who previously led HUNTER's Los Angeles office and Entertainment Marketing practice, is Chief Operating Officer. The C-suite is all-female and the broader executive leadership team is 90% female.
Awards and Recognition
HUNTER has been recognized as Mid-Sized Agency of the Year, Consumer Agency of the Year, and a Best Place to Work across PRovoke Media and PR Council programs. The firm's $67M 2024 net fees represent its strongest single-year revenue.
EPR Coverage
Everything-PR has covered HUNTER for years, including the January 2025 KWT Global integration. For the full archive, see everything-pr.com/tag/hunter.
FAQ
Is HUNTER independent? No. HUNTER is part of Stagwell Inc. (NASDAQ: STGW). MDC Partners acquired HUNTER in 2014; MDC merged with Stagwell in 2021.
Who owns HUNTER? HUNTER is owned by Stagwell Inc. (NASDAQ: STGW).
What industries does HUNTER specialize in? Consumer, food and beverage, beauty, fashion and lifestyle, home, retail, travel and hospitality, financial services, technology, health, corporate communications, crisis, B2B, and entertainment marketing.
Who is the CEO of HUNTER? Grace Leong serves as CEO. Gabrielle Zucker (formerly KWT Global CEO) is Global Chief Client Officer.
How large is HUNTER? ~400 staff across four global offices: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London. $67M in 2024 net fees.
What notable acquisitions or mergers has HUNTER completed? HUNTER was acquired by MDC Partners in 2014. MDC merged with Stagwell in 2021. On January 29, 2025, Stagwell integrated KWT Global under the HUNTER banner.
What makes HUNTER different from competitors? One of the few large-network PR firms operating with an all-female C-suite and a 90%-female executive leadership team. The January 2025 KWT Global integration created a 400-person global consultancy.
Who was KWT Global? A Stagwell-owned brand strategy and PR firm — formerly known as Kwittken — integrated under HUNTER January 2025. KWT CEO Gabrielle Zucker became Global Chief Client Officer at HUNTER.
Key Takeaways
- HUNTER was founded in 1989 in New York. TABASCO® has been a client since the agency's founding.
- Owned by Stagwell Inc. (NASDAQ: STGW). MDC Partners acquired HUNTER in 2014; MDC merged with Stagwell in 2021.
- On January 29, 2025, Stagwell integrated KWT Global under the HUNTER banner — creating a 400-person global consultancy.
- Grace Leong is CEO. The C-suite is all-female and the executive leadership team is 90% female.
- $67M in 2024 net fees; five consecutive years of double-digit revenue growth.
- Clients: Amazon, Reckitt, Benjamin Moore, Vera Bradley, Danone, TABASCO®, Tanger, Fairmont, PODS, Technogym, Tommy John, IRONMAN, Lovesac, L'Oreal, Liquid I.V., Experian, Laurel Road.
Other consumer-led agencies: Coyne PR · DeVries Global · The Krupp Group · Tractenberg & Co. · Marketing Maven · Big Picture PR · AMP3 PR
Other Stagwell network firms: Allison Worldwide · Team Epiphany
Travel & hospitality competitors: Hawkins International · Murphy O'Brien
Adjacent EPR coverage: PR Agency Profiles Directory · PR Leaders Directory · Top Beauty PR Firms in 2026
