Marsteller

The Holding Company

1953

Burson Marsteller is set up and is now the world’s largest public relations company.

It has a network of offices in over 76 countries and more than 2000 staff. Burson Marsteller is part of the Y&R Group, which in turn was recently purchased by WPP Group, creating the world’s largest communications group. 1998 income of £18m (Marketing magazine)

The Design Offer

1986

Giant is set up by Alan Herron, Martyn Hay and Mark Rollinson.

1998

Alan Herron joins The Chase in Manchester.

1997

Burson Marsteller buys Giant for an undisclosed amount to reinvigorate its UK offer, which had historically been focused on business-to-business advertising. It is renamed Marsteller Giant.

1999

Giant partner Neil Smith leaves the consultancy and sets up Howdy with ex-Giant design director Sharon Clampin.

Marsteller operates as a separate profit centre with its accounts then being consolidated into Burson Marsteller.

It has 24 staff, 12 of whom are designers, art directors and copywriters.

The Work

25 per cent corporate identity

64 per cent literature

11 per cent exhibitions

In addition, advertising media billings of £3.5m and rising.

1999 Design fee-income was £3.6m.

Shared clients account for about 50 per cent of these revenues.

The Future

To see the group established as a leading integrated communications agency, offering a combination of the best public relations, design and advertising. Our competitors are not seen as other classic design groups but rather the new generation of integrated agencies such as Circus, Mother, Perspectives and Mirtyle.