Weber Shandwick Launches Global Consultancy to Help Organizations Drive Lasting Change

- United Minds Leverages Management Consulting, Data & Analytics, Communications and Creative Expertise to Deliver Transformative, End-to-End Solutions -

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Weber Shandwick

Oct 24, 2018, 09:00 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Weber Shandwick, one of the world's leading global communications and marketing solutions firms, today launched United Minds, a global management consultancy specializing in transformation. In today's era of rapid disruption, the consultancy will help C-suite executives deliver positive, lasting change by combining data-fueled strategy and creative communications solutions, engaging stakeholders in every part of the process.

"Transformation was once viewed as an end product or result. Today, even though leaders accept that change is constant, more than 75 percent of change management initiatives still fail," said Andy Polansky, CEO of Weber Shandwick. "Successful transformation, at its core, requires a vision that people can believe in. United Minds has a unique ability to deliver successful transformation because we help define the change necessary to drive business results, align key stakeholders around a common vision and then execute creative communications programs that change hearts and minds."

United Minds leverages a deep bench of specialists – management consultants, strategists and data scientists – as well as a global network of communications and creative experts to deliver transformative results. The consultancy combines Weber Shandwick's global Employee Engagement & Change Management practice with United Minds Sweden, a management consultancy within Prime Weber Shandwick.

United Minds will be led by Kate Bullinger, who was formerly global head of Employee Engagement & Change Management at Weber Shandwick. Previously, Bullinger was a partner at Mercer Delta Consulting. Thomas Areskoug, formerly CEO of United Minds Sweden, will lead business strategy work globally for United Minds. Prior to United Minds, Areskoug held senior roles with McKinsey & Company, Proctor & Gamble and eBay.

"Companies today are dealing with a pace and scale of change like never before. Whether its managing through a merger or restructuring, aligning leadership and employees around a new business strategy, or addressing cultural issues following a crisis, we'll partner with clients to deliver transformational programs that lead to lasting business results," Bullinger said.

United Minds' roster of management consultants bring decades of business strategy, organizational effectiveness and stakeholder alignment expertise to bear for client challenges, with the added capabilities of the research, analytical, communications and creative resources across Weber Shandwick's global network. The consultancy's Industry Advisory Council includes seasoned professionals with specialized expertise – including Alison Quirk, former CHRO of State Street; Don Spetner, Former EVP, Corporate Affairs and CMO at Korn/Ferry International; Gary Sheffer, Former CCO at General Electric; and Per Hallius, former head of BCG Sweden.

"At Weber Shandwick our work has always been rooted in stakeholder engagement. From the leadership counsel provided by our corporate and change management experts, to our award-winning creative campaigns that inspire behavior change, we're able to engage stakeholders at every level of an organization to deliver on shared values, vision and strategy," Polansky said.

About Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications and marketing solutions firm in 79 cities with a network extending to 129 cities around the world. The firm's diverse team of strategists, analysts, producers, designers, developers and campaign activators has won the most prestigious awards in the world for innovative, creative approaches and impactful work. Weber Shandwick was the only public relations agency included on the Advertising Age Agency A-list in 2014 and 2015 and the only PR firm designated an A-List Agency Standout in 2017 and 2018. Weber Shandwick was honored as PRWeek's Global Agency of the Year in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, The Holmes Report's Global Agency of the Year in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017, and The Holmes Report's Global Digital Agency of the Year in 2016. The firm deploys deep expertise across sectors and specialty areas, including consumer marketing, corporate reputation, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, employee engagement, social impact, financial communications and crisis management, using proprietary social, digital and analytics methodologies. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com.

About United Minds
United Minds is a management consultancy that specializes in transformation. Leveraging a deep bench of specialists, the company helps organizations deliver positive, lasting change by combining data-fueled strategy and creative communications solutions, engaging stakeholders in every part of the process.. United Minds is part of Weber Shandwick, one of the world's leading communications and marketing solutions firms. For more information, visit www.unitedmindsglobal.com

Contact: Kimberly Dixon
Company: Weber Shandwick
Phone: 212-546-7876
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Weber Shandwick