Related: PR Firms Directory · Industry Leaders · PR Agency Profiles Directory · Porter Novelli
Updated: June 3, 2026. Originally published May 14, 2013.
FleishmanHillard is one of the largest global communications agencies, founded in 1946 in St. Louis by Alfred Fleishman and Robert E. Hillard. Now part of Omnicom Public Relations Group, the firm operates from approximately 80 offices across more than 30 countries. In February 2026, FleishmanHillard absorbed Porter Novelli as a dedicated brand following Omnicom's November 2025 acquisition of Interpublic Group — a reorganization that consolidated Omnicom's PR portfolio under a smaller set of integrated brands.
Founded: 1946 in St. Louis by Alfred Fleishman and Robert E. Hillard
Headquarters: Clayton, Missouri (Greater St. Louis; relocated from downtown St. Louis in 2024 after 70 years downtown)
President and CEO: J.J. Carter
Americas CEO: Jillian Janaczek (since February 2026, transferred from Porter Novelli)
Chief Integration Officer: Sakima Johnson (since February 2026, transferred from Porter Novelli)
Ownership: Omnicom Public Relations Group (subsidiary of Omnicom Group; NYSE: OMC)
Offices: ~80 across 30+ countries
Category: Global integrated communications agency
Website: fleishmanhillard.com
Overview
FleishmanHillard operates as one of the four flagship PR networks inside Omnicom Public Relations Group, alongside Weber Shandwick, Golin Ketchum (the February 2026 merged Golin + Ketchum entity), and the firm's other Omnicom PR brands following the 2025–2026 IPG integration. The firm's practice depth spans consumer, health and life sciences, technology, financial and professional services, public affairs, corporate reputation, crisis communications, and social impact and ESG across the world's largest markets.
The 2026 absorption of Porter Novelli into FleishmanHillard as a dedicated brand is the largest structural change in the firm's recent history, consolidating two storied agency brands under unified leadership while preserving Porter Novelli's purpose-driven and corporate social impact positioning as a specialty practice. The integration is being rolled out in phases through 2026.
History and Ownership
Alfred Fleishman and Robert E. Hillard founded the firm in 1946 in St. Louis, Missouri, building one of the first major U.S. PR agencies outside the New York and Washington corridors. Fleishman, considered one of the founding fathers of the public relations industry, brought clients into the firm; Hillard — a former St. Louis Star-Times reporter, Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota — served as the thinker, strategist, writer, and office manager in the firm's early years. First clients included Union Electric (now Ameren UE) and Anheuser-Busch.
The firm scaled across the Midwest through the 1950s and 1960s. Hillard stepped down as CEO in 1974 and retired in 1982. The firm expanded nationally through the 1970s, went global through the 1980s and 1990s, and was acquired by Omnicom Group in 1997, integrating into the holding company's Diversified Agency Services (DAS) division.
Today FleishmanHillard sits inside Omnicom Public Relations Group, the unified PR portfolio that Omnicom assembled following its November 2025 acquisition of Interpublic Group. J.J. Carter serves as President and CEO. The firm's Americas business is led by Jillian Janaczek, the former Porter Novelli CEO who transitioned to lead the combined Americas region after the February 2026 absorption. Sakima Johnson, also from Porter Novelli, joined as Chief Integration Officer.
In 2024, FleishmanHillard relocated its St. Louis headquarters from 200 North Broadway downtown — where it had occupied the top four floors of the St. Louis Place building for nearly 40 years and operated downtown for 70 years — to a 40,000 square-foot office at 101 South Hanley Road in Clayton, Missouri (Greater St. Louis).
Key Milestones
1946: Founded in St. Louis by Alfred Fleishman and Robert E. Hillard. First clients included Union Electric and Anheuser-Busch.
1974: Hillard stepped down as CEO; firm continued to scale toward becoming the largest PR firm in the U.S.
1997: Acquired by Omnicom Group; integrated into Diversified Agency Services (DAS).
2000s–2010s: Scaled to ~80 offices in 30+ countries. Built leadership positions in healthcare, public affairs, consumer, and crisis communications.
2022: J.J. Carter named Global President and CEO.
2024: Worked on the Intel processor launch campaign. Headquarters relocated from downtown St. Louis to Clayton, MO.
