MWWPR
MWWPR (formerly MWW) is a public relations firm.[1][2][3][4][5][6] The company works in public relations and marketing, technology, digital and social media marketing, public affairs and government relations, corporate communications, healthcare, sustainability, and visual branding.[7][8][9] Michael W. Kempner is the company’s founder and CEO.[10] The firm's corporate headquarters is in East Rutherford, New Jersey; the firm's operating headquarters is in New York City.
Founded | 1986 |
---|---|
Founder | Michael Kempner, CEO |
Headquarters | , United States |
History
Michael Kempner founded MWWPR in 1986.[11] MWWPR grew to the 4th largest independent public relations firm in the U.S. and Kempner sold the company to the Interpublic Group of Agencies in 2000.[12]
In 2010, Kempner led a management led buy-out.[13]
On January 14, 2014, the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that it would review the expenditures for the Stronger than the Storm media campaign, commissioned in mid-2013 by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to promote tourism in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy; MWWPR was the prime contractor.[14][15] The audit found that the company had done "nothing improper" in the content of its marketing campaign.[16][17][18] Governor Chris Christie later dismissed criticism of the campaign, citing that it contributed to record tourism dollars in 2013.[19]
In 2012, MWWPR received media attention for a campaign on behalf of Brigadier General Jeffrey Sinclair, a former deputy commander of the 82nd Airborne Division charged with forcible sodomy and sexual misconduct. The firm launched a website with publicly available documents in favor of Sinclair to discredit the prosecutor and accuser. MWWPR nominated itself for a Platinum PR Award in the crisis management category for this work.[20][21][22][23]
The company acquired Los Angeles-based Macias Media Group, an LGBT marketing firm, in March 2014.[24] In October 2014, MWWPR received The Gay And Lesbian Victory Fund's 2014 Corporate Leadership Award for its LGBT practice and support of the LGBT community.[25] In 2014, MWWPR expanded into Britain with the purchase of Parys Communications,[26] and also acquired the UK-based business-to-business PR firm Braben Communications in November 2014.[27] The company was recognized as one of the Top Places to Work in PR and Best Places to Work in New Jersey.[28][29]
In March 2015, the company rebranded as "MWWPR".[30]
In 2016, the Scholastic Corporation, BDI and AMP Agency brought lawsuits against MWWPR for alleged payment disputes.[31]
In 2018, the company launched a Sports and Entertainment practice and opened a new location in Charlotte, North Carolina.[32]
References
- "Worldwide Fees of Top PR Firms With Major U.S. Operations". O'Dwyer's. March 11, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
- "10 'Road Rules' for Entrepreneurs from Yahoo's CMO". Fox Business. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- "MWW Poaches Atomics Christopher Knight To Lead San Francisco". Holmes Report. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- "MWW helps former Dial Global in radio deal, rebrand". PR Week. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- "Poll: Christie's 'Stronger Than the Storm' appearance was OK, but firm raises eyebrows". NJ.com. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- Ryan, Patrick (October 19, 2013). "Fresh off the Vine, Nicholas Megalis' fame is growing". USA Today. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- "Business schools offering public relations tips to students". USA TODAY. 2012-07-15. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- "Sanuk Hires MWW As Public Relations Agency Of Record". Yahoo! Finance. May 1, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
- "MBA Public Relations Courses Set to Begin". Businessweek. June 11, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- "MWW Group, Inc.: Private Company Information". Businessweek. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
- "Michael W. Kempner Named PR Executive of the Year". Bloomberg. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
- Elliott, Stuart (2011-01-04). "MWW, P.R. Agency, Buys Itself Back from Interpublic". Media Decoder Blog. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
- Elliott, Stuart (2011-01-04). "MWW, P.R. Agency, Buys Itself Back from Interpublic". Media Decoder Blog. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
- Frates, Chris (January 14, 2014). "Feds investigate Christie's use of Sandy relief funds". USA Today. Retrieved 2014-02-14.
- Geraghty, Jim (January 13, 2014). "Christie's Spokesman: 'Stronger Than the Storm' Approved by Obama Administration". National Review. Retrieved 2014-02-14.
- Laura Nichols (September 4, 2014). "MWW claims vindication in Stronger than the Storm campaign award audit". PR Week. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
- Andrew Seidman (September 5, 2014). "Audit: 'Nothing improper' in Sandy ad campaign". Philly.com. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
- Erin O'Neill (September 3, 2014). "'Stronger Than the Storm': Federal audit finds N.J. did not fully comply with procurement rules". NJ.com. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
- Sudol, Karen; Hayes, Melissa (March 21, 2014). "Christie defends 'Stronger Than the Storm'". North Jersey News. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- Lamothe, Dan (14 August 2014). "PR firm that represented disgraced general puts itself up for an award". Washington Post. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- Nichols, Laura (9 April 2014). "'Friends of Sinclair' website was front and center in MWW's defense of general". PR Week. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- Gould, John (15 March 2013). "Texts show Sinclair and accuser went hot, cold". Military Times. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- Biesecker, Michael (24 March 2013). "Jeffrey Sinclair, Army General Facing Sex Charges, Likely Entering Plea". Huffington Post. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- Stuart Elliott (March 3, 2014). "P.R. Agency Adds L.G.B.T. Practice". The New York Times. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
- Ocamb, Karen (26 October 2014). "Victory Fund Honors California LGBT Leaders and Trans Congressional Staffer Ben Panico (Video)". Frontiers LA. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- Gideon Spanier (February 1, 2014). "Michael Kempner: Barack Obama guru tells business to get social". The Independent. London. Retrieved 16 Feb 2014.
- Ishbel Macleod (11 November 2014). "US agency MWW acquires UK PR firm Braben for undisclosed sum". The Drum. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
- Mark Renfree (16 September 2014). "Top Places to Work in PR 2014: MWW". PR News. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
- "Best Places to Work in New Jersey". NJ BIZ. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
- "2015 Top Places to Work in PR: MWWPR". PR News. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- Lynn, Kathleen (31 May 2016). "East Rutherford-based MWWPR sued by Scholastic Inc". Retrieved 22 October 2016.
- "Agency People News in Brief (October 8, 2018)". www.holmesreport.com. Retrieved 2019-04-07.