Updated June 2026. Kaplow Communications is an independent, women-led PR agency founded in 1991 by Liz Kaplow. Headquartered in New York City and specializing in beauty, fashion, lifestyle, consumer health, and wellness. Liz Kaplow was inducted into PRWeek's Hall of Femme in 2020 and is widely recognized as one of the industry's most influential women.
| Founded | 1991 by Liz Kaplow (35+ years) |
| Headquarters | Midtown Manhattan, New York City |
| Founder & CEO | Liz Kaplow |
| Co-founder, CFO & COO | Evan Jacobs |
| Ownership | Independent, women-led |
| Specialties | Beauty, fashion, lifestyle, consumer health, wellness, retail |
| Long-tenured Clients | Target, Microsoft, CVS, 23andMe, Laura Mercier, Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) — all 10+ years |
| Cultural Acronym | T.R.E.E. — Trust, Respect, Energy, Enthusiasm |
| Website | kaplow.com |
Overview
Kaplow Communications is an independent, women-led public relations and integrated communications agency founded in 1991 by Liz Kaplow. Headquartered in midtown Manhattan, the firm has built more than three decades of expertise in beauty, fashion, lifestyle, consumer health, wellness, and retail communications. Founder and CEO Liz Kaplow was inducted into PRWeek's Hall of Femme in 2020 and is widely recognized as one of the industry's most influential leaders.
History and Ownership
Liz Kaplow founded the agency in 1991 after working at Human Relations Media Company. Co-founder Evan Jacobs initially provided legal counsel before joining full-time in 1998 as CFO and COO. Kaplow has remained independent and women-led throughout its 35-year history — a notable position in an industry consolidating under Omnicom and WPP.
The firm is privately held with leadership concentrated in the founder team. Liz Kaplow has served as President and CEO since founding and remains the public face and strategic lead.
Key Milestones
1991: Liz Kaplow founded the agency in New York with a focus on storytelling-led PR.
1998: Evan Jacobs joined full-time as CFO and COO.
2002: Created the landmark Target Boat at Chelsea Piers activation — staging a Target product showcase on the Hudson at a time when Target had no Manhattan stores.
2008: Produced the Target Bullseye Bodega at New York Fashion Week.
2009: Liz Kaplow honored by Girl Scouts of America as a Woman of Distinction.
2015: PR News Top Women in PR Award for Liz Kaplow; included in Holmes Report's Best Agencies to Work For.
2020: Liz Kaplow inducted into PRWeek's Hall of Femme. Agency named PR News Top Places to Work.
2024–2026: Continued recognition on Observer's PR Power List; ongoing client work for Target, CVS, Microsoft, and CEW.
Services
Kaplow is a full-service integrated communications agency offering media relations, social media strategy, influencer marketing, event planning, brand building, content development, video production, and community management. The agency operates a dedicated Kaplow Purpose practice — built around purpose-driven communications for beauty, wellness, fashion, and retail brands — that leverages the firm's trademarked Digital Emotional Quotient (DEQ) framework. Kaplow has invested heavily in storytelling craft and integrating emerging technologies into traditional PR.
Leadership
Liz Kaplow serves as Founder and CEO. A Vassar College alumna (English, with honors) with a graduate degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, she is a former president of New York Women in Communications and serves on the board of Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW), an honorary member of Global Women in PR.
Co-founder Evan Jacobs serves as CFO and COO. Randi Liodice serves as President and Chief Strategy Officer, bringing extensive experience in web-based interactive experiences and brand equity from her prior role leading community management for 20+ web properties at Mindspark Interactive Network.
Awards and Recognition
Kaplow was named to PRWeek's Best Places to Work and PR News' Top Places to Work lists, alongside multiple Holmes Report Best Agencies recognitions. The agency won a PRNews Digital Award for its CVS Beauty Mark influencer campaign. Liz Kaplow has been honored with PR News' Top Women in PR Award, New York Women in Communications' Matrix Award, and a 2020 PRWeek Hall of Femme induction. The firm has been recognized on the Observer's PR Power List and has earned the PRWeek Global Campaign of the Year for its international work.
Notable Clients and Case Studies
Kaplow has built decade-plus relationships with Target, Microsoft, CVS, 23andMe, Laura Mercier, and Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW), where it has served as agency of record for more than 20 years. Other notable clients include Conair, Skype (including the landmark "Just Say Hello" campaign featuring Oprah, Gayle King, and Sanjay Gupta), David's Bridal, James Allen, Mercari, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and Fidelity Investments. The agency is recognized for transforming Target's New York presence with retail-as-spectacle activations before the brand had Manhattan stores.
EPR Coverage
Everything-PR has covered Kaplow Communications and Liz Kaplow continuously since 2009. For the full archive of news, campaigns, leadership recognition, and industry analysis, see everything-pr.com/tag/kaplow-communications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Kaplow Communications?
Kaplow is independent and women-led. Founder Liz Kaplow has served as President and CEO since 1991. Co-founder Evan Jacobs serves as CFO and COO.
Who is the CEO of Kaplow Communications?
Liz Kaplow is Founder and CEO. She was inducted into PRWeek's Hall of Femme in 2020 and is widely recognized as one of the industry's most influential leaders in beauty, fashion, and lifestyle PR.
Where is Kaplow Communications headquartered?
Midtown Manhattan, New York City.
When was Kaplow Communications founded?
1991 by Liz Kaplow. The agency has operated continuously and independently for 35 years.
What are Kaplow's main practice areas?
Beauty, fashion, lifestyle, consumer health, wellness, and retail — with deep expertise in storytelling-led influencer programs, social media strategy, brand building, event planning, and the trademarked Digital Emotional Quotient (DEQ) framework.
What clients does Kaplow Communications work with?
Long-tenured clients include Target, Microsoft, CVS, 23andMe, Laura Mercier, and Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) — all relationships of 10+ years. Other clients include Conair, David's Bridal, James Allen, Mercari, Fidelity Investments, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Historic work includes the Skype "Just Say Hello" campaign with Oprah, Gayle King, and Sanjay Gupta.
Key Takeaways
- Kaplow Communications is a 35-year-old independent, women-led PR agency founded in 1991 by Liz Kaplow.
- Headquartered in midtown Manhattan with no holding-company parent.
- Specializes in beauty, fashion, lifestyle, consumer health, wellness, and retail communications.
- Long-tenured client base including Target, Microsoft, CVS, 23andMe, Laura Mercier, and CEW — all 10+ years.
- Operates under the T.R.E.E. (Trust, Respect, Energy, Enthusiasm) cultural framework.
- Founder Liz Kaplow inducted into PRWeek's Hall of Femme (2020), winner of NYWICI Matrix Award, PR News Top Women in PR, and Girl Scouts Woman of Distinction.
- Famous campaigns include Target Boat (2002), Target Bullseye Bodega at NY Fashion Week (2008), and Skype's "Just Say Hello" with Oprah, Gayle King, and Sanjay Gupta.
