What Ecker & Partner does

Ecker & Partner Öffentlichkeitsarbeit und Public Affairs GmbH is a Vienna-headquartered communications agency founded in 1998 that provides integrated public relations and public-affairs consulting to Austrian and international corporate clients. Its service portfolio spans strategic PR, public affairs and government relations, crisis communication, litigation PR, financial PR, social media and digital communications, corporate storytelling, and stakeholder relations, delivered as retainer-based and project-based professional services with 24/7 availability for crisis mandates. The firm is the exclusive Austrian affiliate of Burson (BCW-Global), which provides access to 130+ offices in 90+ countries for cross-border client work, and it operates the "Business Breakfast" event series as a recurring thought-leadership and lead-generation channel.

The agency runs on standard communication and PR technology platforms — including social media management, media monitoring, and content management systems — with no disclosed proprietary technology stack, AI capabilities, or productized software offerings. Revenue is generated entirely through customized consulting engagements; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The team of 11-50 employees is co-led by Managing Directors Nicole Bäck-Knapp and Axel Zuschmann, blending senior PR strategists with social-media-native consultants across specialized verticals such as crisis, litigation, financial, and digital communications.

Customer concentration is spread across multiple enterprise verticals — Allianz Österreich (insurance), easyJet Europe (aviation), bank99 (banking), IFM Investors (investment), Dr. Richard (transportation), SK Rapid Wien (sports), ARA and PET to PET (recycling), Ivoclar (dental, DACH mandate from 2026), and PARSHIP.at (consumer) — with no revenue disclosure to indicate individual client weight. The agency holds industry-association roles including a board position in the Österreichische Public Affairs Vereinigung (ÖPAV) and membership in the Public Relations Verband Austria (PRVA), reinforcing its institutional positioning in the Austrian communications market.

Name

Ecker & Partner

Legal name

Ecker & Partner Öffentlichkeitsarbeit & Public Affairs GmbH

Website

https://www.eup.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vienna-headquartered communications agency founded in 1998 providing integrated PR and public-affairs consulting, crisis and litigation communications, financial PR, and digital/social media services to Austrian and international enterprise clients through retainer and project-based engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. PR and Public Affairs Consulting Services: Professional services revenue derived from retainer-based consulting engagements and project-based work covering public relations, public affairs, crisis communication, litigation PR, financial PR, and social media/digital communication services. Services are customized to client needs with 24/7 availability when required.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ecker & Partner is a Vienna-based communications agency that provides strategic public relations, public affairs, crisis communication, litigation PR, financial PR, and digital/social media services to corporate clients. Services are delivered on retainer or project-based engagements, with 24/7 availability for crisis situations, positioning the firm as either a strategic advisor, outsourced press office, or full editorial team depending on client needs.

Product overview

Ecker & Partner is a Vienna-based public relations and public affairs consultancy offering a comprehensive suite of communication services. The core offering consists of strategic PR and Public Affairs consulting, supported by specialized services in Litigation PR, Crisis Communication, and Financial PR. Digital and Social Media services and Corporate Storytelling capabilities function as integrated modules within the broader communication strategy framework. The agency also operates a Business Breakfast networking event series. All services are delivered through a team-based consulting model with 24/7 availability when required.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Relations (Öffentlichkeitsarbeit) Strategic public relations services including media relations, press release distribution, and reputation management for corporate clients. Provided as either strategic counsel, outsourced press office, or full editorial team.
• Public Affairs Government relations and political communication consulting, including stakeholder engagement, policy communication, and positioning with political actors for corporate clients.
• Litigation PR Reputation protection services during legal proceedings, helping clients manage public communication during court cases. The firm's Managing Directors co-authored a book on the subject.
• Crisis Communication Strategic crisis communication services including 24/7 availability for urgent client needs, supporting reputation management during crisis situations.
• Financial PR Financial communications and investor relations support for corporate clients, including M&A communications support (e.g., IFM Investors).
• Digital & Social Media Digital communications services including social media strategy, content creation, and channel management across online platforms, integrated within the broader communication strategy framework.
• Corporate Storytelling Content development and narrative strategy services, with available white paper resources on storytelling methodologies.
• Business Breakfast (Networking Event Series) Networking event series featuring expert speakers on societal and political topics, with documented events from 2012-2020. Functions as a thought leadership and client/prospect engagement platform.

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Burson (BCW-Global)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcker & Partner serves as the Exclusive Affiliate of Burson (BCW-Global) in Austria. This partnership provides access to expertise from 90 countries and more than 130 offices worldwide, enabling the agency to serve international clients and handle cross-border communication needs.
• Public Relations Verband Austria (PRVA)minorOthersEcker & Partner is a member of the Public Relations Verband Austria (PRVA), Austria's professional PR association, supporting the further professionalization of the communication industry.
• Österreichische Public Affairs Vereinigung (ÖPAV)coreOthersEcker & Partner holds a board position (Vorstandsmitglied) in the Österreichische Public Affairs Vereinigung (ÖPAV), working to advance public affairs practice and professional standards in Austria.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Burson (formerly BCW): Global parent network of which Ecker & Partner is the exclusive Austrian affiliate. Directly comparable as a strategic communications and public affairs consultancy with global reach and similar service mix (PR, crisis, public affairs).
• FleishmanHillard: Global PR and communications agency with strong DACH presence offering PR, public affairs, crisis, and financial communications — directly overlapping Ecker & Partner's service portfolio for enterprise clients.
• Ketchum: Omnicom-owned global PR agency with Austrian/DACH operations delivering corporate communications, public affairs, and crisis management — directly comparable across enterprise PR and public affairs mandates.
• Edelman: World's largest PR firm with significant European and DACH footprint providing PR, public affairs, financial communications, and crisis services — overlapping with Ecker & Partner's specialty areas.
• Weber Shandwick: IPG-owned global PR network with European operations offering corporate, public affairs, financial, and crisis communications — directly competing for multinational DACH-region mandates.
• MSL (Publicis): Publicis-owned global PR and public affairs network with DACH presence offering corporate communications, reputation, and public affairs consulting — overlapping service portfolio with Ecker & Partner.
• Hill+Knowlton Strategies: Global communications consultancy with strong public affairs and crisis practice operating in the DACH market — comparable to Ecker & Partner's public affairs and crisis positioning.

Direct peers

• IWK Communication: Austrian-headquartered PR and communications agency offering media relations, public affairs, and corporate communications — a like-sized Austrian domestic peer competing for similar enterprise and public sector clients.
• Schwartz Public Relations: Vienna-based PR agency focused on technology and B2B communications with DACH reach — a like-sized Austrian competitor serving enterprise clients in overlapping verticals.

Regional players

• Ketchum Publico: Austrian affiliate within the Ketchum global network offering public affairs, corporate communications, and public sector consulting — comparable peer structure (network affiliate model) and Austrian market focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/eckerundpartner
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecker-&-partner-%C3%B6ffentlichkeitsarbeit-und-public-affairs-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/eckerundpartner

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Ecker & Partner