Related: PR Firms · PR Leaders · Allison Worldwide
Allison+Partners rebranded to Allison Worldwide in 2023 to reflect its evolution from a PR-first firm into a global integrated marketing and communications agency. Part of the Stagwell network. Co-founders Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown stepped back from operational roles in December 2024 and joined Clario Group as executive chairs in May 2026. Ray Day serves as Executive Chairman; Jonathan Heit is Global CEO.
| Founded | September 2001 by Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown (as Allison+Partners) |
| Rebrand | 2023 — renamed Allison Worldwide |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, CA |
| Executive Chairman | Ray Day (since December 2024) |
| Global CEO | Jonathan Heit (since January 2024) |
| Offices | 52 globally, five continents |
| Revenue | $89M globally / $71M U.S. (2023) |
| Parent | Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) |
| Practices | Consumer Brands, Corporate + Public Affairs, Health, Technology, Marketing Innovation |
| Website | allisonworldwide.com |
Overview
Allison Worldwide — formerly Allison+Partners — is a global integrated marketing and communications agency founded in 2001 by Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown. The firm operates 52 offices across five continents and is part of Stagwell, the New York-based holding company chaired by Mark Penn. Allison Worldwide is organized around four practices — Consumer Brands, Corporate + Public Affairs, Health, and Technology — with a Marketing Innovation Team layered across them combining brand strategy, integrated marketing, creative, research, and measurement.
History and Ownership
Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown launched Allison+Partners in September 2001. They scribbled the concept on a napkin and built the firm from a U.S. earned-media boutique into a global integrated agency through more than two decades of organic growth and selective acquisitions, beginning international expansion in 2013. In 2023, the firm rebranded as Allison Worldwide to underscore its evolution from a PR-first business into a modern integrated marketing and communications powerhouse.
The agency is part of Stagwell, the holding company that also owns and operates PR firms Hunter, KWT Global, SKDK, and Sloane & Company.
Key Milestones
September 2001: Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown founded Allison+Partners.
2013: Began international expansion.
2023: Rebranded as Allison Worldwide. Scott Allison inducted into PRWeek's Hall of Fame.
January 2024: Jonathan Heit (co-founder and Global COO) appointed Global CEO. CFO Julia Farrell took on the added role of Global COO. Allison became Chairman; Hardie-Brown became Vice Chairman. A Global Board was formed.
December 2024: Ray Day named Executive Chairman, effective December 2, 2024. Co-founders Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown stepped back to advisory roles after 23 years.
January 2026: OPPO named Allison Worldwide as PR and influencer agency in Singapore (Stagwell agencies handle PR with Allison; Assembly handles media).
May 20, 2026: Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown joined Clario Group as executive chairs to drive global growth. Allison covers the Americas and Europe; Hardie-Brown covers APAC and the Middle East.
Services
Allison Worldwide is organized around four core practices and one integrated capability:
- Consumer Brands — earned media, brand storytelling, influencer, retail, and lifestyle
- Corporate + Public Affairs — reputation, government relations, crisis, and corporate communications
- Health — pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare communications
- Technology — B2B, B2C, AI, fintech, and enterprise tech communications
- Marketing Innovation Team — integrated marketing, creative, research, and measurement across the four practices
Leadership
Ray Day serves as Executive Chairman, a role he took on in December 2024. He continues in parallel as Vice Chair of Stagwell, a position he has held since 2020. Day brings more than three decades of communications leadership experience including roles at IBM and Ford Motor Company.
Jonathan Heit serves as Global CEO. Heit was one of the original members of the Allison+Partners team and previously served as Global COO before being elevated in January 2024. CFO Julia Farrell serves as Global COO. Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell, oversees the holding company's portfolio.
Awards and Recognition
Scott Allison was inducted into PRWeek's Hall of Fame in 2023. Allison Worldwide has earned multiple Best Places to Work awards and PRWeek and PRovoke Media campaign honors across its consumer, corporate, health, and technology practices. The firm has been recognized by O'Dwyer's as a leading independent agency and has won industry awards across earned media, integrated campaigns, and influencer marketing.
Notable Clients and Case Studies
Allison Worldwide's client base spans consumer, corporate, health, and technology sectors globally. Recent assignments include OPPO (PR and influencer work in Singapore, January 2026) and ongoing work for clients across food and beverage, consumer technology, and corporate reputation. Historic clients include Naf Naf Grill and JanSport. The firm's healthcare and technology practices service Fortune 500 and global mid-market brands across launch, lifecycle, and reputation work.
EPR Coverage
Everything-PR has covered Allison+Partners and Allison Worldwide continuously since 2009. For the full archive of news, leadership moves, account wins, and the Stagwell holding company context, see everything-pr.com/tag/allison-worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Allison+Partners the same as Allison Worldwide?
Yes. Allison+Partners rebranded as Allison Worldwide in 2023 to reflect its evolution from a PR-first firm into a global integrated marketing and communications agency. The legal entity, ownership, and operating structure carried over.
Who owns Allison Worldwide?
Allison Worldwide is part of Stagwell, the publicly traded holding company (NASDAQ: STGW) chaired by Mark Penn. Stagwell also owns PR agencies Hunter, KWT Global, SKDK, and Sloane & Company.
Who is the CEO of Allison Worldwide?
Jonathan Heit serves as Global CEO, a role he assumed in January 2024. Heit was one of the original members of the Allison+Partners team and previously served as Global COO. He reports to Executive Chairman Ray Day.
What happened to Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown?
Co-founders Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown stepped back from operational roles in December 2024 when Ray Day was named Executive Chairman. In May 2026, both joined Clario Group as executive chairs to support its global growth — Allison covers the Americas and Europe, Hardie-Brown covers APAC and the Middle East.
Where is Allison Worldwide headquartered?
San Francisco, California, with 52 offices across five continents.
When was Allison Worldwide founded?
The firm was founded in September 2001 as Allison+Partners by Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown. It rebranded to Allison Worldwide in 2023.
Key Takeaways
- Allison Worldwide, formerly Allison+Partners, is a global integrated marketing and communications agency founded September 2001.
- Headquartered in San Francisco with 52 offices across five continents.
- Part of Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), alongside sister PR agencies Hunter, KWT Global, SKDK, and Sloane & Company.
- Executive Chairman Ray Day (since December 2024); Global CEO Jonathan Heit (since January 2024).
- Co-founders Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown stepped back in December 2024 and joined Clario Group as executive chairs in May 2026.
- Organized around four practices — Consumer Brands, Corporate + Public Affairs, Health, Technology — with a Marketing Innovation Team layered across them.
- Reported $89M global revenue and $71M U.S. revenue in 2023 per PRWeek's Agency Business Report.
