Grey Group
Company typeSubsidiary, WPP Group
IndustryAdvertising, Marketing
Founded1917 (1917)
Headquarters,
Key people
James R. Heekin III, Chairman & CEO
ServicesBrand management, Marketing strategy, Creative development, Direct marketing, Public relations, Public affairs, Digital marketing, Production
Revenue1.307 billion USD (2003)
Number of employees
6,500
ParentWPP Group
SubsidiariesGrey, G2, GHG, GCI Group, MediaCom Worldwide, Alliance, G WHIZ, WING
Websitewww.grey.com

Grey Group is a global advertising and marketing agency, whose slogan is providing "Famously Effective" solutions - with headquarters in New York City, and 432 offices in 96 countries, operating in 154 cities[1] — organized into four geographical units: North America; Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.[2]

As a unit of communications conglomerate WPP Group, Grey Global Group operates branded independent business units in many communications disciplines including: advertising, direct marketing, public relations, public affairs, brand development, customer relationship management, sales promotion, interactive marketing — through its subsidiaries: Grey, G2, GHG, GCI Group, MediaCom Worldwide, Alliance, G WHIZ, and WING.

Grey Group’s international clients include: Procter & Gamble, GlaxoSmithKline, Nokia, BAT, Diageo, Volkswagen, Novartis, Wyeth, Canon, DirecTV and 3M.[3]

The company has won: 10 Cannes Lions; beside the Addy, Clio and one Emmy Award.[3] Grey Group's European network, Grey EMEA, won 26 Euro EFFIE awards, and is the four-time Euro EFFIE Agency Network of the Year, in four consecutive years of 2005–2008.[4]

History

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Founded in 1917 (1917) by Larry Valenstein and Arthur Fatt, Grey Global Group began as a direct marketing company named Grey Studios, reflecting the color of the wall of its original quarters, changing to Grey Advertising in 1925.

In 1956 (1956), Grey acquired its first major client, Procter & Gamble. Through the 1960s and 1970s, Grey continued to acquire such major accounts, and grew into related communication fields. In 1970 (1970), Edward H. Meyer became CEO and would remain in that position for 36 years[5] before selling the company and joining his son, Anthony E. Meyer, in management of private family wealth.

In 1988 (1988), the off-shore operation, London-based Grey Communications Group, recruited Barry Chapman as Group IS Director. In 1989 (1989) Chapman developed the New Media Experiment. Chapman explored the use of the internet as an alternative to traditional advertising media putting Grey at the forefront of the internet revolution.

In 2000 (2000), Grey Advertising became Grey Global Group. On March 7, 2005 (2005-03-07), WPP Group beat out Havas in a race to acquire Grey Global, the seventh-largest advertising agency at the time,[citation needed] for approximately 1.3 billion USD.

In late 2005, James R. Heekin III became CEO of Grey Worldwide, Grey Global Group's traditional advertising agency. On January 1, 2007 (2007-01-01), he became Chairman and CEO of Grey Group, the renamed agency holding company[3]. He reports to Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP Group.

Grey Group, Grey Advertising New York and G2 moved to a LEEDS certified building at 200 5th Avenue in New York in November 2009, after 45 years at their previous location.[6] [dead link]

Awards

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In 2010, Grey was named to Fast Company's 50 Most Innovative Companies. In 2010, Grey was put on Ad Age's "Agency A-List". In 2006, Grey was awarded 12 "Spots of the Week" by Advertising Age, which placed it second-highest overall.

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In the AMC series Mad Men, Duck Phillips joins Grey Advertising after being dumped by Sterling Cooper.

In episode three of the 2010 series of BBC Three's Young, Dumb and Living Off Mum, the young adults spend a day at Grey Advertising working on a mock sexual health campaign.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Nirvik Singh appointed Chairman & CEO of Grey Group Asia Pacific" (Press release). WPP. 2008-12-15. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  2. ^ "Grey Company Profile". WPP. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  3. ^ a b c "Grey Global Group appoints James R. Heekin III Chairman and CEO" (Press release). WPP. 2006-12-12. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  4. ^ "Grey EMEA named Agency Network of the Year" (Press release). WPP. 2008-09-17. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  5. ^ Elliott, Stuart (2006-12-12). "After 36 Years at Grey, Time for Life No. 2". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  6. ^ "Grey Global Moves Into LEED-CS-Hopeful Toy Building at 200 Fifth Avenue". gbnyc. 2009-11-02. Retrieved 2009-11-02.

http://www.greenbuildingsnyc.com/blog/stephendp/grey-global-moves-into-leed-cs-hopeful-toy-building-at-200-fifth-avenue

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Category:WPP Group Category:Advertising agencies of the United States Category:Companies based in New York City