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Ruder Finn
Public relations firm with co-headquarters in the United States and China From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ruder Finn is a public relations firm with headquarters in the United States and China. It is a large privately-owned communications agency, serving corporations, governments, and non-profits.[1] It also has offices in San Francisco, London, Washington, D.C., Singapore, and several Indian metro areas including the National Capital Region.
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Origins: 1948–1990's
Ruder Finn was established in 1948 in New York by David Finn and Bill Ruder.[2]
The firm's first client was country singer Perry Como. Its success at promoting Como attracted more clients in show business, including Dinah Shore and Jack Lemmon.[3] Ruder Finn eventually expanded to represent consumer product companies and government agencies.[3]
During the 1960s, Ruder Finn provided public relations support for the U.S. government's efforts related to the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treat signed under President Kennedy.[4]
David Finn advised on the curation of the PepsiCo Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens, helping assemble a collection of twentieth-century outdoor artworks. His involvement reflected a long-standing commitment to expanding public access to modern art.[5]
In 1979, David Finn and Bill Ruder were hired to handle the promotion of the new Pritzker Prize, founded by the owners of Hyatt Hotels, Jay and Cindy Pritzker.[6][7]
In 1985 Ruder Finn executed the "Glad Bag-A-Thon," the nation's largest organized clean-up and recycling initiative, in partnership with Glad Bags and Keep America Beautiful.[8]
During this time, Ruder Finn advised Philip Morris (now Altria), on public relations strategies related to growing health concerns about smoking. Ruder Finn recommended adopting public information policies that acknowledge health risks, such as including warnings on advertisements and deferring to medical authorities on scientific findings.[9][10][11][12]
These decades laid the groundwork for future growth under the leadership of David Finn's daughter, Kathy Bloomgarden, who became the firm's CEO and expanded their international presence into China.[13]
In 1997, Ruder Finn ran the Global Climate Coalition, a group of mainly United States businesses opposing action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.[14]
In 1998, the firm was caught in a conflict of interest after it was revealed that it represented both the Jewish Agency for Israel and the government of Switzerland.[15] The Jewish Agency's World Jewish Restitution Organization was pursuing a settlement with the Swiss government over its financial dealings during World War II. Ruder Finn responded to this news by severing relations with the Jewish Agency.[15]
In 1999, Ruder Finn established RFI Studios, a digital practice, to help clients protect and build their reputation online.[16] The agency expanded in Asia, establishing offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Singapore, Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.
2000s
In 2005, pro bono work done for the UN raised speculation when Kofi Annan's nephew, Kobina, worked as an intern at the firm.[17]
Kathy Bloomgarden, Finn's daughter, became CEO when he retired in 2011.[3] That year Ruder Finn acquired Thunder Communications, a Chinese event management, brand and marketing consultancy, and formed a partnership with Kyodo Public Relations.[18]
2010's
In 2012, Ruder Finn accepted a controversial contract from the government of Maldives that was condemned by the Commonwealth of Nations for organizing a political coup d'état that led to the fall of the first democratically elected President of the Maldives.[19] Vice-president of Ruder Finn Emmanuel Tchividjian "admitted there were 'diverse points of views' surrounding the circumstances around the change of government"[20] The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group reiterated its call for early elections to be held in the Maldives.[21]
The agency has won the PRSA Bronze Anvils, Big Apple Awards, SABREs and PRWeek Awards.[22][23][24][25] David Finn received a Big Apple Award.[26]
In 2015, Ruder Finn acquired the Japanese business of Kyodo Public Relations, one of the largest independent PR firms in Japan and the first PR agency to be listed on JASDAQ Securities Exchange.[27]
2020s
In June 2020, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Neom city project signed a $1.7 million contract with Ruder Finn to counter criticism and controversies surrounding the project and its founder,[28] such as mass arrests, the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, and conflict over forced evictions on Howeitat tribal land.[29]
In July 2020, Ruder Finn acquired the video content studio Osmosis Films, headquartered in Brooklyn, New York.[30]
In 2021, Huawei spent $3.5 million with Ruder Finn according to media reports and public records.[31] In 2023, the two companies ended their partnership.[32]
In 2021, Ruder Finn was ranked 30th on the Global Top 250 PR Agency Ranking.[33]
In October 2023 Ruder Finn was named the PR Agency of the Year. This award was given at the Medical Marketing and Media Awards (MM+M), in New York.[34][35] In the same month, Ruder Finn acquired Pandan Social, a Malaysian firm that was founded in 2018.[36]
In March 2024, Ruder Finn acquired the digital marketing agency Flightpath.[37]
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