Weber Shandwick Wins Best PR Firm Diversity Initiative at 2016 Diversity Distinction in PR Awards

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Weber Shandwick, one of the world's leading global communications and engagement firms, was honored with the Best PR Firm Diversity Initiative award by the PR Council and PRWeek at the annual Diversity Distinction in PR Awards. Judith Harrison, senior vice president of Diversity & Inclusion, was also recognized with Honorable Mention in the PR Firm Diversity Champion category for her work in advancing diversity and inclusion at Weber Shandwick and across the public relations industry. The Diversity Distinction in PR Awards honor industry champions who facilitate greater diversity and inclusion within organizations and public relations.

This is the fifth award win for Weber Shandwick at the Diversity Distinction in PR Awards since the program was established six years ago, including four Best PR Firm Diversity Initiative honors and one Best Community Initiative honor.

The PR Council and PRWeek highlighted Weber Shandwick's multi-level employee engagement programs as contributors to the firm's success, including master classes for global executives, annual Diversity Day/Weeks across 12 offices and quarterly educational seminars. Additionally, Weber Shandwick has grown its Diversity Council from 118 to more than 175 in the past year. On Weber Shandwick's efforts in this area, one Diversity Distinction in PR Awards judge noted, "It continues to raise the bar and produce results. It's a model for all to follow."

"I'm proud of our entire team at Weber Shandwick whose collaborative efforts have contributed to this award, recognizing our commitment to diversity and inclusion," said Andy Polansky, chief executive officer of Weber Shandwick. "There is more work to be done, but we're grateful for this recognition and energized in our commitment to continue making progress."

Harrison, in receiving Honorable Mention as a PR Firm Diversity Champion, was described as a "simply outstanding leader" by one Diversity Distinction in PR Awards judge. Harrison leads Weber Shandwick's Diversity & Inclusion Council and fosters effective partnerships with several industry organizations focused on advancing diversity and inclusion, including The Lagrant Foundation and Ron Brown Scholar Program. Harrison helped facilitate the launch of ColorComm's Chicago and New York chapters. She also initiated and advanced the PRIME program at Weber Shandwick, which aims to increase diversity in PR by recruiting students from historically black colleges.

Weber Shandwick has also been honored with IPG's Inclusion Award for Inclusive Talent Cultivation, the Advertising Age Best Place to Work distinction in 2014 and 2015, and was also ranked a Best Place to Work by PRWeek in 2013 and 2014.

About Weber Shandwick

Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications and engagement firm in 79 cities across 34 countries with a network extending to 127 cities in 81 countries. 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, including being honored as PRWeek's Global Agency of the Year in 2015 and 2016, an Ad Age A-List Agency in 2014 and 2015, and The Holmes Report's Global Agency of the Year in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015. Weber Shandwick and its Prime unit have won a combined 31 Cannes Lions since 2009 and are credited as PR agency on an additional 25 Lions. Weber Shandwick was also named a Best Place to Work by Ad Age in 2014 and 2015 and PRWeek in 2013 and 2014. The firm deploys deep expertise across sectors and specialty areas, including consumer marketing, corporate reputation, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, corporate social responsibility, 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.

Contact:    Michelle Giuda
Company: Weber Shandwick
Phone:      212.445.8088
Email:      [email protected]

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