Ketchum Pittsburgh Celebrates 90 Years of Leadership in Communications

PITTSBURGH, May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- On this date in 1923, Ketchum, which is one of the world's largest communications firms, incorporated in Pittsburgh with three employees. Today Ketchum's nearly 3,000 colleagues around the world in 130 locations celebrate the firm's 90th anniversary, making it the longest-tenured public relations firm in the world. It will commemorate the milestone with a series of global philanthropic initiatives, including donating 90 creative brainstorm sessions to nonprofit organizations over a period of 90 days. Ketchum's Pittsburgh office will support It's About the Warrior, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping post-9/11 vets and their families transition back into civilian life financially, educationally, recreationally and therapeutically.

"As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, we are looking ahead at how we can continually increase the value we deliver to our clients, colleagues and the communities in which we live and work. To keep our focus on the future, we will be celebrating our anniversary by improving the lives of those less fortunate," said Rob Flaherty, senior partner and chief executive officer of Ketchum. "Ketchum has a rich history and culture that we draw upon to help guide the decisions we make for the firm every day. I am extremely proud of the enormous success Ketchum has achieved to date, and with that success comes the responsibility to propel our business and the industry forward during this time of opportunity."

A Commitment to CSR
Driven by the belief that the power of communication can create a better world, Ketchum has a long legacy of providing pro bono support to nonprofit organizations through hands-on volunteer efforts, fundraising campaigns and strategic counsel. For the next 90 days, Ketchum colleagues will lead and participate in creative brainstorms to assist a local nonprofit in overcoming a challenge the organization is currently facing. Pittsburgh will support It's About the Warrior, an organization dedicated to helping post-9/11 vets and their families transition back into civilian life financially, educationally, recreationally and therapeutically. Their long-term goal, in addition to raising funds to aid in the aforementioned way, is to build a state-of-the-art facility to provide accessible, quality mental and physical care to our U.S. veterans. Additional organizations can be found at www.ketchum.com/90-brainstorms.

Flaherty said, "Several years ago, the agency set a goal to lead in the area of corporate citizenship and established the award-winning Ketchum Social Responsibility program as a platform for a wide range of partnerships, initiatives and pro bono projects that we are undertaking. As we mark our anniversary, we believe that one of the most meaningful ways to engage our global network and celebrate our success is by continuing this commitment to giving back to others."

This year also marks Ketchum's fifth anniversary with Room to Read, a global organization focused on transforming children's lives through literacy and gender equality in education. Underscoring the importance of Room to Read's mission, Ketchum and its employees have committed to donating the money needed to empower 90 girls who are enrolled in the nonprofit's Girls' Education program to graduate from secondary school and develop the skills needed to succeed beyond the classroom. The money raised will be a combination of agency and employee contributions.

"So many girls are forced to drop out of school due to economic, social or safety factors, which leaves them at a disadvantage for the rest of their lives," said Erin Ganju, co-founder and CEO of Room to Read. "It is our goal to provide girls around the world with equal access to a quality education, allowing them to gain literacy skills and become active members of society, lifting themselves, their families and society out of poverty. Ketchum's commitment to support 90 young women in the Morogoro Region of Tanzania and a region in India through financial support, mentorship and life skills training will provoke a wave of empowerment that will cascade to future generations."

A Commitment to Client Service and Break Through Initiatives
The cornerstone of Ketchum's 90 successful years is the partnerships it has developed with its clients throughout the years. Said Ketchum senior partner and chairman Ray Kotcher, "With some of the longest-standing relationships in the communications industry, our clients have placed their trust in us to help them advance their brands and build their reputations. Together, we have created a number of the most recognized and sophisticated campaigns in the industry, from feeding Stouffers products to the Apollo 11 crew, to developing and coordinating the Atlanta Olympic Games Torch Relay, to helping Doritos pioneer consumer-generated Super Bowl advertising, to supporting IBM's Centennial celebrations, including the world's largest Day of Service event."

Flaherty said, "Looking forward, we aim to be the most valued communications consultancy in the world. We will do this by ensuring our teams are working seamlessly across any geography where our clients need us, increasingly integrating paid, earned, shared and owned media, and providing detailed marketing analytics that allow companies to evaluate effectiveness and optimize their budgets."

About Ketchum
Ketchum is a leading global communications firm with operations in more than 70 countries across six continents. Named 2012 PR Agency of the Year (PRWeek and European Excellence Awards) and the winner of an unprecedented three consecutive PRWeek Campaign of the Year Awards, Ketchum partners with clients to deliver strategic programming, game-changing creative and measurable results that build brands and reputations. For more information on Ketchum, a part of Diversified Agency Services, a division of Omnicom Group Inc., visit www.ketchum.com.

About Diversified Agency Services
Diversified Agency Services (DAS), a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), manages Omnicom's holdings in a variety of marketing communications disciplines. DAS includes over 200 companies, which operate through a combination of networks and regional organisations, serving international and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.

SOURCE Ketchum