Related: PR Firms · PR Leaders · Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is now part of Omnicom Public Relations following Omnicom's $9 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group, completed November 25, 2025. CEO Susan Howe will retire September 1, 2026; Global President Karen Pugliese has been named her successor.
| Founded | January 2001 (merger of Weber Group, Shandwick International, and BSMG) |
| Headquarters | 909 Third Avenue, New York, NY |
| CEO | Susan Howe (retiring September 1, 2026) |
| Incoming CEO | Karen Pugliese, effective September 1, 2026 |
| Employees | ~5,000 globally |
| Offices | 65+ across six continents |
| Ownership | Omnicom Public Relations (Omnicom Group, NYSE: OMC) |
| Specialties | Earned media, corporate communications, crisis communications, healthcare, public affairs, AI-driven communications, women's health |
| Website | webershandwick.com |
Overview
Weber Shandwick is one of the largest global public relations and communications networks in the world, headquartered in New York City and operating in more than 60 cities across six continents. The firm positions itself as the "earned-first global communications agency," with capabilities spanning corporate reputation, crisis communications, healthcare, public affairs, employee engagement, and AI-driven communications strategy.
The agency operates as part of Omnicom Public Relations (OPR) following the November 2025 close of Omnicom Group's $9 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group.
History and Ownership
Weber Shandwick was formed on January 1, 2001, through the merger of three predecessor firms: the Weber Group, Shandwick International (founded 1974), and BSMG (formerly Bozell Sawyer Miller Group). For nearly a quarter century the firm operated as the flagship PR agency of Interpublic Group.
That changed on November 25, 2025, when Omnicom Group closed its $9 billion acquisition of IPG. Weber Shandwick now sits within Omnicom Public Relations alongside former Omnicom agencies including FleishmanHillard, Golin Ketchum, Porter Novelli, and DeVries Global.
Key Milestones
2024: Susan Howe named CEO effective December 2, 2024, succeeding Gail Heimann. Inaugurated the Women's Health Center of Excellence.
March 2025: Launched Weber I/O, an expansion of AI services for clients.
April 2025: Launched Weber Advisory, a service counseling chief corporate affairs officers.
November 2025: Became part of Omnicom Public Relations following the close of the Omnicom–IPG merger.
May 2026: Announced Susan Howe's retirement effective September 1, 2026. Karen Pugliese named successor.
Services
Weber Shandwick operates across earned media, corporate communications, crisis and issues management, healthcare communications, public affairs, employee engagement, consumer marketing, digital and social, and AI-driven communications. The firm has built dedicated centers around women's health, AI strategy (Weber I/O), corporate affairs (Weber Advisory), and creative production (Weber Create).
The Weber Shandwick Collective also encompasses sub-brands including Cappuccino, Flipside, KRC Research, Powell Tate, Prime, Resolute, Revive Health, That Lot, and United Minds.
Leadership
Susan Howe has served as CEO since December 2024. She retires September 1, 2026.
Karen Pugliese, currently Global President, succeeds Howe as CEO on September 1, 2026. Pugliese has been with Weber Shandwick more than 15 years.
Chris Foster serves as CEO of Omnicom Public Relations, the parent division.
Awards and Recognition
Weber Shandwick has been named PRWeek's Global Agency of the Year (2024), PRovoke's Global Agency of the Decade (2020), and Campaign US PR Agency of the Year (2021). The firm ranked #1 in the Public Relations and Brand Strategies category on Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies list in both 2024 and 2025, and #1 on PRovoke's Global Creative Index in 2024.
The agency was the most awarded PR firm at the 2023 and 2024 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. It has earned more than 225 cumulative Cannes Lions.
Notable Clients and Case Studies
Weber Shandwick serves a diverse global client base across consumer, healthcare, technology, public sector, and corporate reputation work. Recent campaign work has included partnerships with the Jamaica Tourist Board, and work for Mars, Incorporated including Big Game commercial activations for Skittles. The firm's healthcare practice operates through Revive Health and the Women's Health Center of Excellence.
EPR Coverage
Everything-PR has covered Weber Shandwick continuously since 2009. For the full archive, see everything-pr.com/tag/weber-shandwick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Weber Shandwick? Weber Shandwick is part of Omnicom Public Relations, a division of Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC). The agency moved from Interpublic Group to Omnicom on November 25, 2025.
Who is the CEO of Weber Shandwick? Susan Howe has served as CEO since December 2024. Karen Pugliese succeeds her on September 1, 2026.
Where is Weber Shandwick headquartered? 909 Third Avenue in New York City, with more than 60 offices across six continents.
When was Weber Shandwick founded? The firm was formed on January 1, 2001, through the merger of the Weber Group, Shandwick International, and BSMG. Shandwick International itself was founded in 1974.
What are Weber Shandwick's main services? Earned media, corporate communications, crisis communications, healthcare communications, public affairs, employee engagement, consumer marketing, digital and social, and AI-driven communications through Weber I/O.
How does Weber Shandwick rank in the industry? PRWeek's Global Agency of the Year in 2024, PRovoke's Global Agency of the Decade in 2020, #1 on PRovoke's Global Creative Index in 2024. Most awarded PR agency at the 2024 Cannes Lions.
Key Takeaways
- Weber Shandwick is one of the largest global PR networks, founded January 2001.
- Headquartered in New York with 60+ offices across six continents and ~5,000 employees.
- Became part of Omnicom Public Relations on November 25, 2025, following Omnicom's $9 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group.
- CEO Susan Howe will retire September 1, 2026; Karen Pugliese has been named her successor.
- Recent investments: Weber I/O (AI services, March 2025), Weber Advisory (April 2025), Weber Create.
- PRWeek Global Agency of the Year 2024; most-awarded PR firm at the 2024 Cannes Lions.
Omnicom Public Relations Group sister networks: FleishmanHillard · Golin Ketchum · Porter Novelli · Portland Communications · DeVries Global
Other global networks: Edelman · Burson · MSL · Ogilvy PR · Havas Red · ZENO Group
Healthcare PR peers (via Revive Health & Women's Health): Real Chemistry · Havas Health & You · IMRE
Crisis & corporate competitors: Brunswick Group · FGS Global · APCO Worldwide · Teneo
Adjacent EPR coverage: PR Agency Profiles Directory · PR Leaders Directory · Top Crisis PR Firms in 2026
