MSLGROUP

MSLGROUP

MSLGROUP logo
Type	a Publicis Groupe company
Industry	communications, marketing, public relations
Founded	Paris (1938)
Headquarters	Paris, France
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Guillaume Herbette, CEO
Website	www.mslgroup.com

MSLGROUP is a public relations (PR) network of companies. Specialists in strategic communications and engagement, the company is part of the French multinational Publicis Groupe. It evolved as a merger of Publicis Consultants and Manning Selvage & Lee (thus, the "MSL" in the name).^[1]

MSLGROUP offers the following services: public relations, financial communications, experiential marketing, live event management, healthcare communications, public affairs, reputation management and social media marketing.

It is the fourth largest PR conglomerate in the world, following Edelman, Weber Shandwick and Fleishman-Hillard.^[2] MSLGROUP has over 100 offices in 22 countries, and employs more than 3,100 people (as of 2013).

History

In 1980, MS&L was acquired by the Benton & Bowles, Inc. ad agency, who ended up merging with the Leo Burnett ad agency before the entire group was bought by France's Publicis Groupe, to form the world's fourth largest communications company.^[3]

• In October 2010, MSLGROUP acquired 20:20, an Indian public relations firm specializing in technology and social media.^[4]
• It acquired Eastwei Relations in the same year, now integrated into MSL China.^[5]
• In December 2010, the group acquired Andreoli Brazil.
• In 2011, MSLGROUP made four acquisitions: Taiwan-based Interactive Communications Ltd (ICL), Genedigi Group,^[6] technology PR agency Schwartz Communications,^[7] and Ciszewski, Poland's largest independent public relations agency.^[8]
• In 2012, MSLGROUP acquired two marketing firms: King Harvests and Luminous.^[9]
• CNC Communications became part of MSLGROUP after Publicis Groupe acquired it in July 2012.^[10]
• Brazilian digital and social media marketing agency Espalhe joined MSLGROUP in August 2013 when Publicis Groupe acquired a majority stake in it.^[11]
• D.C.-based public affairs agency Qorvis was acquired on January 10, 2014.^[12]

Services

MSLGROUP ranked fifth in the Holmes Report 250 Global Ranking of PR Firms in 2011.^[13]

Controversies

Qorvis MSLGroup, amid the execution of political protesters and opponents, has been working with Saudi Arabia for more than a decade to whitewash its record on human rights.^[14][15]

References

1. Publicis Omnicom: MSLGroup Ponders Post-Merger Future
2. "Top 10 | Global Rankings 2013". Holmes Report. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
4. "Publicis to buy 20:20 MEDIA, 2020 Social". The Hindu Business Line. 2 October 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
5. "MSLGroup Merges Eastwei And MSLChina". Holmes Report. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
6. "Agency Report:MSLGROUP". Holmes Report. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
7. "Publicis Groupe S.A. Acquires PR Agency Schwartz Communications". Reuters. 15 September 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
8. "News From the Advertising Industry". New York Times. 4 December 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
9. "Publicis Groupe SA Acquires King Harvests and Luminous". Reuters. 8 March 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
10. "Germany's CNC Joins MSLGroup After Publicis Groupe Acquisition". Holmes Report. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
11. Publicis Groupe Acquires Espalhe -- PR and Digital Marketing Agency in Brazil Wall Street Journal 29 August 2013 Retrieved 11 October 2013
12. WashingtonPost 20 January 2014 Retrieved 8 May 2014
13. "Edelman Climbs To Number One In Global Rankings 2011". Holmes Report. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
14. Green, Chris (17 March 2016). "PR firm accused of helping Saudi Arabia 'whitewash' its human rights record". The Independent. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
15. "Supplemental Statement Pursuant to the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938" (PDF). fara.gov. Foreign Agents Registration Act. 5 April 2015. p. 12. Retrieved 18 May 2016.

External links

• Official website