November 2025: Omnicom completed the IPG acquisition, creating Omnicom Public Relations Group under CEO Chris Foster.
February 2026: Porter Novelli absorbed into FleishmanHillard as a dedicated brand. Jillian Janaczek transitioned from Porter Novelli CEO to FleishmanHillard Americas CEO; Sakima Johnson joined as Chief Integration Officer.
Practice Areas
- Health and Life Sciences. One of the firm's largest practices globally.
- Consumer. Brand communications, integrated marketing, influencer, social.
- Technology and B2B. Enterprise tech, AI, cloud, cybersecurity, B2B SaaS — including long-standing work for Intel.
- Public Affairs and Government. Regulatory, policy advocacy, public-sector communications.
- Financial and Professional Services. Capital markets, M&A, IPO, financial communications.
- Corporate Reputation and Crisis. Issues management, crisis communications, transaction support, leadership transitions.
- Social Impact and ESG. The Porter Novelli-anchored practice continues as the firm's center of gravity in social impact, purpose-driven communications, and CSR strategy.
- Sports, Entertainment, and Cultural Brands. Major league, league-affiliate, and lifestyle brand engagement.
Leadership
J.J. Carter serves as Global President and CEO, leading the firm's worldwide platform across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific. Jillian Janaczek serves as Americas CEO following the February 2026 absorption of Porter Novelli, reporting to Carter. Sakima Johnson serves as Chief Integration Officer.
Recognition and Industry Standing
FleishmanHillard has been consistently recognized as one of the top global PR networks by PRWeek, PRovoke Media, the Holmes Report, and O'Dwyer's. The firm has been named PRWeek Global Agency of the Year multiple times and has held consistent leadership positions in healthcare, public affairs, and consumer rankings.
Why FleishmanHillard Matters in the Category
FleishmanHillard is one of the four cornerstone networks inside Omnicom Public Relations Group, the largest PR holding-company portfolio globally following the 2025 IPG acquisition. The firm's eight-decade history, global footprint, and depth across health and life sciences, public affairs, technology, and corporate communications give it a structural position few competitors can match.
The 2026 absorption of Porter Novelli — adding purpose-driven and corporate social impact as a dedicated practice — is the most material structural change in the firm's recent history, and it positions FleishmanHillard with practice breadth that maps cleanly to the AI Communications era's converged stakeholder demands.
EPR Coverage
Everything-PR has covered FleishmanHillard since 2009. For the full archive see everything-pr.com/tag/fleishman-hillard. See also EPR's case study on the Intel processor launch campaign.
FAQ
Who founded FleishmanHillard? Alfred Fleishman and Robert E. Hillard founded the firm in 1946 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Who owns FleishmanHillard? Omnicom Group has owned FleishmanHillard since 1997. The firm sits inside Omnicom Public Relations Group, led globally by CEO Chris Foster.
Who is the CEO of FleishmanHillard? J.J. Carter serves as Global President and CEO. Jillian Janaczek serves as Americas CEO. Sakima Johnson serves as Chief Integration Officer.
What happened to Porter Novelli? In February 2026, Porter Novelli was integrated into FleishmanHillard as a dedicated brand following Omnicom's PR portfolio reorganization after the IPG acquisition. Porter Novelli's purpose-driven and corporate social impact positioning continues as a specialty practice.
How large is FleishmanHillard? Approximately 80 offices across more than 30 countries.
Where is FleishmanHillard headquartered? Clayton, Missouri (Greater St. Louis), having relocated from downtown St. Louis in 2024 after 70 years downtown.
Key Takeaways
- FleishmanHillard is a global communications agency founded in 1946 in St. Louis.
- Owned by Omnicom Group since 1997; now part of Omnicom Public Relations Group following the November 2025 IPG acquisition.
- Global President and CEO J.J. Carter; Americas CEO Jillian Janaczek; Chief Integration Officer Sakima Johnson.
- ~80 offices across 30+ countries. Headquarters relocated from downtown St. Louis to Clayton, MO in 2024.
- Absorbed Porter Novelli as a dedicated brand in February 2026.
- One of the four cornerstone networks inside Omnicom Public Relations Group following the IPG integration.
