Porter Novelli
Omnicom PR agency Porter Novelli is trying to turn itself around after years of decline.
It's refocusing on purpose-driven marketing and clients like Sony and the Recording Academy.
But building a pitch around purpose is risky, and other PR firms are chasing similar work.
The Omnicom-owned public-relations firm Porter Novelli has struggled for years, with its revenue sliding from an estimated $127 million in 2014 to $110 million in 2019.
Now, Porter Novelli is trying to jump-start its business under David Bentley, a vet of McKinsey and the ad agency AKQA who became CEO in March 2020, replacing Brad MacAfee.
Under Bentley, the firm has focused on four areas with an emphasis on purpose-driven marketing and the goal of broadening the scope of the work it does for clients: