We. Communications

What We. Communications does

We. Communications (legal name Waggener Edstrom Worldwide Inc., founded 1983 by Melissa Waggener Zorkin) is a privately held, female-founded and female-led global communications consultancy headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, with offices in 21 cities spanning North America (Bellevue, Seattle, New York, Portland), EMEA (London, Munich, Cape Town, Johannesburg), and APAC (Sydney, Singapore), employing approximately 1,300-1,500 professionals across more than 100 international markets. The firm delivers strategic communications, reputation management, integrated marketing, crisis management, executive positioning, and AI advisory services to enterprise clients, with deep sector specialization in technology, health/biopharma, and consumer industries. Notable client relationships include Microsoft (spanning decades), Amgen, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Columbia Sportswear, Autodesk, Lumen Technologies, Elastic, Sungrow, McDonald's, and Volvo, with We. GlobalHealth specifically serving 13 of the world's top 25 biopharma companies.

The firm's product portfolio combines service solutions (Company Transformation, Launch Pad, C-Suite Surround, Reputation Resilience, Brand Resonance, AI Accelerator) with proprietary technology platforms including WExPulse (media monitoring), WE twendz pro (influence analytics), GEO Compass (generative engine optimization), and Reputation Forecast (board-level reputation risk framework). Revenue is generated through professional services engagements on a quote-based, retainer/AOR model with enterprise buyers; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The firm's strategic moat rests on four decades of brand heritage, a global distribution footprint that smaller independents cannot match, sector-specialized senior talent, and proprietary research assets including the annual Brands in Motion study and Message vs. The Machine research with USC Annenberg. The company has executed multiple acquisitions to extend capabilities (Hopscotch Consulting integrated in 2025, Codeword, Buchan, We. Red Bridge, WATATAWA in earlier years) and continues to expand through competitive pitch wins, particularly in healthcare and technology sectors across multiple geographies.

Name

We. Communications

Legal name

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide Inc.

Website

https://wecommunications.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

We. Communications is a privately held global communications consultancy founded in 1983, serving enterprise clients across technology, healthcare, and consumer sectors with strategic communications, reputation management, and AI advisory services from 21 cities worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations and Integrated Communications Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (54182), Public Relations Agencies (541820)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate & Financial Communications PR (MPAAADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Crisis Communications & Issues Management (MPAAADAF), Media Relations & Press Office Services (BPAFADAF), Internal Communications & Employee Engagement (MPAAADAG)

Keywords

• Strategic communications services
• Public relations agency
• Corporate reputation management
• Media relations consulting
• Integrated marketing communications

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellevue

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Strategic Communications Consulting: Professional services revenue from delivering strategic communications, reputation management, corporate affairs, and integrated marketing solutions to enterprise clients. Services include media relations, thought leadership, crisis management, content development, digital marketing, and creative services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

We. Communications is a global integrated communications consultancy that delivers strategic communications, reputation management, corporate affairs, integrated marketing, media relations, crisis management, content development, and AI-driven analytics services to enterprise clients. The firm operates through sector-specialized practices (technology, healthcare/biopharma, consumer) across 21 cities, serving as Agency of Record for multinational brands through direct enterprise engagements and proprietary research-backed methodologies.

Product overview

We. Communications is a global integrated communications consultancy offering a portfolio of proprietary analytics platforms and strategic service solutions. Their core proprietary products include WExPulse® (media monitoring) and WE twendz pro™ (influence analytics), complemented by AI-powered intelligence tools such as GEO Compass and Reputation Forecast. Their service offerings span strategic communications solutions including AI Accelerator, Company Transformation, Launch Pad, C-Suite Surround, Reputation Resilience, and Brand Resonance. The company operates across technology, health, and consumer sectors with deep expertise at the intersection of technology and humanity, helping brands navigate complexity and drive meaningful connections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hopscotch: A We. Communications company focused on social and economic challenges, reputation, and audience engagement.
• We. Studio
• We. GlobalHealth

Products and services

• GEO Compass Tool designed to help brands own their story in the age of AI influence, addressing generative engine optimization (GEO) and how brands are found, framed, and trusted in AI-driven search environments. Aimed at communications and marketing teams navigating zero-click search.
• Reputation Forecast Board-level framework for managing reputation value and risk, providing organizations with tools to measure and forecast reputation outcomes in an AI-driven landscape.
• AI Accelerator Solution designed to help communications and marketing teams implement AI to work smarter, faster, and more creatively. Includes an AI Academy training offering flexible options for communications teams covering foundational and advanced AI topics.
• Company Transformation
• Launch Pad
• C-Suite Surround
• Reputation Resilience
• Brand Resonance
• WExPulse
• WE twendz pro

Quantifiable outcome

• 81% of communicators believe they're effectively reaching audiences, though only 39% of stakeholders agree (Brands in Motion 2025)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BT GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 March 2026We. Communications partnered with BT Group for a multi-generational digital skills day event held at Deepdale Football Stadium in Preston. The event brought together students aged 11-14 and adults aged 55+ for hands-on digital learning sessions including online safety and STEM career guidance. We. participated as a partner alongside AbilityNet and STEM Learning, responding to research showing 86% of over 65s want guidance to identify genuine online content.
• AbilityNetminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 March 2026AbilityNet partnered with BT Group and We. Communications for a digital inclusion initiative targeting multi-generational digital skills training. The event formed part of BT Group's Connect for Good purpose and support for communities benefiting from Openreach's gigabit-capable broadband rollout under Project Gigabit.
• STEM LearningminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 March 2026STEM Learning partnered with BT Group and We. Communications for digital skills day event focused on building digital confidence and tackling exclusion for students and older adults.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2025We. partnered with Microsoft to launch AI Tours in Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa, strengthening the continent's position in the global AI economy. Microsoft represents one of We.'s longest-standing client relationships spanning decades.
• Royal Academy of EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2025Hopscotch, a We. company, won a competitive tender to partner with the Royal Academy of Engineering on STEM education research.
• Leadership Skills FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2025Hopscotch, a We. company, secured a multichannel communication campaign promoting the new Shape Your Skills Award to primary schools.
• ElasticcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 January 2024We. Communications was named agency of record for Elastic in Australia and Singapore following a competitive pitch. We. helps Elastic promote and protect its brand and thought leadership positioning in Asia-Pacific, drawing on technology sector knowledge, media relations experience, and creativity.
• Hopscotch ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 September 2022WE Communications acquired Hopscotch Consulting, which now operates as Hopscotch, a We. Communications Company. The acquisition enhanced We.'s expertise in social and economic challenges, reputation, and audience engagement, bolstering Scientific Engagement, Health, and corporate reputation practices in the UK. Hopscotch was officially merged into We. Communications in July 2025.
• GeekWireminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWe. Communications partnered with GeekWire to host Microsoft@50th event celebrating 50 years of Microsoft and decades of partnership between the companies.
• Avian WecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNitin Mantri serves as Regional Executive Managing Director for Asia-Pacific and Group CEO of Avian We, indicating a strategic partnership/network relationship in the APAC region.
• USC Annenberg Center for Public RelationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWe. collaborated with USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations on Message vs. The Machine study exploring generative AI's impact on brand reputation and communications.
• RetroviralminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWe. and Retroviral both received African Agency of the Year recognition from PRovoke Media, indicating collaborative relationship in African market.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: World's largest independent PR firm with global technology, health, and consumer practices serving Microsoft, Pfizer, and other enterprise clients. Directly comparable in independent positioning, technology sector depth, and global scale, though materially larger.
• Ogilvy PR: WPP-owned integrated communications arm of Ogilvy with global enterprise PR capabilities. Comparable in serving Fortune 500 technology and consumer clients, though embedded within a larger creative advertising holding company.

Direct peers

• Weber Shandwick: Global communications agency within IPG that serves similar enterprise technology, healthcare, and consumer clients. Directly competes for AOR assignments (e.g., lost Columbia Sportswear AOR to We.) and operates comparable integrated communications offerings.
• FleishmanHillard: Omnicom-owned global PR agency with deep technology and healthcare practices serving multinational enterprise clients. Comparable in sector mix, global office footprint, and integrated services portfolio.
• Ketchum: Omnicom global PR agency with technology, consumer, and healthcare expertise. Recent destination for senior We. UK leadership (Ruth Allchurch), making it a direct competitor for talent and enterprise AOR assignments.
• Hill & Knowlton: WPP-owned global communications consultancy serving multinational technology, healthcare, and consumer clients. Comparable in integrated communications service portfolio and global footprint.
• Burson (formerly BCW): WPP global PR agency formed from the merger of Burson-Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe. Competes for enterprise AOR work in technology, healthcare, and consumer sectors with comparable integrated service offerings.
• Golin: IPG global communications agency with deep technology and healthcare expertise, including proprietary g4 model for integrated work. Comparable in enterprise client roster and global delivery model.
• MSL (Publicis): Publicis-owned global PR and communications agency with enterprise technology, consumer, and healthcare practices. Competes directly for multinational AOR engagements and integrated campaigns.
• Havas PR: Global PR and communications network under Havas serving enterprise technology, consumer, and healthcare clients. Comparable integrated service portfolio targeting multinational AOR engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WEcomms
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WaggenerEdstrom
• Facebookfacebook.com/We.Comms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/we-deutschland
• Instagraminstagram.com/wecomms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A5 records

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about We. Communications