Elan Edelman

What Elan Edelman does

Elan Edelman is the French-market subsidiary of the global Edelman communications network, headquartered in Paris and operating under the legal parent Daniel J. Edelman Holdings, Inc. The firm specializes in strategy consulting, change management, storytelling, influence, 360-degree opinion campaigns, and executive coaching, serving large enterprise and brand clients across healthcare, technology, consumer goods, and NGO/advocacy sectors. Elan Edelman France employs 101-250 people locally and sits within a global network of approximately 6,000 experts across more than 60 offices.

The firm's core offering is data-driven strategic communication counsel underpinned by its proprietary Edelman Trust Barometer — an annual global survey measuring public trust in institutions that has been running for 25+ years. Branded product lines include the Trust Barometer research publication, the Edelman Trust Institute (educational and research arm), and Edelman Trust Management (advisory consulting). The underlying technology stack is research-led rather than software-led: proprietary survey methodology, longitudinal trust datasets, and human-driven creative and strategic counsel, with no disclosed AI/ML products, APIs, SDKs, or patents.

The business model is professional services, generating revenue through retained advisory relationships and project-based engagements priced via custom quotes. Distribution is sales-led and direct, with senior-level relationship management into enterprise buyers; there is no intermediary or self-serve channel. Elan Edelman France is privately held and family-owned through Daniel J. Edelman Holdings, Inc., with no disclosed private-equity, venture-capital, or institutional investor ownership. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is determined through direct consultation, with annual billing cadence on engagements.

Name

Elan Edelman

Legal name

Daniel J. Edelman Holdings, Inc.

Website

https://edelman.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (54182)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Investor Relations (IR) Services (BPAFADAC)

Keywords

• Strategic communications
• Public relations
• Reputation management
• Stakeholder engagement
• Trust advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Strategic Communication Advisory: Professional services revenue from providing strategic communication counsel, reputation management, and creative campaign development to corporate and brand clients. Engagements typically involve retained advisory relationships and project-based work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Elan Edelman is the French entity of the global Edelman communications network, providing strategy consulting, change management, storytelling, 360° opinion campaigns, and executive coaching to corporate and brand clients. The firm delivers data-driven strategic communication counsel, reputation management, public affairs advisory, and creative campaign development, anchored by its proprietary annual Edelman Trust Barometer research.

Product overview

Edelman is a global strategic communications and public relations agency organized as a single-service platform with specialized divisions. The core offering includes strategic communications, data-driven strategies, and creative campaigns for corporate and brand clients. Key branded offerings include the Edelman Trust Barometer (annual global trust research report), Edelman Trust Institute (educational research division), and Edelman Trust Management (advisory consulting). The company employs approximately 6,000 experts across more than 60 offices worldwide, operating since 1952 as a family-independent firm.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Edelman Trust Barometer

Quantifiable outcome

• 20+ years of annual Trust Barometer reports tracking trust in institutions globally

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Burson (BCW): Global communications agency formed from the merger of Burson-Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe, now owned by WPP. Direct competitor across corporate reputation, public affairs, and strategic communications mandates.
• Hill+Knowlton: WPP-owned global communications consultancy. Comparable to Edelman in offering corporate communications, public affairs, crisis, and stakeholder engagement services to enterprise clients globally, with established operations in France.
• Ketchum: Omnicom-owned global communications agency. Competes with Edelman on corporate communications, brand marketing, and public affairs, with similar data-driven positioning (e.g., Ketchum's own research products).
• FleishmanHillard: Global strategic communications and PR agency within the Omnicom group. Directly comparable to Edelman in offering full-service public relations, public affairs, and reputation management to enterprise clients across multiple geographies including France.
• Weber Shandwick: Top-tier global PR and communications agency owned by IPG. Competes head-to-head with Edelman for large multinational corporate reputation, public affairs, and social impact mandates, with comparable global office footprint.
• MSL Group: Publicis-owned strategic communications and PR network. Directly comparable global network competitor with public relations, public affairs, and event capabilities, serving similar enterprise clients in France and internationally.
• Brunswick Group: Independent strategic advisory firm specializing in critical issues, public affairs, and investor relations. Closely comparable to Elan Edelman's higher-end advisory positioning, particularly for corporate reputation and stakeholder strategy.

Broad incumbents

• FTI Consulting (Strategic Communications): Larger professional services firm with a dedicated Strategic Communications segment. Comparable in crisis, M&A communications, and public affairs work, though broader in scope than Edelman's core PR offering.
• Havas Paris: French-headquartered global communications group within Vivendi/Publicis orbit. Operates broader advertising, PR, and health communications offerings, with strong French market presence overlapping Elan Edelman's territory.

Regional players

• TBWA\Corporate (Havas): European-focused corporate communications consultancy with deep France presence. Comparable to Elan Edelman's mid-to-large French corporate reputation, change management, and internal communications work, though primarily European rather than globally distributed.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@edelman
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/edelmanfr
• Instagraminstagram.com/edelmanfr/?hl=fr
• Xx.com/edelmanpr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Elan Edelman