Below is a curated, market-oriented list of 20 leading PR and strategic communications consultancies. I selected firms that consistently appear in global rankings and industry coverage and that represent a mix of global networks, specialist boutiques and strategic advisory firms. For each vendor I show: Company name | Founders | Founded year | Headquarters | Product categories
1. Edelman
Founders: Daniel J. Edelman
Founded: 1952
Headquarters: New York City, USA
Product categories: Corporate communications, consumer PR, public affairs, digital & social strategy, crisis, research & insights
Description:
Edelman is the largest independent global communications firm – a full-spectrum PR and reputation management consultancy that blends consumer storytelling with corporate reputation and data-led insight. The agency is known for large integrated campaigns (consumer and B2B., proprietary thought-leadership (Edelman Trust Barometer., and for advising C-suite clients on reputation, purpose and crisis matters at scale. Its global footprint and research capabilities make it a top choice when organisations need cross-market consistency paired with local activation.
Key features
- Proprietary global research (Edelman Trust Barometer) used to shape strategy.
- Integrated teams: corporate + consumer + digital + analytics.
- Deep crisis and reputation practice for boards/C-suite.
- Large multi-market execution capability (100+ markets).
- Data + creative model for storytelling and measurement.
2. Weber Shandwick
Founders: (result of mergers; legacy firms: The Weber Group / Shandwick)
Founded: 2001 (formed by merger)
Headquarters: New York City, USA
Product categories: Corporate reputation, brand communications, crisis, content & creative, influencer, analytics & technology
Description
Weber Shandwick is a global, earned-media first communications agency that pairs creative storytelling with measurement and tech tools. It is part of large agency holding structures and has scaled capabilities across corporate, consumer, healthcare and public affairs. Recently the firm has invested heavily in platform and AI-enabled tools to speed insights and crisis response, making it a popular partner for companies that need rapid multi-market coordination and a strong creative edge.
Key features
- Strong earned-media and creative credentials.
- Global crisis response teams and scenario planning.
- Integrated influencer and content studios.
- Growing investment in comms technology and analytics.
- Extensive cross-sector client roster.
3. FleishmanHillard
Founders: Alfred Fleishman, Robert E. Hillard
Founded: 1946
Headquarters: St. Louis, USA
Product categories: Corporate reputation, public affairs, digital & social, healthcare, brand PR, market research
Description:
FleishmanHillard is a long-standing global PR firm that combines traditional media relations strengths with advanced reputation strategy and data analytics. It is particularly well regarded for healthcare, corporate reputation and public affairs work, and operates as a unit within an international holding group – giving clients scale while retaining specialist sector expertise. The firm’s approach emphasises behaviour change, stakeholder mapping and measurable business outcomes, making it a go-to for regulated industries and complex reputation assignments.
Key features
- Deep healthcare and regulated-industry experience.
- Quantitative research & measurement capabilities.
- Global network for cross-market program delivery.
- Strong public affairs and issues management offering.
- Focus on measurable business outcomes.
4. Ketchum
Founders: George Ketchum (origins)
Founded: 1923
Headquarters: New York City, USA
Product categories: Corporate communications, consumer PR, digital & social, brand, influencer, experiential
Description:
Ketchum is a legacy communications firm that has modernised into a global consultancy focused on creative brand activation, influencer programs and consumer product launches while continuing to advise on corporate reputation. The agency emphasizes insight-led storytelling and has accumulated notable awards for campaign creativity and results. Ketchum is frequently selected by organisations that want a blend of creative PR and measurable consumer engagement across markets.
Key features
- Creative, award-winning brand campaigns.
- Integrated influencer and experiential practice.
- Consumer + corporate hybrid capabilities.
- Strong measurement and analytics on campaign ROI.
- Global delivery with local market teams.
5. Burson (Burson / BCW → now Burson after WPP consolidation)
Founders (legacy.: Harold Burson (Burson-Marsteller); Bob Cohn & Norman Wolfe (Cohn & Wolfe)
Founded: Burson-Marsteller 1953 / Cohn & Wolfe 1970 – merged as BCW (2018); rebranded/merged to create Burson (2024)
Headquarters: New York City, USA
Product categories: Corporate & financial communications, public affairs, healthcare, consumer, crisis & litigation PR
Description:
The Burson family of firms has long been a global leader in corporate, financial communications and public affairs. After waves of consolidation (Burson-Marsteller + Cohn & Wolfe → BCW; later amalgamations as WPP reshaped its PR assets., the combined entity delivers deep counsel for transactions, investor relations, crisis, and cross-border public affairs. Clients choose Burson for high-stakes matters that require enterprise-level coordination, former government and policy expertise, and integrated creative/digital activation.
