Ketchum
Detailed Description
Ketchum is an Omnicom-owned public-relations giant founded in 1923 and headquartered in New York. Today it operates more than 100 offices and affiliates in over 70 countries and employs roughly 2,500 professionals. The firm ranks sixth worldwide by fee income and serves clients across corporate reputation, brand marketing, health, purpose, technology, and public-affairs disciplines. A dedicated analytics arm (Ketchum Analytics) and the omniearnedID™ precision-communications platform connect earned activity to real-time audience data and sales impact. Recent accolades include recognition among PRovoke’s Creative PR Agencies of the Year and multiple awards for crisis response and brand storytelling.
Key Features
Data-powered planning and measurement through Ketchum Analytics and omniearnedID™ dashboards
Global issues-and-crisis network with 24/7 rapid-response command centers
Sector practices spanning health, food, tech, finance, energy, and purpose/ESG
Integrated earned, social, paid, and owned (PESO) activation under a single P&L
Public-affairs and geopolitical-risk counsel in major capitals worldwide
Influencer and creator marketing via subsidiary teams and platform partnerships
In-house content studio for video, podcasts, and interactive assets
Executive-visibility services—media training, thought-leadership, and speaker placement
DE&I and sustainability consulting embedded across client programs
Global partner ecosystem enabling localisation in 70+ markets
Pros and Cons
Pros ✅
Enterprise scale with resources in every key region
Award-winning creative and analytics capabilities
Deep bench strength in crisis, corporate, and purpose communications
Proprietary data tools tie comms activity to revenue metrics
Flexible engagement models from project sprints to multi-region retainers
Strong sector expertise in highly regulated industries
Access to Omnicom’s paid-media, research, and production resources
Global talent mobility ensures consistent quality across markets
Long-standing relationships with tier-one media and stakeholders
Continuous investment in AI and predictive analytics for faster optimisation
Cons ❌
Minimum budgets and hourly rates place the agency at the premium end of the market
Complex global structure can add approval layers and slow turnaround
Retainer model is fee-based—no guaranteed-placement or pay-for-performance options
Employee reviews cite work-life-balance challenges and holding-company bureaucracy
Limited transparency on individual influencer or media-buy costs
International programs require tight client coordination to align multiple markets
Talent turnover in some regions after the pandemic affected institutional knowledge
High reliance on client data access for full analytics capability
Historical geopolitical controversies may raise reputation questions for some brands
Smaller organisations may find services oversized for their needs
Pricing Information
Minimum project size: $10 000+
Hourly rate band: $100 – $149 (blended account team)
Core multi-disciplinary retainer: $30 000 – $75 000 per month for programs spanning multiple practices or regions
Single-region corporate-comms retainer: $20 000 – $30 000 per month
Crisis & issues war-room engagement: from $150 000 for an eight-week rapid-response deployment
Senior-partner advisory: $350 – $500 per hour; blended strategic team: $200 – $275 per hour
omniearnedID™ analytics dashboard: $10 000 setup; $5 000 per month maintenance
Custom measurement or research study: from $25 000 per project
User Feedback
Glassdoor rating around 3 / 5: praised for smart colleagues and blue-chip clients, but long hours and bureaucracy noted
Indeed rating in the high-threes: flexible hybrid work and varied client work, yet fast pace can be chaotic
Clutch directory lists the agency but lacks verified client reviews; minimum spend and hourly range are displayed
Industry rankings consistently place Ketchum in the global top ten by fee income and highlight growth in UK and DACH regions
Trade-press articles commend crisis-response depth and real-time analytics, while some commentators flag premium pricing as a barrier for small brands
Summary
Ketchum combines nearly a century of communications heritage with modern analytics, AI, and creative craft. Its global footprint, crisis pedigree, and sector-specialist teams make it a strong choice for enterprise organisations seeking integrated reputation, brand, or public-affairs firepower across multiple markets—and willing to invest at least a low-six-figure annual budget. Smaller brands or those wanting guaranteed placements or pay-for-performance models may prefer leaner, specialised agencies.
FAQs
What is Ketchum’s minimum engagement size?
One-off projects start around $10 000, but full-service programs typically begin at $30 000 per month.
Does Ketchum guarantee media coverage?
No. Results are earned through strategy and relationships; retainers are fee-based with no pay-for-performance promise.
How does the agency measure success?
Ketchum Analytics and omniearnedID™ map media outputs to audience behaviour, brand lift, and revenue impact in real time.
Which industries does Ketchum specialise in?
Corporate reputation, health, food & nutrition, technology, energy, finance, and purpose/ESG are core practice areas.
Can Ketchum handle multi-market crisis situations?
Yes. Its global issues-and-crisis network provides 24/7 rapid response with localisation in more than 70 countries.
What proprietary tools differentiate Ketchum’s approach?
The omniearnedID™ platform for precision audience targeting and Ketchum Analytics for planning, optimisation, and ROI attribution.
