Waggener Edstrom Worldwide

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide has recently acquired Patzer PR, a leading Munich-based healthcare PR firm. As Patzer PR integrates into the existing healthcare, technology and renewable energy sector teams, Waggener Edstrom will maintain the Patzer PR brand name for the short-term. The acquisition doubles the size of the Waggener Edstrom Worldwide Munich office. The acquisition is part of Waggener Edstrom's global expansion strategy into markets such as Australia, India, Korea and South Africa, through acquisition, equity investments and new wholly owned offices. Melissa Waggener Zorkin, CEO, president and founder of WE sees the new acquisition as a step in WE’s enduring... Read More >

Surfing about the digital public relations world this morning, I ran across Waggener Edstrom via our new EPR Spanish Twitter variant. As anyone in the online PR business knows, WE's award winning social media arm is out there, always. But my little blurb today focuses on another WE element that caught my eye, their Consumer Engagement Blog. If you are reading this, chances are you are a PR professional or other communicator. Educated, decent income, maybe middle aged, and probably smack in the middle of what I would call "your ambitious years" too. You want to be good at what... Read More >

In agency news, Weber Shandwick has just appointed Barkha Patel-Zinzuwadia Regional Head of Technology and Senior Vice President Asia Pacific. Formerly of Weber Shandwick Singapore, Patel-Zinzuwadia was also General Manager Thailand previously. In other Asia PR moves, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide SVP South Asia, Matthew Lackie, takes on the role of Deputy Lead SVP Asia Pacific in support of the agency's expansion in the region.  For WE Asia Pacific, the branch was recently awarded Mid-Size Network of the Year at the recent Asia Pacific PR Awards. Finally, OgilvyEarth, a practice along sustainability lines by Ogilvy PR Australia, appointed Andrew Ure (pictured) Managing Director. Formerly with... Read More >

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide has recently signed an agreement to invest in Shout Communications Korea, an integrated marketing and communications agency specializing in technology and consumer communications. Shout Korea was established in 2003, and it soon became one of the country’s leading communications agencies. The company has a team of more than 50 consultants, representing globally recognized and leading brands. "Korea is a hub of innovation and one of the strongest economies in Asia," said Melissa Waggener Zorkin, Waggener Edstrom CEO, president and founder. "Shout Communications Korea’s trusted position and proven track record is a direct result of its savvy counsel,... Read More >

In PR agency news, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide has just announced having expanded their consumer portfolio in Hong Kong by adding leading travel luggage company Samsonite. According to the WE release, the agency will provide the full range of services for Samsonite including; corporate communications and digital influence strategy, market insight, and event management. Samsonite, Samsonite Black Label, Samsonite Red and American Tourister brands will be fully represented by one of the world's most respected and largest public relations firms. Waggener Edstrom, for those unfamiliar, serves big brands in Hong Kong like; 7-Eleven, Maxim’s Group, Skagen Designs, and ZUJI. The news... Read More >

Two days ago we waded into three of the top PR firms on O'Dwyer's list of America's most successful. Where digital footprints and online engagement are concerned, even now some firms still practice giving lip service only to real digital engagement. Why this is a big deal is as simple as the old adage; "The proof is in the pudding." In a super competitive world of digital communications, your firm had better be able to "put up" - or just shut up. The 25 most successful communications firms in America should all have the bases covered, shouldn't they? For the... Read More >

The digital landscape these days is cluttered with would-be experts around every corner and tweet. Despite the Internet's vast capability as an information conduit, getting the "straight scoop" on just about anything these days, can be like looking for the proverbial needle. I was looking over some PR company's most recent engagements of the digital world when I ran across a blurb characteristic of what is wrong with communication these days - twitteritis for lack of a better term. WE is disputing Hunt on the ground of "creativity?" PRWeek, posted the all too familiar image with 197 words (title, quotes,... Read More >

Last June we did a story about Microsoft's super duper search engine Bing and PR dynamo Waggener Edstrom's job in telling the world about it. For WE, telling of fabled market share, user value, and "natural language" mysteries probably seemed like a great opportunity at the time, but almost a year later maybe reality is sinking in? Bing, as previously reported, may be WE's toughest sell ever. The search engine wars all of use "search gurus" covered for so many months back when, were supposed to culminate in either Powerset (sold to MS) or hakia (artificial intelligence), or even Search... Read More >

Waggener Edstrom is one of the top three PR firms in the world, and deservedly so. We have reviewed their website and digital connectedness any number of times in the past, and readily acknowledge them as the leader in online public relations engagement. But, there is obviously no guarantee that even the mighty cannot succumb to the pitfalls of creating or promoting terminology for the sake of appearing authoritative. The danger of spinning out of control to sell one's own market value may be obscure, but it is real even for Waggener Edstrom. In a recent article I read the... Read More >

Evaluating high dollar PR agencies is, well, it is fun. No matter what field you are in, there is a standard set and one to be reached. I ventured into the Edelman camp a few days ago and found a marvelous icon of communications might, with only a slight oxidation on its chain mail armor. Today, as I promised, I went down the list of the most successful agencies in the world to number two Waggener Edstrom. Interestingly, though these giants of media bear some resemblance, there are striking differences as well. Waggener is led by CEO and President Melissa... Read More >