Revenues for 2000 were up about 40 percent over 1999, taking Fleishman-Hillard past the $300 million mark—one of three agencies to break that barrier last year. While acquisitions made a contribution (Boston technology specialist Lois Paul & Partners being the most notable), organic growth was a healthy 30 percent, indicating—to no one’s surprise—that the firm’s underlying business remains exceptionally healthy. F-H picked up about $90 million in new business from both existing clients and new additions to the roster, including Yahoo, Reebok, Bayer, and a major social marketing initiative from the AARP.
National Reach
Fleishman has 26 offices in the United States—more than any other major agency—and is among the market leaders almost everywhere it operates. It goes without saying that the St. Louis headquarters office is still a powerhouse, with more than 400 employees (including more than 100 in ancillary services such as research and interactive), it serves a client list that includes Nortel, Dell, Wal-Mart, and Emerson Electric and delivers consistently excellent corporate and consumer work. In Washington, the agency’s work for the Office of National Drug Control Policy has made F-H a player in social marketing as well as straight public affairs. The firm’s west coast operations (L.A., San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego) and Midwestern offices (Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis) are regional leaders, and new offices in Boston and Portland are strong. New York has historically been the toughest market for F-H, but the firm has cracked the top 10 in the Big Apple, and is strong in the healthcare and corporate sectors in particular.
Looks like they're spending a lot of money for public relations, or is it that they're hoping for a really good book/movie deal?