Key features
- Leading financial & transaction communications expertise.
- Strong public affairs and government relations bench.
- Consolidated global footprint after WPP reshuffle.
- Senior counsel for CEO/board-level reputation issues.
- Integrated creative and digital activation.
6. MSL (MSLGROUP)
Founders (origins): Manning Selvage & Lee and Publicis Consultants heritage
Founded: (MSL brand formed from legacy firms; modern MSLGROUP established in 2009 under Publicis.
Headquarters: Paris (parent Publicis Groupe) / global network
Product categories: PR, public affairs, social & digital, experiential, healthcare, influencer marketing
Description:
MSL is the Publicis Groupe PR network – a global communications and influence agency that blends advertising holding-group scale with PR expertise. MSL positions itself on building influence and measurable impact, with strong digital and experiential capabilities geared to brand and corporate storytelling. Because it sits inside an ad holding company, MSL can integrate paid, owned and earned media for brand launches and product campaigns, while offering advisory services for reputation and stakeholder engagement.
Key features
- Holding-group scale + integrated paid/earned/owned capability.
- Strong digital, social and experiential teams.
- Global footprint across 40+ markets.
- Discipline in measurement and performance KPIs.
- Sector practices: tech, healthcare, consumer.
7. Hill & Knowlton (Hill+Knowlton Strategies / H&K)
Founders: John W. Hill (and early partner Don Knowlton)
Founded: 1927
Headquarters: New York City, USA (global network)
Product categories: Corporate & crisis communications, public affairs, corporate reputation, ESG & sustainability, healthcare
Description :
Hill & Knowlton is one of the oldest strategic communications consultancies, offering advisory services spanning corporate reputation, public affairs and crisis management. Over decades it has adapted to become a modern consultancy that supports cross-border reputation programmes and regulatory affairs. H&K’s strength is in senior counsel for government affairs, regulatory engagements and C-suite reputation challenges – frequently called upon for policy-sensitive reputational matters.
Key features
- Deep experience in public affairs and government interfaces.
- Senior counsel for regulatory and policy risk.
- Global crisis response capability.
- ESG and stakeholder engagement advisory.
- Integrated research and insight teams.
8. Golin
Founder: Al Golin
Founded: 1956
Headquarters: Chicago, USA
Product categories: Corporate, consumer, technology, health, creative content, social & influencer
Description:
Golin is a creatively driven public relations firm known for its “Go All In” culture and integrated creative storytelling. It works across consumer, corporate and technology verticals and has sharpened a model that combines media relations, content and measurement. Golin often positions itself as an agency that blends PR discipline with advertising-style creative production – making it attractive for brands that want disruptive earned strategies paired with content production.
Key features
- Creative storytelling and content production.
- Integrated influencer & social programs.
- Strong consumer and tech sector teams.
- Measurement and insight frameworks for earned media.
- Collaborative client partnership model.
9. Ogilvy (Ogilvy Public Relations)
Founder: David Ogilvy (agency origins)
Founded: 1948 (Ogilvy & Mather origins; PR division developed later)
Headquarters: New York City / London (global)
Product categories: Advertising, PR & influence, brand, health communications, digital experience
Description:
Ogilvy is a multi-disciplinary agency group with a mature PR and influence arm. Where Ogilvy stands out is the combination of advertising creativity and public relations discipline – allowing clients to craft brand narratives that are amplified through paid, earned and owned channels. The PR arm supports integrated campaigns, corporate reputation, and specialist practices like health communications. Clients who want brand campaigns that require advertising + PR coordination often choose Ogilvy for its “borderless creativity” model.
Key features
- Cross-discipline creativity (ads + PR).
- Global health communications practice.
- Integrated paid/earned/owned campaign delivery.
- Large creative production capability.
- Data & insights to inform creative strategy.
10. Brunswick Group
Founders: Alan Parker, Louise Charlton, Andrew Fenwick (founding partners)
Founded: 1987
Headquarters: London, UK
Product categories: Corporate reputation, financial communications, M&A & transactions, crisis, investor relations
Description:
Brunswick is a specialist strategic communications advisory that focuses on high-stakes corporate situations: M&A, investor relations, crisis, leadership positioning and litigation support. The firm is frequently retained for complex financial and governance matters because of its advisory bench of ex-regulators, journalists and financial specialists. Brunswick’s positioning is boutique-consulting at global scale – high seniority, discretion and shareholder-centred communications.
