kreab

What kreab does

Kreab is a global strategic communications consultancy headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 1970 by Peje Emilsson as Kreativ Information AB. The firm advises corporations, governments, international organizations, and high-profile individuals on complex communications challenges across five practice areas: Corporate Communications, Financial Communications, Public Affairs, Sustainability and Reputation, and Communication in Litigation.

The firm delivers these services through a globally distributed team of 400+ consultants operating from regional HQs in Stockholm, Brussels, Madrid, London, and Tokyo, with owned offices and partner-agency representations spanning 30+ countries and 40+ cities across Europe, Latin America, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Kreab monetizes primarily through professional-services engagements with large enterprises, governments, and NGOs on quote-based, multi-year contracts, with a senior-advisor bench of former prime ministers, EU commissioners, diplomats, and C-suite executives as a key capability layer.

The firm is privately held by founder Peje Emilsson under the legal entity Kreab Limited, with no external PE or VC investment disclosed. The company has expanded primarily through organic office openings and selective mergers (notably the 2009 Gavin Anderson merger that added Madrid, Barcelona, Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong) and partner-agency affiliations. Leadership transitioned in 2024 with Charlotte Erkhammar moving from CEO to Executive Chair after a 20-year tenure, and Karl Isaksson appointed as CEO.

Name

kreab

Legal name

Kreab Limited

Website

https://kreab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Kreab is a Stockholm-founded global strategic communications consultancy advising corporations, governments, and organizations on corporate communications, financial communications, public affairs, sustainability, and litigation communications across 30+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Communications Consulting

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (54182)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Technology & B2B PR (BPAFADAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Business Continuity, Crisis Management & Operational Resilience (BPAHAFAK)

Keywords

• Strategic communications consulting
• Public affairs advisory
• Financial communications services
• Corporate communications advisory
• Reputation management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices44 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Strategic Communications Consulting: Kreab generates revenue through providing strategic communications advisory services to corporations, governments, and organizations. Services include corporate communications, financial communications, public affairs, crisis communications, and sustainability/reputation management. The firm operates on a professional services model with long-term client relationships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kreab is a global strategic communications consultancy that advises corporations, individuals, governments and organisations on complex communications challenges. Its work spans five practice areas — Corporate Communications, Financial Communications, Public Affairs, Sustainability and Reputation, and Communication in Litigation — delivered through offices in more than 25 countries, with deep specialisation in areas such as M&A, IPO advisory, ESG/sustainability positioning, public policy advocacy, and crisis or litigation communications.

Product overview

Kreab is a global strategic communications consultancy that offers a unified service portfolio organized around five core practice areas: Corporate Communications, Financial Communications, Public Affairs, Sustainability and Reputation, and Communication in Litigation. These services are delivered through a global network of 400+ consultants across 30+ countries, providing integrated communications solutions for corporations, governments, and organizations facing complex communications challenges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kreab Explains: Content platform providing insights on communications, digital strategy, sustainability and business topics
• Kreab Academy
• Kreab Branders
• Research Unit

Products and services

• Corporate Communications Strategic advisory on corporate positioning, media relations, employer branding, internal communications and stakeholder engagement for corporations and organisations across multiple markets.
• Financial Communications Communications advisory for IPOs, M&A transactions, capital markets events, investor relations and ongoing financial media positioning for listed and pre-listed companies and their advisors.
• Public Affairs Policy, regulatory and political communications advisory for corporations, organisations and governments, with deep coverage of EU and Nordic policymaking environments.
• Sustainability and Reputation Communications advisory on sustainability, ESG, climate transition and broader corporate reputation, including sub-services in Sustainability, Climate Transition Communications and Reputation Management.
• Communication in Litigation Strategic communications advisory for clients involved in litigation, regulatory enforcement, investigations and other contentious matters, with sub-services covering Communication in Disputes and Crisis & Issues Management.

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered regional and core.

