APCO Worldwide is an independent global public affairs and strategic communications consultancy. With 680 employees in 35 worldwide locations, it is also the fifth largest independently owned PR firm in the United States.[2][3] Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO was founded in 1984 by Margery Kraus, who is now the firm's Executive Chairman.[4]
APCO focuses on handling sensitive political and crisis management issues. Many APCO executives are former government officials, politicians, and ambassadors. APCO's clientele consists of multi-national corporations, governments, politicians, associations, and nonprofit organizations.
Margery Kraus founded APCO Associates in 1984 as a subsidiary to Arnold & Porter, one of Washington's largest law firms, and from where APCO's name is derived.[5]Grey Global Group, a New York–based global advertising and marketing agency, purchased majority ownership of APCO in 1991 from Arnold & Porter. On September 28, 2004, APCO announced its independent buyout from Grey Global and has thus become one of the largest privately owned public relations firms in the world.[6] The firm has been described by Public Relations media outlet Everything-PR as "one of the world's most powerful PR firms."[7]
In 2016, Kraus stepped down from her role as CEO, for the role to be filled by Brad Staples, who is a member of the London office.[8] When speaking to PR Week, Staples indicated that APCO was looking to create a 'global account leadership initiative', whereby global accounts were being run by senior members of the team based in Europe, rather than the United States.[9]
In February 2020, APCO Worldwide announced an agreement to a partnership with Erie Street, a Chicago-based advisory firm. APCO declined to disclose financial terms but has confirmed that the partnership will not affect ownership or staffing at either firm.[10]
In March 2023, APCO Worldwide acquired Gagen MacDonald, a Chicago-based employee engagement firm[11] and Camarco, a London-based financial communications consultancy.[12]
Notable work
APCO handled the crisis for Merck & Co's withdrawal of Vioxx from the market.[13]Kazakhstan's president, Nursultan Nazarbayev hired APCO to extricate himself from a four-year-long dispute with his former son-in-law Rakhat Aliyev.[14]
WorldCom hired APCO Worldwide to handle its political PR surrounding the media frenzy regarding its disclosure that £2.4bn in expenses had been falsely reported in its financial results in 2002.[15]
APCO also promoted and rebranded the Gujarat Global Investors' Summit in India, the showpiece investment meeting of the then chief minister and current prime minister, Narendra Modi as "Vibrant Gujarat".[16]
APCO Worldwide is the lead management agency for the American Pavilion at the Astana Expo 2017.[17] The USA Pavilion received nearly a half million visitors.[18] The US Kazakhstan Business Association recognized Margery Kraus for taking on the pavilion management for Astana EXPO 2017.[19]
Awards
APCO's Maggie Brown received the CleanTech Alliance Chairman’s Award in 2017.[20]
Controversy
The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition controversy
The "Sound Science Coalition" (TASSC) was created in 1993 by Phillip Morris and APCO in response to a 1992 United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report[21] which identified secondhand smoke as a Group A human carcinogen.[22][23] TASSC developed local coalitions to influence media, legislators, and the public, and recruited scientists and researchers to support Philip Morris's position. Nonetheless, TASSC described itself as "a not-for-profit coalition advocating the use of sound science in public policy decision making."[24] TASSC's links to the tobacco industry were minimized as part of APCO's strategy for TASSC to appear to be an independent national grassroots coalition. To conceal this relationship, TASSC broadened their focus to question other scientific topics, notable among them global warming.[25]
Malaysia
On March 30, 2010, Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim alleged in the Malaysian parliament (the Dewan Rakyat) that the 1Malaysia concept was mirrored after "One Israel" concept and designed by Mindteams Sdn Bhd, a branch in Malaysia of APCO Worldwide. He alleged that APCO also created the One Israel concept in 1999 for then Israeli's Prime Minister Ehud Barak.[26] Both APCO and the Barisan Nasional government stated that Anwar's allegation was untrue. Malaysian lawmakers have tabled a motion to censure Anwar for misleading the Parliament over his 1Malaysia-One Israel allegations which were passed by the Parliament on April 22, 2010.[27]
HP controversy
In 2010, APCO was involved in the controversial recommendation to fire Mark Hurd, the CEO of Hewlett-Packard (HP).[28] Kent Jarrell, a senior vice president, wrote a mock news story which he showed to HP's board. During this same meeting, he contemplated that HP would negatively be affected by bad press of its CEO being involved in an inappropriate relationship with an ex-soft porn actress, Jodie Fisher.[29]
^"HP Advisor APCO Built Crisis Unit Handling WorldCom, Vioxx". Bloomberg Business. August 11, 2010.
^"Feud in Kazakh President's Family Spills in U.S." The New York Times. May 29, 2011.
^"Troubled WorldCom hires APCO for crisis comms job". PR Week. July 19, 2001.
