Related: PR Firms Directory · Industry Leaders · Ruder Finn: Agency Profile
Updated: June 3, 2026. Originally published September 27, 2011.
This 2011 EPR interview with Kathy Bloomgarden, CEO of Ruder Finn, was conducted at the firm's Switzerland offices in her first year as CEO. Fifteen years on, Bloomgarden is still in the role — one of the longest-tenured agency leaders in global PR. She was inducted into both the 2025 PRWeek Hall of Fame and the 2025 ICCO Hall of Fame, and the firm she leads was named 2026 PRWeek Outstanding Large Agency.
What she said in 2011 about trust, ethics, leadership, and Ruder Finn's global posture reads now as the through-line of the strategy she has executed over a decade and a half.
The Interview
EPR: Kathy, I'd like to jump-start off talking about your book, Trust: The Secret Weapon of Effective Business Leaders. At a time when trust in leadership has rarely been lower, the subject is so appropriate. Who or what is to blame for the degradation of credibility government and business seem to suffer from? Public apathy? Leadership ethics?
Kathy Bloomgarden: We're in a period of considerable uncertainty and change. Unemployment rates are high — over 9% in the US — and currencies and stocks are highly volatile. Whenever you have a period of change, people feel unsettled. I wouldn't call it a question of leadership ethics. I'd call it a lack of strong leadership. Leaders haven't been able to unite people around a shared vision and a road forward. They haven't instilled confidence that progress can be made.
The emergence of social and digital media has also arrived to create the perfect storm. It's never been easier for the public, for customers, or for employees to exercise their right to free speech and broadcast it to whoever wants to listen — either in their name or anonymously. At a micro level you have customer service issues aired on Twitter that become huge leadership problems at the executive level. At the other end, you have WikiLeaks becoming a globally accessible forum for whistleblowers or opportunists.
People have always aired their views. It's just so much easier to do so now, and it can be far more damaging. Leaders need to understand that it's not good enough for them to embody the right values. Now, more than ever, they need to make sure they communicate, and that the whole organization is aligned around the values.
EPR: Wouldn't it seem wise for a leader, or a company, to instigate an ethical code, processes, and practices so extraordinary as to eclipse the competition? Or has business become so cost-conscious no one is willing to take the short-term loss?
Kathy Bloomgarden: You're quite right to ask the question about keeping the priority on ethics, especially during economically pressured times. I think it's vitally important that we all have a code of conduct that we respect and uphold no matter what pressures are around us. At Ruder Finn, ethics and values are part of our DNA. We have an ethics officer who reviews potential assignments. I believe it's really important that we uphold our values and ethical guidelines, even if it means turning away business.
"It's now more difficult than ever for organizations to maintain and grow their reputations. Small issues become big issues very quickly and one has to focus on always doing the right thing regardless of an uncertain economy."
EPR: On the ethics platform — does Ruder Finn have a hard and fast rule on controversial clients?
Kathy Bloomgarden: You make a very good point about controversial clients. In order to consider the right companies and the right fit, it's important to have a process for doing this. If there is a question regarding a client or individual assignment, our ethics officer becomes involved to review the situation and make certain that we believe in the assignment and can deliver results because we trust and believe in the client. It needs both an ethics platform and a process to make sure that we do the right thing in each case.
EPR: On Ruder Finn's structure and global posture — what's next?
Kathy Bloomgarden: For Ruder Finn Inc., we are becoming more global, and a large percentage of our business is global. We are leaders in four separate areas: global corporate reputation, health and wellness, technology and innovation, and consumer products, with a very strong digital piece underlining all of these activities. We also have several hundred people in China, and we're ranked one of the top global agencies there. Today we are almost dual-headquartered.
"The world has also changed from what it was even ten years ago. News breaks globally in an instant rather than taking a day to filter around the globe. We are set up in all regional hubs to deal with this, and ensure that we or our partners can react instantly to protect or enhance our clients' reputations."
EPR: Mentors and role models?
Kathy Bloomgarden: It's important to have mentors. I was very fortunate to be involved at a very early age in communications activities with my father. He was very inspiring, having worked for the Kennedy administration, the Vatican, and the UN for many years, and this gave me a wonderful feeling of how communications could be a great asset to people, companies, and giant global institutions. I had the opportunity, growing up, to meet some very wonderful and inspiring CEOs. Finally, my father's dedication to the arts led to the creation of one of the first communication arts units in the world.
EPR: What's Ruder Finn's greatest advantage today?
Kathy Bloomgarden: I believe our greatest advantage is our creative culture, especially in the context of the roots of the company, which were always strong in corporate and policy. Ruder Finn is lucky to be able to build on the heritage that was created in 1948. In the 63 years we've been in business, our great relationships and our networks have really served us well, and we've been able to make some bold moves — creating one of the first in-house digital shops, which is now one of the largest in the PR business. Also important is our global viewpoint, entering China as one of the first global agencies, where we now rank one of the top three. We are truly international in our thinking and can give our clients a global perspective.
EPR: Best advice you ever heard?
Kathy Bloomgarden: To be successful in this business, you need a strong will to win. You can't give up easily or you'll never get very far. Humility is also key — you can never stop learning. Things are changing so fast, and it's important to always tackle challenges with the curiosity of someone doing it for the first time.
Fifteen years later
Bloomgarden became sole Chairman and CEO of the Ruder Finn Group in 2014. She has since overseen the firm's expansion into India, the build-out of RF TechLab (one of the first agency AI incubators), the launch of RF Studio53, and a four-acquisition run between 2025 and 2026 — Big Sky Communications, Era Communications, Missouri Creative, and The Equity Group. Ruder Finn was named Outstanding Large Agency at the 2026 PRWeek US Awards. PRWeek judges noted the firm's approach to AI as "not treated as a bolt-on or a buzzword, but as a core capability."
The thread between 2011 and 2026 is unbroken: an ethics platform, a long-horizon view, sustained investment in technology, and an insistence on independence in an industry that has consolidated around the holdcos.
FAQ
When did Kathy Bloomgarden become CEO of Ruder Finn?
2011. She assumed the role of sole Chairman and CEO of the Ruder Finn Group in 2014 following a restructuring. She remains in the role in 2026, her 15th consecutive year.
What is Kathy Bloomgarden's book about?
Trust: The Secret Weapon of Effective Business Leaders argues that sustained trust — built through values, communication, and ethical practice — is the operational asset that distinguishes effective business leadership.
What awards has Kathy Bloomgarden received?
2025 PRWeek Hall of Fame, 2025 ICCO Hall of Fame, 2024 PRNews Person of the Year (Agency CEO category). Ruder Finn has been recognized as a PRWeek Best Place to Work for three consecutive years and was named 2026 PRWeek Outstanding Large Agency under her leadership.
What boards does Kathy Bloomgarden sit on?
The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH). She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Partnership for New York City, and the Atlantic Council.
