5 Top PR and Communication Agencies in Switzerland
In a country of consultancies and agencies - as Switzerland is - public relations and communications rank high on the list of sought-after expertise. After all, corporate Switzerland values its reputation as much as the country as a whole values its brand.
Much like the companies they serve, the top PR and communications agencies rarely put themselves in the spotlight. They much prefer to stand in the shadows and let their work speak for itself.
And it does.
Here are five of Switzerland’s leading consultants for strategic communications, public relations and public affairs.
Oppenheim & Partner
With offices in Zurich and Lausanne, David Oppenhiem's agency provides comprehensive services in strategic communication, reputation management, media relations, and crisis communication.
Some of its more notable clients include Coca-Cola Switzerland, the Montreux Jazz Festival and the annual winter White Turf horse racing event in St. Moritz.
More recently the firm announced Samsung Electronics Switzerland as a new client.
Farner Consulting
Farner Consulting was established in 1951 and has since expanded to include locations in Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lausanne, Geneva, St. Gallen, and Lugano.
With a team of over 300 experts, they cover standard communication disciplines including corporate communications, public affairs, employer branding, and digital marketing.
Some of their clients include Roche, Nestlé, Swatch Group, Credit Suisse and Swiss Re. The agency also specializes in crisis communication and reputation management.
In early 2022, Farner secured additional funding from private equity gian Waterland to boost its European expansion plans.
furrerhugi
Founded by partners Lorenz Furrer and Andreas Hugi, Furrerhugi is a strategic PR agency based in Bern, Zurich, Fribourg, Lausanne, Lugano and Brussels. While it offers a range of services, it has a heavy focus on public affairs and political campaigns.
The company was founded in 2009 and has since worked with the Swiss Federal Council and the Swiss Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Not only does furrerhugi serve clients with traditional consulting services, it also owns the private club, Clé de Berne, which serves as a key location for discrete meetings and influence-building.
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid Counsellors
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid is a high-end strategic consultancy based in Zurich, with additional offices in Geneva and Bern. Founded in 1997 by Aloys Hirzel, Victor Schmid and Jörg Neef, the firm has long been known to handle some of the most influential mandates in Switzerland including former Credit Suisse executive Iqbal Khan, AMAG or OC Oerlikon.
The HNS team of partners and consultants consists of experienced professionals with diverse backgrounds in journalism, politics, and business, including prominent former journalists and corporate communications executives such as Michael Schoenenberger (NZZ) or Andrés Luther (Credit Suisse).
The agency is the Swiss representative of H/Advisors, a European-wide network of strategic communications agencies.
Bernet Relations
Bernet Relations is a communication agency based in Zurich. Under the leadership of Dominik Allemann, Bernet has specialized in social media communications in addition to PR and corporate communications work. Bernet also maintains an office in Bern. Its clients have included the Swiss State Secretariat for Economy (SECO), TX Group (Tamedia), ETH Zurich among others.
CRK
CRK is a distinguished communications agency with offices in Basel, Bern, and Zurich. Founded in 1989, the agency has built over three decades of expertise in providing comprehensive communication solutions.
As a full-service agency, CRK offers diverse services across communication, creation, and cinema, and its reputation is cemented by its recognition on the Leading Swiss Agencies platform.
The agency boasts a team of 40 skilled professionals who prioritize creativity and collaboration in their work. Since 2022, CRK has been part of the MYTY Group, a network of agencies with diverse core competencies, further expanding its collaborative reach.
Among its political mandates, CRK supported Federal Councillor Beat Jens (SP) in his 2023 election to Switzerland’s highest political body.
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