Harvey Hudes is the founder and CEO of Caliber Corporate Advisers, a B2B strategic marketing communications firm serving the fintech and financial services industry. Hudes was a founding team member of PRWeek before launching Caliber. The firm operates two proprietary platforms: Event Analyzer (real-time awards and event intelligence for clients) and Caliber Intelligence (a separate division focused on market capabilities analysis, customer profile discovery, product roadmap advisory, and KPI development for fintech and financial services firms). Notable clients include Northern Trust, Symphony, FINOS, Legal & General, Bank of Montreal Capital Markets, Clear Capital, Smart Pension, Corvus, and Finomial.
The Interview
Q: What is Caliber's origin story?
A: I learned the agency world from a unique vantage point as one of the founding team members of PRWeek. From that time, and over the next 10 years, I saw friction between organizations and their agency partners. One of the most prevalent was the lack of agency focus — and therefore lack of depth in understanding nuanced and complex subject matter.
Q: Why B2B financial services and fintech?
A: The complexity of financial services and fintech means a high barrier to entry, and only a few that can truly understand how to tell their story effectively. That exclusivity and challenge appeals to me. It requires us to bring a more thoughtful approach to the table.
Q: What makes Caliber unique?
A: We work in the business of technology and innovation. We see our clients evolving the financial services industry with innovative solutions, so to stand out, we've figured out ways to become innovative ourselves. We offer clients a platform to view upcoming awards and events in real-time through a platform we built called Event Analyzer. The pandemic posed an opportunity to develop Caliber Intelligence — a division for fintech companies and financial services firms to turn data and insights into action. Caliber Intelligence focuses on market capabilities analysis, customer profile discovery, product roadmap advisory, growth and customer acquisition strategies, and key performance indicator development.
Q: Notable clients?
A: Our clients vary from large, established financial institutions to growth-stage startups. Notable clients include Northern Trust, Symphony, FINOS, Legal & General, Bank of Montreal Capital Markets, Clear Capital, Smart Pension, Corvus, and Finomial.
Q: How did 2020 impact Caliber?
A: Like any small business, we had to be strategic about every investment — from people to technology. We forged stronger relationships with clients by being a true partner. We created a game plan and experienced continued growth. If you would have asked me whether that would have been possible at the end of March, I would probably have said you were crazy. Resilience pays off.
Q: Trends in B2B PR and marketing?
A: We've seen a continued shift to virtual events. For B2B companies, content is especially important — webinars, brand-building through media buying. Content and media buying are tied to building trust, which is more important than ever. Influencer marketing is also rising — the power of influencers via social media can be enormous.
Q: How are you servicing clients?
A: We listen to clients' needs and anticipate how to adapt our offerings. In addition to public relations, content, social, and digital have played a more prevalent role in client strategies. The lack of ability to interact with customers in person has created unique marketing opportunities.
Harvey Hudes is the founder and CEO of Caliber Corporate Advisers , a B2B strategic marketing communications firm serving the fintech and financial services industry. Hudes was a founding team member of PRWeek before launching Caliber. The firm operates two proprietary platforms: Event Analyzer (real-time awards and event intelligence for clients) and Caliber Intelligence (a separate division focused on market capabilities analysis, customer profile discovery, product roadmap advisory, and KPI development for fintech and financial services firms). Notable clients include Northern Trust, Symphony, FINOS, Legal & General, Bank of Montreal Capital Markets, Clear Capital, Smart Pension, Corvus, and Finomial . The Interview Q: What is Caliber's origin story?
A: I learned the agency world from a unique vantage point as one of the founding team members of PRWeek. From that time, and over the next 10 years, I saw friction between organizations and their agency partners. One of the most prevalent was the lack of agency focus — and therefore lack of depth in understanding nuanced and complex subject matter.
Q: Why B2B financial services and fintech?
A: The complexity of financial services and fintech means a high barrier to entry, and only a few that can truly understand how to tell their story effectively. That exclusivity and challenge appeals to me. It requires us to bring a more thoughtful approach to the table.
Q: What makes Caliber unique?
A: We work in the business of technology and innovation. We see our clients evolving the financial services industry with innovative solutions, so to stand out, we've figured out ways to become innovative ourselves. We offer clients a platform to view upcoming awards and events in real-time through a platform we built called Event Analyzer. The pandemic posed an opportunity to develop Caliber Intelligence — a division for fintech companies and financial services firms to turn data and insights into action. Caliber Intelligence focuses on market capabilities analysis, customer profile discovery, product roadmap advisory, growth and customer acquisition strategies, and key performance indicator development.
Q: Notable clients?
A: Our clients vary from large, established financial institutions to growth-stage startups. Notable clients include Northern Trust, Symphony, FINOS, Legal & General, Bank of Montreal Capital Markets, Clear Capital, Smart Pension, Corvus, and Finomial.
Q: How did 2020 impact Caliber?
A: Like any small business, we had to be strategic about every investment — from people to technology. We forged stronger relationships with clients by being a true partner. We created a game plan and experienced continued growth. If you would have asked me whether that would have been possible at the end of March, I would probably have said you were crazy. Resilience pays off.
Q: Trends in B2B PR and marketing?
A: We've seen a continued shift to virtual events. For B2B companies, content is especially important — webinars, brand-building through media buying. Content and media buying are tied to building trust, which is more important than ever. Influencer marketing is also rising — the power of influencers via social media can be enormous.
Q: How are you servicing clients?
A: We listen to clients' needs and anticipate how to adapt our offerings. In addition to public relations, content, social, and digital have played a more prevalent role in client strategies. The lack of ability to interact with customers in person has created unique marketing opportunities.
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.
