Ruder Finn

Ruder Finn is a public relations firm with co-headquarters in the United States and China. It is one of the world's largest privately owned communications agencies, serving corporations, governments, and non-profits.[1]

Ruder Finn
TypePrivate
IndustryCommunications
Public Relations
Marketing
Founded1948
HeadquartersNew York City
Beijing
Area served
Global
Key people
Kathy Bloomgarden, CEO
David Finn, Founder
Bill Ruder, Founder
Websitewww.ruderfinn.com

History

Ruder Finn was established in 1948 in New York by David Finn and Bill Ruder.[2] The firm is currently led by CEO Kathy Bloomgarden, Ph.D., daughter of David Finn.[3]

Their first client was Perry Como,[4] and over time they expanded their network to include consumer products companies as well as government agencies.

In the 1960s through late 1990s, while representing long-time client Philip Morris (now Altria), Ruder Finn was instrumental in crafting the public relations campaign that disputed the evidence tobacco smoking is hazardous to health.[5][6][7][8]

In 1997, Ruder Finn ran the Global Climate Coalition, a group of mainly United States businesses opposing action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.[9]

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.[10] 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.[10]

In 1999 Ruder Finn established RFI Studios, a digital practice, to help clients protect and build their reputation online.[11] The agency expanded in Asia, establishing offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Singapore, Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

In 2005, pro bono work done for the UN raised speculation when Kofi Annan's nephew, Kobina, worked as an intern at the firm.[12]

In 2011, Ruder Finn acquired Thunder Communications, a Chinese event management, brand and marketing consultancy, and formed a partnership with Kyodo Public Relations.[13]

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.[14] Vice-president of Ruder Finn Tchividjian "admitted there were 'diverse points of views' surrounding the circumstances around the change of government"[15] The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group reiterated its call for early elections to be held in the Maldives.[16]

The agency has won the PRSA Bronze Anvils, Big Apple Awards, SABREs and PRWeek Awards.[17][18][19][20] David Finn received a Big Apple Award.[21]

In 2015, Ruder Finn acquired Kyodo Public Relations, one of the largest independent PR firms in Japan and the first PR agency to be listed on JASDAQ Securities Exchange.[22]

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,[23] such as mass arrests, the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, and conflict over forced evictions on Howeitat tribal land.[24]

In July 2020, Ruder Finn acquired the video content studio Osmosis Films, headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. [25]

References
  1. "Keeping a legacy alive: CEO puts her stamp on the family business". CNN. 2014-04-17. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  2. David Finn, The Way Forward: My First Fifty Years at Ruder Finn. New York: Millwood Publishing. 1998. p. 12.
  3. dos Santos, Nina. "Keeping a legacy alive: CEO puts her stamp on the family business". CNN. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
  4. Hood, Julia (2008-11-17). "PR's forefathers". PR Week. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  5. Ruder & Finn, Inc., "Project 'B': an alternative proposal to project 'A'", September 1995, Tobacco Institute, Bates no. TIMN0004276/4299 Archived March 10, 2011, at WebCite
  6. Ruder & Finn, Inc., "Public Relations Study for Philip Morris, Inc.", January 1968, Philip Morris, Bates no. 2021280871/0957 Archived March 10, 2011, at WebCite
  7. Ruder & Finn, Inc., "Preliminary Proposal for a Corporate Affairs Programme", February 1991, Philip Morris France, Bates No. 2500120377/0438 Archived March 10, 2011, at WebCite
  8. 1,247 documents linking Ruder Finn and Philip Morris at the Legacy Tobacco Documents Library at the University of California, San Francisco Archived March 10, 2011, at WebCite
  9. Hammond, Keith (December 4, 1997). "Astroturf Troopers, How the polluters' lobby uses phony front groups to attack the Kyoto treaty". Mother Jones. Retrieved February 6, 2016. The Global Climate Coalition (GCC), run by Washington P.R. firm Ruder Finn, represents the big oil, gas, coal, and auto corporations.
  10. Cohen, Deborah Nussbaum. "Leading P.R. firm caught in fray between Swiss, Jewish clients". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on June 9, 2012.
  11. "Ruder Finn Pays $30 Million for New Office - PR News". Everything-PR: Public Relations, Marketing and Social Media News. 2015-04-28. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  12. Questions surface about Annan's nephew Archived March 10, 2011, at WebCite
  13. "Ruder Finn expands in China with four new accounts". PR Week. July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  14. Wright, Oliver. "Fury at lobbyists over lucrative work for brutal Maldives regime". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020.
  15. Cartmell, Matt (April 16, 2012). "Ruder Finn picks up controversial Maldives brief". PR Week. Archived from the original on June 19, 2016.
  16. "Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) Concluding Statement". April 16, 2012. Archived from the original on April 27, 2012.
  17. "People and Accounts of Note". New York Times. July 5, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  18. "2012 Bronze Anvil Results" (PDF). Public Relations Society of America. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  19. "Pepsi Takes Home Top Honors at SABRE Awards". The Holmes Report. May 10, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  20. "2011 PR Week Awards". PR Week. Archived from the original on 2015-09-10. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  21. "People and Accounts of Note". New York Times. June 5, 2006. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  22. "Ruder Finn snaps up China business of Japan's Kyodo Public Relations | PR Week". PR Week. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  23. Dorsey, James M. (2 July 2020). "Saudi prince defends trophy projects amid crisis". Asia Times. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  24. Meuse, Alison Tahmizian (24 April 2020). "Saudi tribesman killed resisting MBS backed project". Asia Times. Archived from the original on 30 April 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  25. "Ruder Finn Expands Multi-Platform Video Storytelling Capabilities with Acquisition of Osmosis Films". 2020-07-21. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
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