At the milestone of 70 years, Edelman's CEO ponders the future trajectory of creative communication strategies.
In a groundbreaking move, the iconic advertising communications firm, Edelman, has been shaking things up lately. Originally established by Dan Edelman back in 1952, this trailblazer was the first to introduce the media tour and champion public relations as a vital advertising strategy.
Fast forward to the present, and Edelman has undergone some transformative changes. This new era of the company sees music maestro Pharrell Williams co-chairing a fresh, creative advocacy agency dubbed Mighty Dream, alongside Lisa Osborne Ross, CEO of Edelman U.S. Additionally, they've welcomed the Edelman Trust Institute and a Gen Z Lab into their fold.
As the industry continues to evolve, so has Edelman. Celebrating its 70-year milestone under the guidance of Richard Edelman, who's been the CEO since 1996, this second generation of Edelman is making waves.
Recent years have brought about some significant changes for Edelman. The 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer has revealed a shift towards more assertive action, although the specifics of this shift remain entirely unclear. Additionally, Edelman Financial Engines has extended its influence by acquiring Cahill Wealth Management, focusing on wealth planning for executives in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors.
The Edelman Trust Institute, meanwhile, is dedicated to data collection, insight sharing, and fostering partnerships to promote the investigation and measurement of trust in society. Unfortunately, there's no recorded involvement of Amanda Edelman, an Edelman family member, with Mighty Dream, the Gen Z Lab, or any related initiatives.
- Edelman Financial Engines, a division of the company, has expanded its reach by acquiring Cahill Wealth Management, concentrating on wealth planning for executives in the fashion-and-beauty, technology, business, lifestyle, education-and-self-development, and pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors.
- The new advocacy agency Mighty Dream, co-chaired by Pharrell Williams and Lisa Osborne Ross, falls under the umbrella of Edelman, and their efforts likely contribute to the lifestyle and fashion-and-beauty sectors.
- The Edelman Trust Institute, another arm of Edelman, focuses on data collection, insight sharing, and fostering partnerships to promote the investigation and measurement of trust within the technology, education-and-self-development, business, lifestyle, and fashion-and-beauty sectors.
