Image Shapers Public Strategies, Inc. Taking it to the Bank
One of Austin's best homegrown success stories, Public Strategies Inc., has been purchased by the second-largest media and advertising company in the world. WPP Group, PLC of London purchased the consulting firm for a reported $90 million. WPP had apparently been eyeing Public Strategies for years.
"I've been trying to buy Public Strategies for years," said Howard Paster, WPP executive vice president for public relations and public affairs. "It is a different public affairs firm. We have a number of good businesses in different categories, and we don't add just for bulk; we add for strategic reasons."
Current management at Public Strategies will stay in place, a team that includes founder Jack Martin and president Jeff Eller. The company, established in 1988 by Martin, a former aide to Senator Lloyd Bentsen, works behind the scenes to build public relations campaigns for companies such as AT&T, Firestone and Martha Stewart. The non-partisan group, which features a vice president, Mark McKinnon, who has directed President Bush's media campaigns for the last several elections (and, if we aren't mistaken was one of the original owners of Club DeVille), and former Governor Ann Richards, keep a tight lip about whom they consult (like, duh) but are widely considered some of the best in the business at shaping public perception, whether the public realizes it or not.
The company, which began in Austin, has since grown to 15 offices nationally, as well as offices in Mexico and London, and employs 175 people.
*Image (c) Sister72 on Flickr*