^"Apco to market Vibrant Gujarat". The Times of India. October 15, 2009.
^"APCO Worldwide to be Responsible for American EXPO 2017 Pavilion". The Astana Times.
^"USA Pavilion: The Source of Infinite Energy". usapavilion2017.
^. Archived from the original on April 20, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
^. Archived from the original on November 17, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
^. Cfpub2.epa.gov. Archived from the original on June 30, 2010. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
^Ong, EK; Glantz, SA (November 2001). "Constructing "Sound Science" and "Good Epidemiology": Tobacco, Lawyers, and Public Relations Firms". American Journal of Public Health. 91 (11): 1749–57. doi:10.2105/ajph.91.11.1749. PMC1446868. PMID 11684593.
^"APCO Associates, "Proposed Plan for the Public Launching of TASSC"". Philip Morris, Bates no. 2024233709/3717. September 1993.
^"The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition, Untitled Information Sheet Describing TASSC, Bates no. 2046989061" (PDF).
^Monbiot, George (September 19, 2006). "The Denial Industry". The Guardian. London. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
^. Thestar.com.my. Archived from the original on April 2, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
apco, worldwide, other, uses, apco, this, article, contains, content, that, written, like, advertisement, please, help, improve, removing, promotional, content, inappropriate, external, links, adding, encyclopedic, content, written, from, neutral, point, view,. For other uses see APCO This article contains content that is written like an advertisement Please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view April 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message APCO Worldwide is an independent global public affairs and strategic communications consultancy With 680 employees in 35 worldwide locations it is also the fifth largest independently owned PR firm in the United States 2 3 Headquartered in Washington D C APCO was founded in 1984 by Margery Kraus who is now the firm s Executive Chairman 4 APCO WorldwideTypePrivateIndustryPublic RelationsFounded1984HeadquartersWashington DCKey peopleMargery Kraus founder and executive chairman Brad Staples CEORevenue 257 million 2021 1 Number of employees680Websitewww apcoworldwide comAPCO focuses on handling sensitive political and crisis management issues Many APCO executives are former government officials politicians and ambassadors APCO s clientele consists of multi national corporations governments politicians associations and nonprofit organizations Contents 1 History 2 Notable work 3 Awards 4 Controversy 4 1 The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition controversy 4 2 Malaysia 4 3 HP controversy 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditMargery Kraus founded APCO Associates in 1984 as a subsidiary to Arnold amp Porter one of Washington s largest law firms and from where APCO s name is derived 5 Grey Global Group a New York based global advertising and marketing agency purchased majority ownership of APCO in 1991 from Arnold amp Porter On September 28 2004 APCO announced its independent buyout from Grey Global and has thus become one of the largest privately owned public relations firms in the world 6 The firm has been described by Public Relations media outlet Everything PR as one of the world s most powerful PR firms 7 In 2016 Kraus stepped down from her role as CEO for the role to be filled by Brad Staples who is a member of the London office 8 When speaking to PR Week Staples indicated that APCO was looking to create a global account leadership initiative whereby global accounts were being run by senior members of the team based in Europe rather than the United States 9 In February 2020 APCO Worldwide announced an agreement to a partnership with Erie Street a Chicago based advisory firm APCO declined to disclose financial terms but has confirmed that the partnership will not affect ownership or staffing at either firm 10 In March 2023 APCO Worldwide acquired Gagen MacDonald a Chicago based employee engagement firm 11 and Camarco a London based financial communications consultancy 12 Notable work EditAPCO handled the crisis for Merck amp Co s withdrawal of Vioxx from the market 13 Kazakhstan s president Nursultan Nazarbayev hired APCO to extricate himself from a four year long dispute with his former son in law Rakhat Aliyev 14 WorldCom hired APCO Worldwide to handle its political PR surrounding the media frenzy regarding its disclosure that 2 4bn in expenses had been falsely reported in its financial results in 2002 15 APCO also promoted and rebranded the Gujarat Global Investors Summit in India the showpiece investment meeting of the then chief minister and current prime minister Narendra Modi as Vibrant Gujarat 16 APCO Worldwide is the lead management agency for the American Pavilion at the Astana Expo 2017 17 The USA Pavilion received nearly a half million visitors 18 The US Kazakhstan Business Association recognized Margery Kraus for taking on the pavilion management for Astana EXPO 2017 19 Awards EditAPCO s Maggie Brown received the CleanTech Alliance Chairman s Award in 2017 20 