Ketchum Inc. is a global public relations firm, offering marketing, branding, and corporate communications services in the corporate, healthcare, food and beverage, and technology industries.[1] George Ketchum founded the firm as a Pittsburgh-based advertising company in 1923. It later evolved to include a public relations practice. The firm is headquartered in New York City, with auxiliary offices and affiliates in North America, EMEA, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.[2] The agency has been owned by Omnicom Group since 1996.[3] Ketchum merged with Düsseldorf-based Pleon in one of the industry's largest mergers in 2009.[4] It has been led by President and CEO Mike Doyle since 2020.
History
The agency that would become Ketchum was founded as Ketchum and MacLeod in Pittsburgh on May 22, 1923.[5] The agency's name was changed to Ketchum, MacLeod & Grove in 1924. It was led by brothers George and Carlton Ketchum, and Norman McLeod and Robert Grove, whom the brothers met at University of Pittsburgh in the 1910s.[6] The agency's early work focused on advertising, publicity, and fundraising.[5]
In 1934 the agency established a public relations department. The department's first assignment was a campaign for Natural Gas Companies, People's Natural Gas, and other local natural gas companies.[5] The agency received national attention in 1951 when it orchestrated a sponsorship for client Westinghouse of the first nationally televisedNCAAfootball game.[5] As the firm's billings grew in the late 1950s, it opened offices in New York City and Washington, D.C.[5] It acquired west coast-based agency Botsford Constantine & McCarty, forming Botsford-Ketchum in 1969.[7]
George Ketchum died in September 1975.[7] The agency changed its name to Ketchum Communications Inc. in 1981.[5] Its major divisions became known as Ketchum Advertising, Ketchum Public Relations, and Ketchum Directory Advertising.[7] Ketchum Public Relations moved its headquarters to New York from Pittsburgh in 1982.[8]
In 2016, Ketchum created "Cultivate", a new branch to help companies and organizations in organic food markets.[9]
In November 2017, Ketchum announced that then Partner and President Barri Rafferty would assume the role of president and chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2018. Rafferty is the first woman to lead a top five global public relations firm.[10]
Mergers and acquisitions
Omnicom Group acquired Ketchum in 1996.[11][12] At the time, Ketchum was the 25th-largest American agency.[11] In 1998, Ketchum merged with British consumer agency Life PR.[13] Ketchum sold Ketchum Advertising in 1999; the "Ketchum" name has referred solely to the PR practice since that time.[14]
In the 2000s, Ketchum acquired several firms and opened others, including the acquisition of New York management consulting firm Stromberg Consulting in 2001,[15] the launching of influencer marketing and community building firm Emanate in 2006,[16] and the acquisitions of clinical trialpatient recruitment agency MMG in 2008,[17]Moscow-based Maslov PR in 2010,[18]Indian agency Sampark PR in 2011,[19] Capstrat in North Carolina in 2012,[20] and Germanlifestyle and social media PR agency Brandzeichen in 2013.[21] Ketchum took a majority stake in Newscan's China operations in 2011,[18] expanded Ketchum Sports & Entertainment practice into Brazil in 2012,[22] and acquired ICON International Communications in Singapore in 2013.[23] In the US, Ketchum partnered with luxury and lifestyle agency Harrison & Shriftman in 2011,[24] and launched music marketing service Ketchum Sounds in 2012.[25]
In 2009, Ketchum merged with Europe-based Pleon in one of the industry's largest mergers.[26][27] Ketchum merged with South Korea-based firm InComm Brodeur in 2013.[28][29]
In 2011, Ketchum faced backlash for a promotion for ConAgra, in which the agency hosted a dinner for food bloggers that was billed as serving food prepared by George Duran, but diners were served ConAgra frozen foods instead. Ketchum filmed each dinner and hoped to use footage of diners' reactions for promotional purposes. However, many bloggers felt tricked by the switch. Ketchum apologized and ConAgra offered reimbursement for any incurred expense to the attendees.[43]
Crisis management
Ketchum has a team of approximately 50 crisis management executives in the US[44] and offers a suite of related services, including Mobile RepProtect,[45] University RepProtect for higher education, Cyber RepProtect for data security,[46] and Game Plan for sports teams and brands.[47]
From 2006 to 2015, Ketchum represented the Russian Federation in the US and Europe[57] for events including the G20 Summit, World Economic Forum, and 2014 Sochi Olympics, media and op-edoutreach.[58][59] In 2013, Ketchum pitched an op-ed from Russian president Vladimir Putin on the Syrian Civil War to The New York Times.[60] According to The Holmes Report, the assignment "attracted plenty of mainstream media scrutiny in the US, most of it negative" due to the countries' political relationship.[57] In January 2015, Politico magazine reported that Ketchum had received more than $60 million from the Kremlin for their work from 2006 to 2014.[56] The contract between the Russian and Ketchum ended in March 2015.[61]
Awards
In 1985 Ketchum New York was a finalist in the Caples direct marketing awards for their pro bono work assisting Central Park and the Central Park Conservancy. As of 2016, Ketchum has won more Silver Anvils from the Public Relations Society of America than any other agency.[31] Its campaigns have been awarded "Campaign of the Year" by PRWeek five times,[62] and Ketchum was the 2002[63] and 2012[64]PRWeek Agency of the Year. Ketchum London was named Agency of the Decade by U.K.’s CorpComms magazine in 2015.[65]
Corporate overview
Ketchum is owned by Omnicom Group and is part of the company's Diversified Agency Services network's Omnicom Public Relations Group. The agency's subsidiaries include Access Brand Communications, Emanate, and Capstrat.[66]
Locations and employees
Ketchum's headquarters are located in New York City.[67] The agency has more than 130 offices and affiliates in over 70 countries.[68]
Ketchum is led by President and CEO Mike Doyle. Other leadership roles include President of North America, Neera Chaudhary, and Global Chief Financial & Operating Officer Alan Banner.[69] As of 2016[update], Ketchum has approximately 2,500 employees.[66] In 2016, Ketchum announced the formation of a global leadership council comprising 20 senior leaders. The GLC replaced and significantly expanded Ketchum's Executive Committee.[70]
Company culture
Ketchum developed a program called MindFire for college students to respond to client challenges with creative solutions in order to earn prizes and networking opportunities.[71]