BrandWikiReturn

Hill & Knowlton

Hill & Knowlton is an American global public relations consulting company, headquartered in New York City. The firm has over 80 additional offices in more than 40 countries. The company was founded in Cleveland, in 1927 by John W. Hill and is now owned by the WPP Group[2] and operates under the brand Burson.[3]

History

20th century

The company that became Hill & Knowlton Strategies was founded in 1927 by newspaper reporter and businessman John Hill in Cleveland, Ohio.[4] Hill's first two clients were Cleveland-based Union Trust Company, and the Otis Steel Company.[5][6]

When Union Trust Company was shut down by the Great Depression in 1933, Hill hired its former director of advertising and publicity Don Knowlton, and they together established Hill & Knowlton of Cleveland.[5] Hill moved to New York City in 1934 to open a new Hill & Knowlton office. Knowlton remained in Cleveland and operated the original location until his retirement in 1964.[5] Hill served as chairman and chief executive until 1962, but remained on the firm's policy committee, and continued to go into the office until shortly before his death in 1977.[7]

The company represented the dairy industry during congressional debates on margarine regulation in the late 1940s.[8][9]

Other early clients included the tobacco industry, as well as many other industries including the aircraft industry, the American Shipbuilders Council, the National Retail Dry Goods Association, the National Fertilizer Association and soap producers.[8][9][10][11]

When Hill died in 1977, the company had 560 employees, with 36 offices in the United States and 18 abroad.[7] Clients included Texaco Inc., Warner-Lambert, Procter & Gamble, Gillette, and the Business Roundtable.

The firm was acquired in 1980 by the JWT Group, one of the largest advertising agencies at the time.[6][12] Following the acquisition, Hill & Knowlton continued to operate as an independent entity under the JWT Group.[12]

The company expanded to China in 1984,[13] and acquired both Gray & Company and Carl Byoir & Associates, two public relations firms with a national presence in the United States, in 1986.[6][14][15]

JWT was acquired by the WPP plc, a London-based marketing and communications holding company, in 1987.[6][16] In 1989, Hill & Knowlton acquired Canada's largest PR agency, the Public Affairs Resource Group.[17]

In 1990 Hill and Knowlton was hired by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to launch a campaign to persuade Catholics and non-Catholics to oppose abortion rights for women.[18][19][20] A third of its employees at headquarters signed a letter of protest.[21]

21st century

The firm continued to expand through acquisitions in the 2000s, including the acquisition of a portion of Argentine company Vox Consulting in 2000,[22] Miami-based public relations agency SAMCOR in 2002,[23] and a majority ownership of the Hong Kong-based Rikes Communications in 2008.[24]

In 2009, the firm opened its first office in Nairobi in partnership with Kenyan company Scangroup.[25] In 2010, the company opened three new offices in China[26] as well as new offices in India and Colombia.[27][28]

In January 2011, Hill & Knowlton announced a merger with Public Strategies, another WPP company founded in Austin, Texas in 1988.[16][29][30][31] In December 2011, the firm was rebranded as "Hill+Knowlton Strategies."[32][33] The company has since been rebranded to "Hill & Knowlton"[34] before joining the Burson umbrella.[35]

Jack Martin, founder of Public Strategies, oversaw this rebranded company from 2011 until 2019. He was succeeded by AnnaMaria DeSalva.[36][37][38]

In August 2021, Hill & Knowlton China, the Chinese arm of the company, announced new strategic advisory services to help local businesses with environmentally friendly business strategies. The new services were part of Hill & Knowlton's support for the COP15 (UN Biodiversity) conference, which was held in Kunming, China, in October 2021.[39]

In October 2022, the firm became the U.S. public relations agency of record for Glanbia Performance Nutrition.[40][41] In 2023, the company was chosen by Costa Coffee to improve consumer communications across the UK.[42] Costa Coffee had 2700 stores across the UK and 1100 outlets in 45 countries.[42] Hill & Knowlton Strategies was also selected to provide PR and social media for Hill's Pet Nutrition.[43]