Key features
- Specialist in M&A and capital markets communications.
- Senior-level counsel for boards and CFOs.
- Discreet, advisory-first model.
- International coverage focused on financial centres.
- Strong journalism & media relations expertise.
11. FTI Consulting (Strategic Communications)
Founders: Joe Reynolds, Dan Luczak (founders of Forensic Technologies International)
Founded: 1982 (as Forensic Technologies International)
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA
Product categories: Strategic communications, litigation & investigation communications, financial & restructuring communications, crisis
Description:
FTI Consulting is a professional services firm with a prominent Strategic Communications practice that specialises in issues that intersect with legal, financial and operational complexity. Its differentiator is subject-matter experts (forensic accountants, legal specialists) combined with communications teams – ideal for clients facing bankruptcy, litigation, regulatory probes or high-risk restructuring. FTI is frequently hired where communications must align tightly with legal strategy and technical evidence.
Key features
- Communications + forensic/financial expertise under one roof.
- Litigation and investigation communications specialists.
- Global crisis and restructuring communications.
- Rapid-response multidisciplinary teams.
- Data and analytics to support facts and narratives.
12. APCO Worldwide
Founder: Margery Kraus
Founded: 1984
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA
Product categories: Public affairs, strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, corporate reputation, crisis
Description:
APCO is an independent, policy-savvy consultancy with strong public affairs and government relations capabilities – a popular choice for organisations needing multi-market stakeholder mapping, regulatory engagement and high-level reputation programmes. APCO’s roots in Washington give it an edge on public policy and regulatory storytelling, while its majority woman-owned status and independent structure appeal to clients seeking boutique senior counsel without holding-group complexities.
Key features
- Strong public affairs and government relations bench.
- Senior counsel with former officials and diplomats.
- Independent, majority woman-owned structure.
- Global stakeholder mapping and engagement.
- Crisis preparedness for policy and regulatory risk.
13. Sard Verbinnen & Co (now within FGS Global lineage / predecessor)
Founders: George Sard, Paul Verbinnen
Founded: 1992
Headquarters: New York City, USA
Product categories: Transaction communications, financial PR, crisis, investor relations, reputation advisory
Description:
Sard Verbinnen built a reputation as a go-to for corporate transactions, investor relations and crisis response – offering senior counsel for M&A and high-stakes corporate events. After combinations with other advisory firms the legacy capabilities are represented in larger strategic advisory platforms (e.g., FGS Global), but the Sard Verbinnen heritage still informs market-leading transaction and IR offerings. Corporates engage them when accuracy, speed and shareholder messaging are critical.
Key features
- Market leader in transaction & M&A communications.
- Investor relations and shareholder engagement expertise.
- Rapid, senior crisis response teams.
- Deep financial market media relationships.
- High discretion and advisory focus.
14. Zeno Group
Founders: (originated as PR21; later rebranded)
Founded: 1998 (as PR21; rebranded)
Headquarters: New York City, USA (global offices)
Product categories: Integrated communications, brand strategy, digital & social, consumer tech, healthcare
Description:
Zeno is an integrated communications agency that grew from PR roots to offer creative, content and performance-oriented solutions. Zeno positions itself as a modern agency that measures business impact and social outcomes alongside traditional media KPIs. It is a fit for clients that want agile, creative storytelling combined with measurable outcomes – especially in consumer, tech and healthcare verticals.
Key features
- Integrated creative + PR model.
- Measurement orientation (business outcomes).
- Consumer, tech and health sector focus.
- Fast, agile teams for product launches.
- Content studio capabilities.
15. 5W Public Relations (5WPR)
Founder: Ronn Torossian
Founded: 2003
Headquarters: New York City, USA
Product categories: Media relations, digital marketing, crisis PR, influencer, corporate communications
Description:
5WPR is a high-energy independent agency that has grown rapidly through aggressive storytelling and hands-on media outreach. The firm is known for fast execution, strong media relationships and a willingness to take bold campaign approaches for consumer and corporate clients. Smaller and more entrepreneurial than the global networks, 5WPR is often chosen by high-growth companies and brands that want rapid awareness and aggressive earned media placement.
Key features
- Fast, media-centric execution model.
- Strong NYC media relationships.
- Good fit for growth brands seeking rapid awareness.
- Full digital + influencer stack.
- Competitive pricing compared to global networks.
