In Chicago this week, senior leaders of the PR community celebrated the industry and civic contributions of the entire Edelman family during the more than 72 years since Dan Edelman launched his agency with one client from a tiny 4-person office in the sprawling Merchandise Mart.
“This is a family that has been thinking differently for decades,” noted veteran Edelman leader Nancy Ruscheinski, now retired. “And they continue to shape modern communications.” With over $1 billion in revenues, the DJE holding company today consists of Edelman, Zeno, UEG and RUTH.
In her introductory remarks, Nancy referred to the late Dan Edelman’s “singular vision and his dogged commitment to clients and client service excellence” as well as his wife Ruth’s “inimitable style and grace” as valuable weapons in the Edelman arsenal for charming clients and courting prospects.
Since becoming CEO in 1996, Dan and Ruth’s older son Richard has brought courageous leadership, boundless energy, an uncanny ability to see what’s next, and a willingness to speak out and challenge the status quo, Nancy said. She also cited siblings John and Renee Edelman “for their enduring contributions to Edelman’s culture and corporate citizenship. Together they are protecting and preserving DJE’s legacy through social responsibility, a dynamic alumni network and an iconic museum.”
“Make no mistake, though – Richard, who is the industry’s longest tenured CEO with 28 years in that role, shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon!” Nancy assured the crowd that fully understood that point, especially as Richard reluctantly slipped away from the reception to catch a late night flight to New York to speak at a conference at the United Nations at 8 a.m. the following morning.
Excerpts from Richard Edelman’s Remarks
Chicago is the soul of Edelman.
Dan Edelman was one of the Greatest Generation, proud of his war-time service in psychological warfare, determined to get ahead in the post-war years. He had a big idea, the power of third-party endorsement of products through the new media channel, television. He invented the media tour, putting spokespeople on the road for print, radio and broadcast interviews.
Chicago was the perfect place for an entrepreneur in the 50s and 60s. Edelman served brands that became the essence of family life in America, from Sara Lee to ReaLemon lemon juice to California Wines to Orville Redenbacher popcorn.
Chicago has been the hub of Edelman’s innovation, which has enabled us to remain family owned and independent. Edelman Digital was spawned doing the first Butterball Turkey Talk-Line online in 1996. Our first experiential work was based in Chicago, the Microsoft Exporasaurus bus touring the country to bring digital to the people. Dan also founded Zeno, Edelman’s sister firm in 1998 in Chicago, with my sister Renee as the founding member. Zeno Chicago now is the largest office in the Zeno network.
Chicago has also been the best expression of the firm’s commitment to the community My parents were deeply involved in charitable causes, from their board memberships at the Lyric Opera, Art Institute and Immigrant Services League to my mother’s advocacy for Federal mental health funding in partnership with Illinois Senator Paul Simon. More recently, our team worked with the Department of Defense on its Warrior Games program, a multi-sport, adaptive competition for wounded, injured or ill veterans to enhance their recovery and rehabilitation – an initiative led by John Edelman.
In the past two decades, Chicago has lost its great independent communications firms. Leo Burnette is part of Publicis, Draft and FCB part of IPG. This is not the future for Edelman. To paraphrase Robert Frost, we took the path less traveled and that made all the difference.
Communication Leaders of Chicago consists of some 300 senior leaders who get together regularly to discuss topics facing the profession and to annually celebrate individuals who have had a significant impact on the industry.