From 2021 to 2023, Hill & Knowlton grew more than 25%.[44] In September 2022, the firm acquired JeffreyGroup. The company is based in Miami but has offices in Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina.[45][46] This expanded Hill & Knowlton's presence in Latin America, where it already owned Grupo Ideal, based in Brazil.[45]

In March 2023, WPP acquired Germany based healthcare public relations agency 3K Agentur für Kommunikation.[44]

In November 2023, Hill & Knowlton launched its global intelligence and technology unit. In the same month, Hill & Knowlton also announced its partnership with Pendulum Intelligence to produce a tool that will help clients combat disinformation.[47]

Current operations

The firms' clients reportedly represent fifty percent of Fortune 500 companies.[48] The company serves a variety of industries including automotive, banking and finance, energy, governments, sports marketing, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, technology communications, consumer goods and services, food and beverage, and the travel, leisure, and tourism industry.[49][50] The company has also worked with governing bodies, federations, and sponsors for every Olympic Games since the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.[51] They also worked on the World Health Organization-funded COVID-19 campaign.[52]

Recognition

From 2008 to 2012, Hill & Knowlton worked for the Special Court for Sierra Leone to draw attention to the court's work prosecuting war criminals in Sierra Leone. The court was able to raise more than $12.5 million in financing to convict former Liberian president Charles Taylor. In 2013, the firm's work was included in PRWeek's list of "great work of the last 15 years".[53]

Controversies

Hill & Knowlton did public relations work for the tobacco industry in the 1950s and 1960s,[54] the Bank of Credit and Commerce International from 1988–1990, at which point the firm stopped working for the bank after bank officials were convicted of money-laundering.[16]

In the 1970's, Hill & Knowlton representatives were present in a meeting with the Public Relations Subcommittee of Johns-Manville's Environmental Health Task Force.[55] After that meeting, the Asbestos Information Association, was formed (not by Hill & Knowlton), which denied the health risks of asbestos. Hill & Knowlton was also hired to address concerns with vinyl chloride[56] and CFC.[57]

Also during the late 1980s, Hill & Knowlton represented the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) during its money laundering scandal. Hill & Knowlton's work was investigated by a U.S. Senate subcommittee, and allegations were made that the firm had pressured regulators to not investigate the bank, though no evidence was found to support the claims. After BCCI was convicted of money laundering, the firm severed their relationship with BCCI.[5][58]

The company was hired in 1990 by Citizens for a Free Kuwait, a group predominantly funded by the Government of Kuwait,[5][14][59] to assist its campaign for U.S. intervention in response to the invasion and annexation of Kuwait by Iraq.[6][60][61] Hill & Knowlton were later accused of spreading false information to increase support for the Gulf War, which the company denied.[61][62] Kuwait canceled its account with the firm before the start of the Gulf War.[14]

Hill & Knowlton represented The Church of Scientology from 1987 until May 1991.[63][64] The Church of Scientology sued the firm, claiming that their contract was terminated because Hill & Knowlton was pressured to do so by Eli Lilly and Company, a client of JWT.[65] Eli Lilly and Company produce the drug Prozac, which the Church staunchly and publicly opposed.[14][63] The matter was settled out of court.[66][64]

In November 2022, the company, as official PR firm for the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, was criticized by scientists and environmentalists for also working for fossil fuel corporations.[67][68]

The firm has worked for long-time Ugandan dictator Yoweri Museveni to improve the reputation of his regime after human rights organizations, such as Amnesty and Human Rights Watch, documented systematic repression in Uganda.[69]