• Maldon&WatregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRomanian consultancy firm established in Bucharest in 2011, specializing in Economic and Institutional Affairs with competence in Research and Technology, Competition, Energy and Health. Provides top-class public affairs, corporate affairs and government relations advisory services.
• IDEAS BulgariaregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent Bulgarian PR and public affairs agency established in 2018, serving international corporate clients and Bulgarian companies with expertise in corporate communications, public affairs, and government relations in energy, utilities, trade, and manufacturing sectors.
• StrategyWiseregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent advisory group specializing in strategic communications with core expertise in public affairs, reputation management, and crisis communications. Partners with organizations to navigate complex environments and develop data-informed strategies.
• ExplicoregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHungarian-owned governmental affairs and corporate diplomacy boutique specializing in trade promotion. Staffed with qualified lawyers, senior ex-government officials and diplomats with nearly five years of corporate diplomacy experience.
• Chiappe & RevelloregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic consulting professionals partnered with academia, research experts, law firms, foundations and think tanks. Clients active in environment, energy, facilities and transport, industrial production, healthcare, food and retail sectors.
• ADL ConsultingregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian advisory firm specializing in public affairs, institutional communication, and political data management. Pioneer of Digital Lobbying methodology since 2012, promoting data-driven decision-making.
• Avian MediaregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialist communications consultancy in India with offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai. Provides sustainable competitive advantage through communications programs.
• Promontory PLLCregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWashington DC-based company representing Kreab in the United States. Founded in 2024 by Erin L. McGrain, helps clients navigate challenges at the intersection of business, law, policy, and public affairs.
• Smart (Brazil)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrazil-based agency representing Kreab in Brazil since 2002. Founded by Silse Martell, provides strategic counsel in PR, corporate communications and public affairs.
• QuipucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic advisory firm in Buenos Aires specializing in trade and investment, public affairs, and sustainable development in Latin America. Co-founded by Shunko Rojas and Lucas E. Barreiros. Manages international trade practice, investment advisory, and coordinates with Kreab offices across the region.
• TRY Råd ASregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorwegian communication firm where Managing Partner Bård Hammervold serves as senior advisor. TRY Råd is one of Norway's leading communication firms.
• JLM&Associados (Portugal)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPortuguese partner agency where Managing Partner Maria Soares has been part of the team since 2009. Team manages clients across finance, health, science, environment, infrastructure, and education sectors.
• JLM AngolaregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAngola partner where Dina Corthinas (Managing Partner Luanda) participates in boosting business operations and client portfolio. Part of Kreab's Africa expansion strategy.
• Kiroyan Partners (Indonesia)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndonesian partner where Managing Partner Veve Hitipeuw previously served as Principal Consultant and Director. Provides reputation management and communications audit services.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves27 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Brunswick Group: Brunswick is a global strategic communications advisory focused on financial communications, M&A, crisis, and public affairs for corporations and boards. It is Kreab's closest direct competitor, particularly in the Nordic and European financial communications market, where Kreab's former Senior Partner Birgitta Stål previously served as a Brunswick Partner.
• Burson (formerly Burson-Marsteller): Burson is a global strategic communications and public affairs firm offering corporate, financial, crisis, and public affairs advisory. Kreab's Managing Partner Pablo Zamorano previously led Corporate and Financial Communication at Burson-Marsteller Spain, making it a direct talent and client competitor in Iberia and Latin America.
• FleishmanHillard: FleishmanHillard is a global communications consultancy with strong corporate, public affairs, and public health practices. It competes with Kreab on cross-border integrated communications programs for multinational clients, including financial communications and public affairs in Europe and Asia.
• Weber Shandwick: Weber Shandwick is a global communications and public affairs agency operating across corporate, public affairs, healthcare, and social impact. It is a direct competitor to Kreab for European and global corporate reputation, financial communications, and public affairs engagements.
• Teneo: Teneo is a global CEO advisory firm offering strategic communications, public affairs, and management consulting to senior executives and boards. It is increasingly competing with Kreab on CEO advisory, crisis, and strategic communications mandates for large corporates and government-linked entities.
• Hill & Knowlton: Hill & Knowlton is a global strategic communications consultancy with strong public affairs and crisis practices. It competes with Kreab for cross-border reputation and public affairs mandates, particularly where there is overlap with government, energy, and regulatory-intensive clients.
• BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe): BCW is a global communications agency formed from the merger of Burson-Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe, offering corporate, public affairs, crisis, and content services. It is a direct competitor to Kreab across multiple geographies and practice areas.

Broad incumbents

• FTI Consulting: FTI Consulting is a global advisory firm with a sizable Strategic Communications segment serving corporates, governments, and law firms on crisis, financial, and public affairs matters. It competes with Kreab on cross-border M&A and crisis mandates and is a typical destination for senior communications talent (e.g., Kreab's Ignacio Gomá was previously at FTI Consulting).
• Edelman: Edelman is the world's largest privately-held PR firm with global corporate, financial, public affairs, and health communications practices. It competes with Kreab on multinational corporate mandates, ESG communications, and CEO advisory, though with a much broader consumer and digital offering.
• Ketchum: Ketchum is a global communications consultancy with corporate, public affairs, and digital practices as part of the Omnicom network. It competes with Kreab on integrated corporate communications and public affairs, with greater scale in North America and consumer marketing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kreab
• Instagraminstagram.com/kreabworldwide
• Xx.com/kreab_stockholm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about kreab