Controversy EditThe Advancement of Sound Science Coalition controversy Edit The Sound Science Coalition TASSC was created in 1993 by Phillip Morris and APCO in response to a 1992 United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA report 21 which identified secondhand smoke as a Group A human carcinogen 22 23 TASSC developed local coalitions to influence media legislators and the public and recruited scientists and researchers to support Philip Morris s position Nonetheless TASSC described itself as a not for profit coalition advocating the use of sound science in public policy decision making 24 TASSC s links to the tobacco industry were minimized as part of APCO s strategy for TASSC to appear to be an independent national grassroots coalition To conceal this relationship TASSC broadened their focus to question other scientific topics notable among them global warming 25 Malaysia Edit On March 30 2010 Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim alleged in the Malaysian parliament the Dewan Rakyat that the 1Malaysia concept was mirrored after One Israel concept and designed by Mindteams Sdn Bhd a branch in Malaysia of APCO Worldwide He alleged that APCO also created the One Israel concept in 1999 for then Israeli s Prime Minister Ehud Barak 26 Both APCO and the Barisan Nasional government stated that Anwar s allegation was untrue Malaysian lawmakers have tabled a motion to censure Anwar for misleading the Parliament over his 1Malaysia One Israel allegations which were passed by the Parliament on April 22 2010 27 HP controversy Edit In 2010 APCO was involved in the controversial recommendation to fire Mark Hurd the CEO of Hewlett Packard HP 28 Kent Jarrell a senior vice president wrote a mock news story which he showed to HP s board During this same meeting he contemplated that HP would negatively be affected by bad press of its CEO being involved in an inappropriate relationship with an ex soft porn actress Jodie Fisher 29 References Edit https www prweek com article 1754396 agency business report 2022 apco worldwide Top US PR Firm Rankings Public Relations Directory www odwyerpr com Retrieved April 7 2022 Hard facts on Europe s biggest lobbyists revealed for the first time LobbyFacts eu APCO Worldwide Inc Company profile from Hoover s Hoover s Statement Of James W Jones Center for Professional Responsibility Abanet org GREY GLOBAL GROUP INC 8 K 20040928 FORM Yahoo brand edgar online com Archived from the original on March 9 2012 APCO Worldwide s Site Better Than a Billboard Everything PR July 2 2009 PRWeek Global Agency Business Report 2016 APCO Worldwide PRWeek Global Agency Business Report 2016 PR Week Retrieved March 15 2017 Moore Thomas APCO Worldwide partners with consultancy Erie Street www prweek com Retrieved February 25 2020 APCO Acquires Organizational Consultancy Gagen MacDonald PRovoke Media Retrieved April 2 2023 APCO buys London based financial comms firm Camarco www prweek com Retrieved April 2 2023 HP Advisor APCO Built Crisis Unit Handling WorldCom Vioxx Bloomberg Business August 11 2010 Feud in Kazakh President s Family Spills in U S The New York Times May 29 2011 Troubled WorldCom hires APCO for crisis comms job PR Week July 19 2001 Apco to market Vibrant Gujarat The Times of India October 15 2009 APCO Worldwide to be Responsible for American EXPO 2017 Pavilion The Astana Times USA Pavilion The Source of Infinite Energy usapavilion2017 USKZBA Congratulates Expo 2017 U S A Pavilion Implementing Partner Archived from the original on April 20 2017 Retrieved August 31 2017 APCO Worldwide Honored with CleanTech Alliance Chairman s Award Archived from the original on November 17 2017 Retrieved November 16 2017 US Environmental Protection Agency Respiratory Health Effects of Passive Smoking Also Known as Exposure to Secondhand Smoke or Environmental Tobacco Smoke ETS Cfpub2 epa gov Archived from the original on June 30 2010 Retrieved August 30 2010 Ong EK Glantz SA November 2001 Constructing Sound Science and Good Epidemiology Tobacco Lawyers and Public Relations Firms American Journal of Public Health 91 11 1749 57 doi 10 2105 ajph 91 11 1749 PMC 1446868 PMID 11684593 APCO Associates Proposed Plan for the Public Launching of TASSC Philip Morris Bates no 2024233709 3717 September 1993 The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition Untitled Information Sheet Describing TASSC Bates no 2046989061 PDF Monbiot George September 19 2006 The Denial Industry The Guardian London Retrieved August 11 2010 Parliament Anwar claims APCO was in M sia before 1Malaysia concept was announced The Star 30 March 2010 Thestar com my Archived from the original on April 2 2010 Retrieved September 28 2018 Ahmad Razak April 22 2010 Malaysia parliament votes to censure Anwar Reuters 22 Apr 2010 In reuters com HP Adviser APCO Built Crisis Unit Handling WorldCom Vioxx BusinessWeek August 11 2010 Archived from the original on August 15 2010 Vance Ashlee August 16 2010 Despite H P s Efforts Mark Hurd Spectacle Goes On The New York Times External links EditOfficial websitePortals Companies United States Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title APCO Worldwide amp oldid 1147934009, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