Further reading

External links

References

  1. Diana Bradley. Kelli Parsons appointed Hill & Knowlton global CEO PR Week, June 4, 2024^
  2. WPP and our companies' capabilities WPP Group, retrieved 2019-10-18^
  3. Burson formally debuts in Canada www.prweek.co.uk, retrieved 2025-06-18^
  4. Jeffrey Goodell. What Hill & Knowlton Can Do for You, (And What It Couldn't Do for Itself) The New York Times, 1990-09-09, retrieved 2019-04-07^
  5. Scott M. Cutlip. The Unseen Power Routledge, 2013, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  6. Jeffrey Goodell. What Hill & Knowlton Can Do for You, (And What It Couldn't Do for Itself) The New York Times, 9 September 1990, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  7. (18 March 1977). John W. Hill, 86, Dies; Led Hill & Knowlton, The New York Times^
  8. Karen Miller. Business and Economic History Volume 24 Business History Conference, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  9. Karen Miller. The Voice of Business: Hill & Knowlton and Postwar Public Relations University of North Carolina Press, 1999, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  10. Richard Pollay. Publicity and American Culture Public Relations Review, 1990, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  11. Jeffrey Goodell. What Hill & Knowlton Can Do for You, (And What It Couldn't Do for Itself) New York Times, 9 September 1990, retrieved 10 January 2011^
  12. J. Walter Thompson to acquire all assets of Hill and Knowlton The Globe and Mail, 12 February 1980, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  13. Philip H. Dougherty. Hill & Knowlton To Open Peking Office The New York Times, 3 October 1984, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  14. The PR Problem at Hill & Knowlton Bloomberg Businessweek, 1 September 1991, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  15. George Lazarus. Hill & Knowlton, Byoir Make Deal Chicago Tribune, 6 August 1986, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  16. Kirk Ladendorf. Public Strategies merger with H&K creates global PR powerhouse Austin American-Statesman, 15 November 2010, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  17. George Lazarus. H&k Acquiring Canadian Pr Firm Chicago Tribune, 15 February 1989, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  18. Ari L. Goldman. Catholic Bishops Hire Firms To Market Fight on Abortion The New York Times, 1990-04-06, retrieved 2024-03-02^
  19. Peter Steinfels. New Voice, Same Words on Abortion The New York Times, 1990-11-20, retrieved 2024-03-02^
  20. Public Relations Firm to Present Anti-Abortion Effort to Bishops The New York Times, 1990-08-14, retrieved 2024-03-02^
  21. PR Firm in Turmoil Over Anti-Abortion Campaign Los Angeles Times, 1990-04-21, retrieved 2024-03-02^
  22. Argentina: Hill & Knowlton acquires Vox Consulting South American Business Information, 3 November 2000, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  23. Elaine Walker. Hill & Knowlton Acquires South Florida Public Relations Agency Tribune Business News, 10 June 2002, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  24. Hill & Knowlton acquires majority stake in Rikes Communications PRWeek, 4 February 2008, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  25. Hill & Knowlton Expands Operations to East Africa in Joint Venture With Scangroup Marketing Weekly News, 9 May 2009, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  26. H+K Strategies appoints Nan Dong in Hong Kong & China, joins from FTI consultancy.asia, 2018-09-26, retrieved 2023-09-19^
  27. Joe Ciarallo. Hill & Knowlton Opens Colombia Office Adweek, 2010-02-02, retrieved 2023-10-03^
  28. Hill & Knowlton: Agency Business Report 2010 PR Week, retrieved 2023-10-03^
  29. Paul Holmes. Jack Martin: The Insurrectionist The Holmes Report, 28 May 2012, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  30. H&K Rebrands As Hill+Knowlton Strategies PRovoke Media, December 2011, retrieved 2023-10-03^
  31. Michael Sebastian. At 84 years old, Hill & Knowlton rebrands PR Daily, 2011-12-02, retrieved 2023-10-03^
  32. Tonya Garcia. H&K Is Now Hill + Knowlton Strategies Adweek, 2011-12-01, retrieved 2023-09-13^
  33. H&K rebrands as Hill+Knowlton Strategies PR Week, retrieved 2023-09-13^
  34. H+K returns to original name H&K Marketing-Interactive, 2023-11-07, retrieved 2025-06-18^