16. MikeWorldWide (formerly MWW / MWWPR)
Founder: Michael W. Kempner
Founded: 1986
Headquarters: New York/Hasbrouck Heights, USA
Product categories: Integrated PR, crisis, public affairs, digital, brand, B2B & consumer
Description:
MikeWorldWide (MWW) is an independent, integrated public relations firm with deep experience across consumer, technology and corporate communications. MWW’s approach blends data, creative content and senior counsel. The firm has evolved into a full-service agency with strong crisis and reputation offerings, and it is often selected by firms that want the seniority of an established firm plus entrepreneurial agility.
Key features
- Independent full-service agency model.
- Strong crisis and reputation practice.
- Integrated digital and content capabilities.
- Cross-sector experience (tech, consumer, B2B).
- Emphasis on client care and long-term partnerships.
17. Porter Novelli
Founders: Bill Novelli, Jack Porter (and partners)
Founded: 1972
Headquarters: New York City, USA
Product categories: Purpose & social impact, corporate, health, technology, brand communications
Description:
Porter Novelli is a purpose-driven public relations firm that specialises in brand purpose, health communications and behaviour change campaigns. With roots in public health and government campaigns, the agency has extended into corporate purpose, sustainability and health sectors – leveraging behavioural science to drive measurable shifts. It’s a choice for organisations that want values-based campaigns integrated with brand and corporate reputation work.
Key features
- Specialisation in purpose and health communications.
- Behavioural science informed campaigns.
- Global delivery via Omnicom network.
- Integrated CSR and reputation programs.
- Measurement emphasis for social impact.
18. Grayling
Founders: (originated in London; evolved)
Founded: 1981 (UK origins)
Headquarters: London, UK (global network)
Product categories: Corporate communications, public affairs, consumer PR, content & digital, crisis
Description:
Grayling is a global communications agency with a strong presence across Europe and emerging markets. The agency offers broad PR services including public affairs, consumer campaigns and content-led digital programs. Grayling’s model is built on local market teams backed by a global platform – making it a pragmatic choice for companies seeking consistent messages adapted to local context.
Key features
- Local market expertise with global coordination.
- Robust public affairs capability in Europe.
- Content and data-driven PR programs.
- Practical approach for multinational rollouts.
- Cost-effective global reach.
19. Hotwire Global
Founders: (originated as Hotwire)
Founded: 2000 (modern Hotwire Global formation)
Headquarters: London (origin) / multiple global hubs
Product categories: Technology PR, product launches, integrated communications, digital & measurement
Description:
Hotwire is a specialist technology and B2B communications agency that scales across key markets for product launches, analyst relations, and thought leadership. It blends tech sector knowledge with analytics to support growth tech brands and platform companies. Hotwire is well suited to firms that need product-launch orchestration, analyst ecosystems navigation, and fast adoption campaigns in technology markets.
Key features
- Strong tech sector expertise and product launch playbooks.
- Analyst relations and enterprise outreach capabilities.
- Global but focused footprint for tech markets.
- Measurement and ROI focus for demand generation.
- Agile, growth-stage client approach.
20. FGS Global (Finsbury / Glover Park / Hering lineage)
Founders (predecessors): Roland Rudd (Finsbury), founders of Glover Park Group, Hering Schuppener, plus Sard Verbinnen origins
Founded: (FGS Global formed via mergers in 2021; predecessors date back earlier)
Headquarters: New York / London (global)
Product categories: Strategic advisory, reputation & crisis, transaction communications, public affairs, investor relations
Description:
FGS Global is a strategic advisory and communications consultancy created by combining well-known financial and political PR boutiques (Finsbury, Glover Park, Hering, Sard Verbinnen). The firm targets high-stakes corporate advisory – transactions, investor relations, government relations and crisis. Because it is backed by private equity and staffed with former senior political and corporate advisers, FGS is often engaged for sensitive, cross-border reputation matters where government, media and financial markets intersect.
Key features
- High-stakes strategic advisory for CEOs and boards.
- Combination of financial, political and crisis expertise.
- Heavy M&A and transaction advisory capabilities.
- Senior bench with former government and industry leaders.
- Global footprint for cross-border work.
Short methodology note (why these 20)
I prioritised: (a) firms that consistently appear in global revenue and industry lists, (b) firms with demonstrable specialist strengths (financial PR, tech, health, public affairs), and (c) a balance between global networks and high-impact boutiques. Source snapshots above are drawn from firm websites, industry directories and public reporting to ensure factual accuracy. If you want, I can convert this into a downloadable one-page vendor short-list, or prioritise the list for tech, financial, or mid-market buys (with RFP questions & budget bands).
