Celebrating More Than 60 Years of Serving Our Clients
Celebrating 60 Years of Serving Our Clients
March 1953
Burson-Marsteller Founded
Harold Burson and Bill Marsteller establish Burson-Marsteller on March 1, 1953. The new jointly-owned Burson-Marsteller and its sister agencies – Marsteller Advertising and Marsteller Research – are the first firms to offer what becomes known as integrated communications. Click here to read more about our heritage and founding.
February 1961
Global Expansion
Burson-Marsteller opens its first overseas office in Geneva, Switzerland to serve the newly-formed European Common Market; a second European office opened in Brussels in 1965. Burson-Marsteller is also the first public relations firm in Europe with offices capable of working in a dozen languages and providing a pan-European service.
1966
First Overseas Acquisition
Burson-Marsteller makes its first overseas acquisition when it acquires C.S. Services in London.
1968
First Crisis Training Session
Burson-Marsteller is the first public relations firm to conduct a crisis training for client Owens-Corning Fiberglass. Burson-Marsteller goes on to win a PRSA Silver Anvil for its Bad Day at Black Rock program in 1969.
1973
Asia
Burson-Marsteller establishes a presence in Asia, opening offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo.
1974
Public Affairs
Burson-Marsteller announces the establishment of its Public Affairs Practice.
1976
Latin America
Burson-Marsteller opens its first office in Latin America in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
1979
Healthcare Practice
Burson-Marsteller establishes a healthcare specialty, becoming the first public relations firm to do so. At first, it mainly serves manufacturers of ethical prescription drugs. It works with the FDA to establish guidelines for providing consumers an increased amount of information about drugs prescribed by their physicians.
October 1979
Y&R
Young & Rubicam acquires Burson-Marsteller.
1984
AT&T Olympic Torch Relay, Los Angeles Summer Games
Burson-Marsteller works on the 1984 AT&T Olympic Torch Relay, which consists of an 82-day, 9,100 mile route through 33 states and the District of Columbia. The firm organizes, stages and publicizes the passage of the Olympic flame from Greece across the United States to the site of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.