  35. Burson unveils its new brand identity and client offerings www.campaigncanada.ca, retrieved 2025-06-18^
  36. Hill+Knowlton Strategies Announces AnnaMaria DeSalva to Succeed Jack Martin as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer - 15.05.2019 - AMP wallstreet-online.de, retrieved 2023-09-08^
  37. H+K Strategies Names Craig Buchholz US CEO PRovoke Media, July 11, 2023, retrieved 2023-10-11^
  38. Costa Coffee strengthens public relations with Hill+Knowlton Strategies deal World Coffee Portal, 2023-05-19, retrieved 2023-10-11^
  39. Teddy Cambosa. H+K China launches strategic advisory services in line with upcoming COP15 conference MARKETECH APAC, 2021-08-06, retrieved 2023-08-29^
  40. Revolving Door Agency Moves: Noble Studios, WPP, Wunderman Thompson & More Adweek, 2022-10-06, retrieved 2023-08-29^
  41. Glanbia Performance Nutrition Moves US PR Business to H+K PRovoke Media, October 4, 2022, retrieved 2023-10-11^
  42. Costa Coffee strengthens public relations with Hill+Knowlton Strategies deal World Coffee Portal, 2023-05-19, retrieved 2023-08-29^
  43. H+K London Wins Mandate With Hill's Pet Nutrition PRovoke Media, January 4, 2023, retrieved 2023-08-31^
  44. WPP acquires German healthcare specialist 3K Communication MediaNews4U, 2023-03-07, retrieved 2023-09-13^
  45. H+K Strategies Acquires The JeffreyGroup, Doubles Latin American Footprint PRovoke Media, September 21, 2022, retrieved 2023-09-13^
  46. WPP adds Miami-headquartered PR agency JeffreyGroup to Hill+Knowlton Strategies The Drum, retrieved 2023-11-03^
  47. Hill & Knowlton debuts Sonar intelligence product PR Week, retrieved 2024-01-05^
  48. Hill+Knowlton Strategies expands Africa footprint PR & Communications News, 26 July 2013, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  49. Company Overview of Hill & Knowlton, Inc. businessweek.com, Bloomberg Businessweek, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  50. Noreen O'Leary. Grey Energizes America's Natural Gas Alliance AdWeek, 17 September 2009, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  51. Hill+Knowlton Strategies: Agency Business Report 2012 PRWeek, 1 May 2012, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  52. WHO Cares What Celebrities Think^
  53. PRWeek turns 15: Great work PRWeek, 1 November 2013, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  54. Richard W. Pollay, "Propaganda, Puffing and the Public Interest", Public Relations Review, Volume XVI, Number 3, Fall 1990.^
  55. Gerald Markowitz. "Unleashed on an Unsuspecting World": The Asbestos Information Association and Its Role in Perpetuating a National Epidemic American Journal of Public Health, 2016^
  56. Doubt is Their Product: How Industry's Assault on Science Threatens Your Health, David Michaels, 2008, chapter 5^
  57. Optimistic Environmentalist, The: Progressing Towards a Greener Future, David R. Boyd, ECW Press, 2015^
  58. Bruce Horovitz. Ethics questioned in PR work for clients such as BCCI, Colombia Los Angeles Times, 21 August 1991, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  59. Tom Regan. When contemplating war, beware of babies in incubators The Christian Science Monitor, 6 September 2002, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  60. Phillip Knightley. The disinformation campaign The Guardian, 4 October 2001, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  61. Deception on Capitol Hill The New York Times, 15 January 1992, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  62. Stuart Elliott. A Dispute in the Public Relations Industry The New York Times, 14 May 1992, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  63. Cassandra Burrell. Scientology to face Hill & Knowlton TimesDaily, 25 March 1994, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  64. Patrick J. Kiger. Monkey Business Regardie's, July 1994, retrieved 5 October 2014^
  65. Wayne Garcia. Scientology suit on PR firm heads for trial St. Petersburg Times, March 31, 1994^
  66. Wayne Garcia. Church of Scientology settles suit with PR firm St. Petersburg Times, July 7, 1994^
  67. Carolyn Fortuna. 400+ Scientists Call Out COP27 PR Firm For Supporting Fossil Fuel Clients CleanTechnica, 2022-11-06, retrieved 2022-11-06^
  68. Environmentalists slam corporate influence at U.N. climate talks Washington Post, 2022-11-04^
  69. Adam Scharpf. Dictatorships and Western Public Relations Firms: Evidence from the United States Security Studies, 2025^