WE Communications

Public relations and integrated marketing communications firm

WE Communications

Company type| Private
Founded| 1983; 41 years ago (1983)
Headquarters| Seattle

Number of locations

| 23 cities[1]

Key people

| Melissa Waggener Zorkin, CEO
Revenue| $126.6 million (2018)[2]

Number of employees

| 1000+
Website| https://www.we-worldwide.com

WE Communications (previously Waggener Edstrom) and commonly known as WE is a global public relations and integrated marketing communications firm often associated with its largest client, Microsoft. The firm was founded in 1983 by Melissa Waggener Zorkin.[3]

## History

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The Waggener Group was founded in 1983 by Melissa Waggener Zorkin. In 1984, Pam Edstrom joined the firm, which was renamed Waggener Edstrom.[4] Edstrom previously worked for Microsoft, which became one of the agency's first clients.[5]

The firm acquired PR.com in 2001, Maloney & Fox in 2003, Shout Holdings in 2004, Patzer PR in 2012, Buchan in 2016, Red Bridge Consulting and WATATAWA in 2017.[6] The firm also acquired Indian integrated consultancy Avian Media in 2018 and Codeword in 2019.[7]

In September 2015, the company re-branded as WE Communications.[8]

In 2022, WE acquired Hopscotch Consulting, a social impact and behavior change agency.[9]

## Services

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WE Communications focuses on three sectors — healthcare, consumer and technology.[10][11] Its services include media relations, corporate and executive communications, digital marketing, creative, social media and content strategy, crisis communications, insights and analytics, corporate social responsibility, brand purpose and reputation.

## Notable clients and campaigns

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Notable clients include Microsoft, Volvo, Boehringer Ingelheim, VSP, Honeywell, Tencent, Cisco, McDonald's, Tabula Rasa, Brother, Amgen, Gilead, iRobot, RSA, Lenovo, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, AT&T and others. WE Communications is often associated with its work for Microsoft,[12] one of its first clients. In the firm's early years, this relationship led to it working primarily with other technology companies, before expanding into healthcare, consumer and other sectors.[13] For more than a decade, WE Communications supported Mercy Corps on a pro-bono basis after CEO Waggener Zorkin took on the client after visiting the Good Shepherd orphanage in Ghana.[14]

In 2018, WE Communications handled the PR for the McDelivery Day 2.0 and was shortlisted for PRWeek Global Award.[15]

## References

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1. ^ "About Us". WE. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
2. ^ "WE". PR Week.
3. ^ "PR News: Top Public Relations, Marketing and Social Media Blog". Archived from the original on 2017-07-14.
4. ^ "Melissa Waggener Zorkin, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide". PRWeek. July 1, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
5. ^ Pasiuk, Laurie (2005). Vault Guide to the Top Advertising & PR Employers. VAULT. p. 144\. ISBN 9781581313833.
6. ^ "WE Communications acquires two firms in Asia | PR". Campaign Asia. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
7. ^ "WE Communications merges with Avian Media to strengthen its presence in India". The Drum. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
8. ^ "Waggener Edstrom Restructures, Rebrands As WE". The Holmes Report. The Holmes Group. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
9. ^ "WE Acquires Hopscotch Consulting". PRovoke Media. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
10. ^ What We Do, Waggener Edstrom, retrieved January 30, 2013
11. ^ Chupick, Jason (June 23, 2009). "Survey: 86% Feel Corporations Can Address Social Issues". PRNewser. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
12. ^ "Huge companies need as much PR". CNET. September 11, 1996. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
13. ^ "25. Melissa Waggener Zorkin, CEO, president, and founder, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide". PRWeek. July 1, 2009. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
14. ^ Wilhelm, Steve (July 13, 2008). "A grateful Melissa Waggener Zorkin helps Mercy Corps". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
15. ^ Harrington, John. "PRWeek Global Awards 2019: shortlist revealed". www.prweek.com. Retrieved 2019-04-22.

## External links

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* Companies portal

* WE Official site