What Zeno Group does

Zeno Group is a global integrated communications agency founded in 1998 and headquartered in Chicago, operating as a privately held subsidiary of DJE Holdings, the parent company of Edelman. The firm serves large enterprise clients across consumer/lifestyle, technology, healthcare, automotive, travel/hospitality, and purpose-driven sectors, with service offerings spanning brand strategy, corporate affairs, earned media, creative production, experiential events, influencer marketing, health and wellness communications, and ESG/purpose work. The agency operates across 25+ countries via regional hubs in the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific, with roughly 500 employees structured around practice areas and regional presidents reporting into global CEO Barby K. Siegel.

The firm's proprietary assets include The Human Project (a research methodology grounded in the study of human values across audience cohorts), the Clarity 2030 global research platform surveying 1,400+ communications leaders across 10 markets, and GEOfluent, an AI-powered Generative Engine Optimization product launched in February 2026 that monitors brand visibility across major AI platforms. Notable client work includes Kia EV9 (20,000 earned media stories; most awarded new EV in U.S.), Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold, Expedia Helping Hand (1B+ impressions, 10x traffic lift), Carhartt x Metallica, Bush's Beans Can Film Festival, Hyatt World of Care, and Oscar Mayer Wienie 500.

Zeno generates revenue primarily through project-based and retainer professional services fees for integrated communications campaigns, supplemented by nascent productized offerings such as GEOfluent. Reported 2024 global revenue was $140 million ($114M in the U.S.), with both figures declining modestly year-over-year. Distribution is direct enterprise sales managed by regional presidents, with notable client clusters in healthcare (AbbVie, Alcon, Argenx, CSL, Edwards Lifesciences) and a diversified consumer portfolio (Kia, Lenovo, Coca-Cola, Kraft, Carhartt, Bush's, Hyatt, Oscar Mayer). The agency has expanded via the 2016 acquisition of 3 Monkeys Communications in the UK and the 2023 launch of Zeno China Consulting as a JV with Qu Hong, while recently investing in India operations and AI/GEO product development.

Name

Zeno Group

Legal name

Zeno Group

Website

https://zenogroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Zeno Group is a global integrated communications agency founded in 1998, serving enterprise clients across consumer, technology, healthcare, automotive, and travel sectors. The firm offers brand strategy, corporate affairs, earned media, creative production, and AI-powered generative search optimization across 25+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations and Integrated Communications Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Media Representatives (54184), Media Representatives (541840)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Media Community Management & Response (BPAAABAJ)

Keywords

• Public relations services
• Integrated communications
• Brand marketing
• Corporate communications
• Reputation management

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices29 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Integrated Communications Services: Zeno Group generates revenue through professional services fees for integrated communications campaigns spanning brand strategy, corporate affairs, earned media, creative production, experiential events, influencer marketing, health and wellness, and purpose & impact work. Revenue is project-based and retainer-driven for enterprise clients. The agency reported $140 million globally and $114 million in the U.S. in 2024.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Zeno Group is a global integrated communications agency that delivers professional services spanning public relations, brand strategy, corporate affairs, earned media, creative production, experiential marketing, influencer campaigns, health and wellness communications, and purpose and impact work. The firm serves enterprise and consumer clients through project-based and retainer engagements, supported by proprietary research methodologies (The Human Project, Clarity 2030) and an AI-powered Generative Engine Optimization product (GEOfluent) for brand visibility in AI-generated search.

Product overview

Zeno Group is a global integrated communications agency that offers communications and marketing services alongside proprietary research and AI-powered products. The portfolio includes GEOfluent, an AI-powered Generative Engine Optimization product for managing brand visibility in AI-generated search results, and Clarity 2030, a research platform providing insights on the future of communications and marketing. The agency also delivers integrated communications services including strategic planning, creative production, earned media, experiential marketing, and influencer campaigns for clients across various sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 3 Monkeys Communications: UK-based independent communications consultancy acquired by Zeno Group in 2016, specializing in consumer, corporate and b2b communications.

