Weber Shandwick Now Anchors Omnicom's PR Stack

By EPR Editorial Team

Edited on Jun 28, 2026.

Related: PR Firms · PR Leaders · Weber Shandwick

Weber Shandwick is now part of Omnicom Public Relations Group (OPRG) following Omnicom's acquisition of Interpublic Group, completed November 26, 2025. CEO Susan Howe will retire September 1, 2026; Global President Karen Pugliese has been named her successor. Weber Shandwick was confirmed unaffected by the February 10, 2026 OPRG portfolio restructuring.

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 digital communications strategy.

Weber Shandwick operates as one of the four cornerstone networks inside Omnicom Public Relations Group (OPRG) following the November 26, 2025 close of Omnicom Group's acquisition of Interpublic Group. The agency's leadership, brand, and structure were confirmed unaffected by the February 10, 2026 OPRG portfolio restructuring, which merged Golin and Ketchum into Golin Ketchum and absorbed Porter Novelli into FleishmanHillard.

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 26, 2025, when Omnicom Group closed its acquisition of IPG. Weber Shandwick now sits within Omnicom Public Relations Group alongside FleishmanHillard, Golin Ketchum, MMC, the public affairs network (DDC, GMMB, FP1 Strategies, Mercury Public Affairs, PLUS Communications, Portland Communications, VOX Global), and retained IPG specialty brands (DeVries Global, Current Global, Carmichael Lynch Relate, Jack Health). On February 10, 2026, OPRG CEO Chris Foster confirmed Weber Shandwick as one of the four cornerstone networks — alongside FleishmanHillard, Golin Ketchum, and MMC — with no changes to leadership or brand.

Key Milestones

December 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 the firm's technology and data services for clients.

April 2025: Launched Weber Advisory, a service counseling chief corporate affairs officers.

November 26, 2025: Became part of Omnicom Public Relations Group following the close of the Omnicom–IPG combination.

February 10, 2026: OPRG portfolio restructuring confirmed Weber Shandwick's cornerstone-network status with no leadership or brand changes.

May 2026: Announced Susan Howe's retirement effective September 1, 2026. Karen Pugliese named successor.

Sources: Axios (February 11, 2026); MARKETECH APAC (February 12, 2026); Omnicom Group SEC 8-K (November 26, 2025).

Services

Weber Shandwick operates across earned media, corporate communications, crisis and issues management, healthcare communications, public affairs, employee engagement, consumer marketing, and digital and social. The firm has built dedicated centers around women's health, technology services (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 Group, 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. See also: Omnicom Group: Inside the World's Largest Communications Holding Company.

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 Group on November 26, 2025, following Omnicom's acquisition of Interpublic Group.
• Confirmed unaffected by the February 10, 2026 OPRG portfolio restructuring; cornerstone-network status with no leadership or brand changes.
• CEO Susan Howe will retire September 1, 2026; Karen Pugliese has been named her successor.
• Recent investments: Weber I/O (March 2025), Weber Advisory (April 2025), Weber Create.
• PRWeek Global Agency of the Year 2024; most-awarded PR firm at the 2024 Cannes Lions.

Related Agency Profiles

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 · Omnicom Group