Menu
Download the app

SBJ subscribers – Enhance your experience with the revamped iOS app

Marketing and Sponsorship

PR Firm Ketchum Announces Decision To End Bulk Of Its Work For Russian Federation

Public relations firm Ketchum has "ended the bulk of its work" for the Russian Federation in the U.S. and Europe amid "continuing tensions between the country and Western governments," according to Washkuch & Nichols of PR WEEK. The Omnicom Group firm represented the Kremlin through its hosting of the Winter Olympics in Sochi last year "but also as its relationship with the West strained over the country's role in the conflict in Ukraine." Ketchum said in a statement, "Ketchum no longer represents the Russian Federation in the US or Europe with the exception of our office in Moscow. Our partner in the consortium, [Omnicom subsidiary] GPlus, continues to operate under the terms of the contract." Ketchum was paid nearly $23M by the Russian federation from '06 through mid-'12, according to ProPublica, as well as $17M by energy firm Gazprom. The firm "declined other comment on the matter." Ketchum said it received fees of more than $773,000 during the six-month period ending in November through its Ketchum Ltd. affiliate in the U.K. (PR WEEK, 3/11). O'DWYER'S' Kevin McCauley reported Ketchum "attracted much criticism for the representation," especially in the aftermath of President Vladimir Putin's annexation of Crimea, invasion/occupation of eastern Ukraine and "open scorn" of the U.S. and its NATO allies. Ketchum reported no activity during the period for Gazprom. The duo combined for $5.4M in outlays for the "comparable year ago period." They spent $4.1M for the half-year May 31, 2014 ended period (O'DWYER'S, 3/12).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2015/03/13/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Ketchum-Russia.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2015/03/13/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Ketchum-Russia.aspx

CLOSE