Related: PR Firms · PR Leaders · Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is now part of Omnicom Public Relations following Omnicom's $9 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group, completed November 25, 2025. CEO Susan Howe will retire September 1, 2026; Global President Karen Pugliese has been named her successor.
| Founded | January 2001 (merger of Weber Group, Shandwick International, and BSMG) |
| Headquarters | 909 Third Avenue, New York, NY |
| CEO | Susan Howe (retiring September 1, 2026) |
| Incoming CEO | Karen Pugliese, effective September 1, 2026 |
| Employees | ~5,000 globally |
| Offices | 65+ across six continents |
| Ownership | Omnicom Public Relations (Omnicom Group, NYSE: OMC) |
| Specialties | Earned media, corporate communications, crisis communications, healthcare, public affairs, AI-driven communications, women's health |
| Website | webershandwick.com |
Overview
Weber Shandwick is one of the largest global public relations and communications networks in the world, headquartered in New York City and operating in more than 60 cities across six continents. The firm positions itself as the "earned-first global communications agency," with capabilities spanning corporate reputation, crisis communications, healthcare, public affairs, employee engagement, and AI-driven communications strategy.
The agency operates as part of Omnicom Public Relations (OPR) following the November 2025 close of Omnicom Group's $9 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group — a deal that created the largest agency holding company in the world.
History and Ownership
Weber Shandwick was formed on January 1, 2001, through the merger of three predecessor firms: the Weber Group, Shandwick International (founded 1974, acquired by IPG in 1998), and BSMG (formerly Bozell Sawyer Miller Group), which IPG had acquired as part of its March 2001 acquisition of True North. For nearly a quarter century the firm operated as the flagship PR agency of Interpublic Group, sitting within the IPG DXTRA division.
That changed on November 25, 2025, when Omnicom Group closed its $9 billion acquisition of IPG. Weber Shandwick now sits within Omnicom Public Relations alongside former Omnicom agencies including FleishmanHillard, Ketchum, Porter Novelli, and former IPG agency Golin.
Key Milestones
2024: Susan Howe named CEO effective December 2, 2024, succeeding Gail Heimann. Inaugurated the Women's Health Center of Excellence and expanded the offering across North America, Latin America, and APAC.
March 2025: Launched Weber I/O, an expansion of AI services for clients.
April 2025: Launched Weber Advisory, a service counseling chief corporate affairs officers on reputation management.
November 2025: Became part of Omnicom Public Relations following the close of the Omnicom–IPG merger.
May 2026: Announced Susan Howe's retirement effective September 1, 2026. Karen Pugliese named successor. Jim O'Leary, CEO North America and Global President, departing for a new opportunity.
Services
Weber Shandwick operates across earned media, corporate communications, crisis and issues management, healthcare communications, public affairs, employee engagement, consumer marketing, digital and social, and AI-driven communications. The firm has built dedicated centers around women's health, AI strategy (Weber I/O), corporate affairs (Weber Advisory), and creative production (Weber Create).
The Weber Shandwick Collective also encompasses sub-brands including Cappuccino, Flipside, KRC Research, Powell Tate, Prime, Resolute, Revive Health, That Lot, and United Minds.
Leadership
Susan Howe has served as CEO since December 2024, joining the agency nearly three decades ago and rising through general manager, chief collaboration officer, chief growth officer, and global president roles. She retires September 1, 2026.
Karen Pugliese, currently Global President, succeeds Howe as CEO on September 1, 2026. Pugliese has been with Weber Shandwick more than 15 years in roles including EVP of the Consumer Practice, Chief of Staff to the CEO, and Global Chief Growth Officer.
Chris Foster serves as CEO of Omnicom Public Relations, the parent division.
Awards and Recognition
Weber Shandwick has been named PRWeek's Global Agency of the Year (2024), PRovoke's Global Agency of the Decade (2020), and Campaign US PR Agency of the Year (2021). The firm ranked #1 in the Public Relations and Brand Strategies category on Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies list in both 2024 and 2025, and #1 on PRovoke's Global Creative Index in 2024.
The agency was the most awarded PR firm at the 2023 and 2024 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, including the PR industry's first idea-led Grand Prix in the Brand Experience & Activation category. It has earned more than 225 cumulative Cannes Lions.
Notable Clients and Case Studies
Weber Shandwick serves a diverse global client base across consumer, healthcare, technology, public sector, and corporate reputation work. Recent campaign work has included partnerships with the Jamaica Tourist Board on a multi-year cultural and tourism campaign, and work for Mars, Incorporated including Big Game commercial activations for Skittles. The firm's healthcare practice operates through Revive Health and the Women's Health Center of Excellence. KRC Research provides the firm's proprietary insights and analytics capability.
EPR Coverage
Everything-PR has covered Weber Shandwick continuously since 2009. For the full archive of news, leadership moves, account wins, and analysis, see everything-pr.com/tag/weber-shandwick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Weber Shandwick?
Weber Shandwick is part of Omnicom Public Relations, a division of Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC). The agency moved from Interpublic Group to Omnicom on November 25, 2025, when Omnicom closed its $9 billion acquisition of IPG.
Who is the CEO of Weber Shandwick?
Susan Howe has served as CEO since December 2024. She will retire on September 1, 2026, with Global President Karen Pugliese succeeding her on that date.
Where is Weber Shandwick headquartered?
Weber Shandwick is headquartered at 909 Third Avenue in New York City, with more than 60 offices across six continents.
When was Weber Shandwick founded?
The firm was formed on January 1, 2001, through the merger of the Weber Group, Shandwick International, and BSMG. Shandwick International itself was founded in 1974.
What are Weber Shandwick's main services?
Earned media, corporate communications, crisis communications, healthcare communications, public affairs, employee engagement, consumer marketing, digital and social, and AI-driven communications through Weber I/O. The firm also operates Weber Advisory for chief corporate affairs officers and Weber Create for creative production.
How does Weber Shandwick rank in the industry?
The firm was named PRWeek's Global Agency of the Year in 2024, PRovoke's Global Agency of the Decade in 2020, and ranked #1 on PRovoke's Global Creative Index in 2024. It was the most awarded PR agency at the 2024 Cannes Lions.
Key Takeaways
- Weber Shandwick is one of the largest global PR networks, founded January 2001 through the merger of Weber Group, Shandwick International, and BSMG.
- Headquartered in New York with 60+ offices across six continents and approximately 5,000 employees.
- Became part of Omnicom Public Relations on November 25, 2025, following Omnicom's $9 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group.
- CEO Susan Howe will retire September 1, 2026; Global President Karen Pugliese has been named her successor.
- Recent investments include Weber I/O (AI services, March 2025), Weber Advisory (corporate affairs counsel, April 2025), and Weber Create.
- Recognized as PRWeek Global Agency of the Year 2024, PRovoke Global Agency of the Decade, and the most-awarded PR firm at the 2024 Cannes Lions.
