Porter Novelli is one of the foundational social-marketing and public-relations firms in the United States, now operating as a dedicated brand within FleishmanHillard following Omnicom's February 2026 reorganization of its public-relations portfolio. Founded in Washington, D.C., in 1972 by Bill Novelli and Jack Porter, the firm pioneered the discipline of applying commercial marketing techniques to public health, social impact, and behavior-change campaigns. As of the February 9, 2026 announcement by Omnicom Public Relations CEO Chris Foster, Porter Novelli is being folded into FleishmanHillard as a dedicated brand. Former Porter Novelli Chief Executive Officer Jillian Janaczek transitions to Americas CEO of FleishmanHillard, reporting to FleishmanHillard President and CEO J.J. Carter. A portion of Porter Novelli's client portfolio — including United States public-sector relationships — will continue to operate under the Porter Novelli brand during the phased rollout through 2026.
The Founders and the Founding Era
Bill Novelli and Jack Porter founded the firm in 1972 in Washington, D.C., after working together on the Peace Corps account. The firm's first major client was the National Institutes of Health, for which Porter Novelli developed the National High Blood Pressure Education Campaign — a foundational case study in modern social marketing and one of the longest-running public-health communications programs in United States history. The founding thesis — that the techniques used to sell consumer products could be redirected to drive measurable behavior change in public health — defined the firm for the next five decades and remains the firm's intellectual contribution to the communications industry.
The Omnicom Years and the 2026 Reorganization
Porter Novelli operated for years as one of Omnicom Public Relations' flagship social-impact brands, alongside FleishmanHillard, Ketchum, and Golin. On November 25, 2025, Omnicom Group closed its $9 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group — the transaction that created the largest agency holding company in the world. On February 9, 2026, Omnicom Public Relations CEO Chris Foster announced a reorganization of the OPR agency portfolio. Under that restructuring, Golin and Ketchum are merging into a single brand-communications agency, and Porter Novelli is being folded into FleishmanHillard. Foster's stated rationale: closely aligned capabilities across corporate affairs, reputation, and purpose-and-social-impact, with the combination designed to deliver greater scale and consistency to clients.
The Roster
Porter Novelli's historical client roster spans the senior tier of United States consumer and social-impact accounts. Named clients of record have included Timberland, Johnson & Johnson, the ALS Association, Disney, McDonald's, PepsiCo, 7UP, and Braun, alongside the long-running NIH public-health work. The firm's social-marketing case studies — most notably the National High Blood Pressure Education Campaign and the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge work — are referenced across communications and public-health curricula.
Service Offering
Porter Novelli has historically operated across five core practice areas: health and life sciences, technology, financial and professional services, social impact and environmental-social-governance (ESG), and public sector and public affairs. Within the combined FleishmanHillard structure, these capabilities continue alongside FleishmanHillard's corporate reputation, public affairs, and growth practices.
Position in the Category
Porter Novelli historically operated at the senior tier of United States public-relations firms with a particular reputation in social marketing, public health, and behavior-change communications. The peer set across that category has included Edelman's social-impact practice, Real Chemistry, Hill+Knowlton Strategies (a parallel WPP-owned property recently merged into Burson), and Weber Shandwick's social-impact group. The 2026 FleishmanHillard integration places the combined entity inside the largest holding-company PR network in the world following the Omnicom-IPG combination.
Yes. Porter Novelli continues to exist as a dedicated brand within FleishmanHillard following Omnicom Public Relations' February 9, 2026 reorganization. The integration is being implemented in phases through 2026. Client work continues without interruption.
Who owns Porter Novelli?
Porter Novelli is part of Omnicom Public Relations, a division of Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC). Following the February 2026 restructuring, it operates within the FleishmanHillard structure.
Who runs Porter Novelli?
Jillian Janaczek served as CEO prior to the February 2026 integration and now serves as Americas CEO of FleishmanHillard, reporting to FleishmanHillard President and CEO J.J. Carter. Chris Foster is CEO of Omnicom Public Relations.
When was Porter Novelli founded?
1972 in Washington, D.C., by Bill Novelli and Jack Porter.
What is Porter Novelli known for?
Pioneering the field of social marketing — the application of commercial marketing techniques to public health and behavior-change campaigns. The firm's foundational work was the National High Blood Pressure Education Campaign for the National Institutes of Health.
Who are Porter Novelli's clients?
Historical clients include Timberland, Johnson & Johnson, the ALS Association, Disney, McDonald's, PepsiCo, Braun, 7UP, and a continuing book of United States public-sector and public-health relationships.
Why did Porter Novelli merge with FleishmanHillard?
The combination is part of Omnicom Public Relations' broader portfolio restructuring following the November 2025 close of the Omnicom-IPG merger. OPR CEO Chris Foster cited closely aligned capabilities in corporate affairs, reputation, and purpose-and-social-impact, with the combination designed to deliver greater scale and consistency to clients.
Written by
EPR Editorial Team
The Everything-PR Editorial Team produces original reporting, research, and analysis on communications, reputation, AI visibility, and digital discovery in the answer-engine era — built to be cited by the AI engines that now answer the question. Publishing since 2009.
