BCW Acquires Creative Powerhouse HZ, Significantly Expanding Expertise In Integrated CommunicationsAugust 14, 2018

NEW YORK, August 14, 2018 – BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe), a leading global communications agency and a WPP company, today announced it has acquired HZ, one of the largest independent, digitally driven, integrated creative agencies in the U.S. Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland with offices in Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C., the acquisition will add the capability of HZ’s nearly 200 creative and digital professionals to BCW’s deep expertise in integrated communications across all industry sectors.

HZ’s wide-ranging offerings include a full spectrum of multichannel digital design and development, mobile activation, social media, brand and identity creation, content, film and video production, search marketing (SEO/SEM), data and analytics as well as integrated media solutions. HZ’s broad client base spans the consumer, hospitality, food & beverage, education, B2B, real estate, sports & entertainment, healthcare and technology industries and counts Hilton Worldwide, Salesforce.org and Tishman Speyer’s Rockefeller Center among its top clients.

“With the acquisition of a top creative agency in the U.S., BCW has taken a major step toward becoming a global leader in integrated communications,” said Donna Imperato, Global CEO, BCW. “HZ has an extraordinary roster of art directors, copywriters, producers, directors, content creators and digital experts working across a diverse client base. Bringing additional creative firepower to our team strengthens our ability to deliver digitally driven integrated programs grounded in earned engagement and expanded across all channels at scale. This is what makes BCW such a powerful partner to our clients across the B2B, corporate, public affairs, crisis, consumer, healthcare and technology sectors.

“We have been working with HZ for more than a year and they are a true cultural fit with our organization. Together, we seamlessly deliver best-in-class ideas and execution for our clients,” Imperato added.

Founded in 1987 as a design firm and previously known as HZDG, HZ has earned accolades for its client work from publications including The New York Times and Fast Company and countless awards from American Advertising Federation, including the 2017 Silver Medal Award for outstanding contributions to the advertising industry.

HZ Founder and Chief Creative Officer Karen Zuckerman will retain her title and report to Imperato. “We’ve spent the last three decades conceiving and evolving brands with award-winning creative, agile marketing strategies and cutting-edge digital activations. We couldn’t be more thrilled to unite with BCW and to work together to expand our collective abilities on a global stage.”