Products and services

• Integrated Communications Services End-to-end integrated communications services including brand strategy and positioning, creative production, earned media, media relations, social media, experiential events, influencer and creator marketing, purpose and impact campaigns, health and wellness communications, corporate affairs, ESG platform development, crisis management, and internal communications for enterprise and consumer brand clients.
• GEOfluent A proprietary AI-powered Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) product that monitors brand mentions across major AI platforms, analyzes sentiment and narrative framing, and delivers daily monitoring, competitor benchmarking, and reputational risk detection to help brands improve discoverability and credibility in generative AI search results.
• Clarity 2030 A global research platform exploring the forces shaping the future of communications, marketing, reputation, and business growth through 2030, combining quantitative surveys and AI-moderated in-depth interviews with senior communications and marketing leaders to provide ongoing market intelligence.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000 earned media stories for Kia EV9 campaign; Kia named most awarded new EV of all-time in the U.S.
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Kraft SaucesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026Kraft Sauces partnered with Zeno Group to launch Kraft TSA-Compliant Ranch, a limited-edition travel kit featuring a quart-sized bag, bulk ranch dressing packets, and a ranch bottle-inspired luggage tag. The partnership capitalized on a viral social media trend where international travelers were discovering ranch dressing for the first time and encountering TSA carry-on restrictions.
• 3 Monkeys CommunicationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2016Zeno Group acquired 3 Monkeys Communications, one of the UK's leading independent communications consultancies. The acquisition positioned Zeno as a uniquely mid-sized global, independent agency, and enabled 3 Monkeys to export its award-winning communications work globally. 3 Monkeys, founded in 2003, was known for integrated consumer, corporate and B2B communications across healthcare, financial services, FMCG and technology sectors.
• Metallica's All Within My Hands FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZeno Group partnered Carhartt with Metallica's All Within My Hands Foundation for the Labor Day skilled trades campaign at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The partnership recruited job seekers to skilled trade workshops and directed Carhartt's Labor Day online sales proceeds to benefit the Metallica Scholars program, a workforce education initiative.
• Howard University (Cathy Hughes School of Communication)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZeno Group established a partnership with the Cathy Hughes School of Communication at Howard University in Fall 2023. The collaboration combined in-person and virtual lectures led by Zeno employees to provide learning experiences for diverse communications students.
• Columbia College ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership under Zeno's 'Partners for Progress' diversity initiative, providing real-world learning and growth opportunities for the next generation of PR professionals.
• American UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership under Zeno's 'Partners for Progress' diversity initiative.
• Indiana UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership under Zeno's 'Partners for Progress' diversity initiative.
• University of Georgia (UGA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership under Zeno's 'Partners for Progress' diversity initiative.
• University of Southern California (USC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership under Zeno's 'Partners for Progress' diversity initiative.
• University of AlabamaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership under Zeno's 'Partners for Progress' diversity initiative.
• University of San FranciscominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership under Zeno's 'Partners for Progress' diversity initiative.
• National Louis UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership under Zeno's 'Partners for Progress' diversity initiative.
• Pace UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership under Zeno's 'Partners for Progress' diversity initiative.
• Plank Center for Leadership in Public RelationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry organization partnership under Zeno's 'Partners for Progress' diversity initiative, supporting leadership development in public relations.
• Lagrant FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiversity-focused foundation partnership under Zeno's 'Partners for Progress' initiative supporting underrepresented professionals in communications.
• Emma Bowen FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiversity foundation partnership under Zeno's 'Partners for Progress' initiative supporting multicultural recruitment in the communications industry.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Havas PR: Havas PR is the public relations and communications arm of Havas, offering integrated brand and corporate communications to enterprise clients — directly comparable to Zeno's integrated model and global reach.
• FleishmanHillard: FleishmanHillard is a global integrated communications agency within the Omnicom network, offering PR, brand marketing, health communications, and corporate affairs for enterprise clients — directly overlapping Zeno's service mix and target customers across similar geographies and verticals.
• Weber Shandwick: Weber Shandwick is a top-tier global public relations and integrated marketing firm within the IPG network, offering brand marketing, corporate communications, and health practices — competing head-to-head with Zeno for enterprise integrated communications mandates.
• Ketchum: Ketchum is a global communications consultancy within the Omnicom network, providing brand marketing, corporate communications, and healthcare PR — closely comparable to Zeno's integrated model and enterprise client base.
• MSL (Publicis): MSL is Publicis Groupe's global public relations and integrated communications network, serving similar enterprise clients with corporate, consumer, and healthcare communications practices.
• Hill & Knowlton: Hill & Knowlton is a global communications consultancy within the WPP network, offering corporate, public affairs, and brand communications — directly comparable to Zeno across geographies, with a notable India presence that overlaps Zeno's APAC build-out.
• BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe): BCW is a global communications agency within the WPP network, offering integrated brand, corporate, and healthcare communications services to enterprise clients — directly comparable to Zeno's service portfolio and customer base.
• Ogilvy PR: Ogilvy PR is WPP's global public relations and influence arm, providing brand marketing, corporate communications, and social impact work — directly competing with Zeno for integrated enterprise engagements across global markets.
• Golin: Golin is a global integrated communications agency within the IPG network, specializing in brand marketing, corporate communications, and digital/social engagement — closely aligned with Zeno's integrated model and enterprise client mix.

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: Edelman is the world's largest independent PR firm and Zeno's sister agency under DJE Holdings. It is broadly comparable as a global integrated communications firm serving enterprise clients with brand, corporate affairs, health, and purpose practices, but operates at materially greater scale and a wider portfolio of capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/zenogroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/zenogroupglobal/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/zenogroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zeno-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/zenograms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zeno Group