Bozell

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Public relations and ad agency

title: "Bozell" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["advertising-agencies-of-the-united-states", "companies-based-in-omaha,-nebraska", "marketing-companies-established-in-1921", "1921-establishments-in-nebraska"] description: "Public relations and ad agency" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bozell" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Public relations and ad agency ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]

FieldValue
nameBozell
logoFile:Bozelle logo.png
industryAdvertising, Public relations
predecessor
successor
founded1921 as Bozell & Jacobs, Inc.
foundersLeo B. Bozell
Morris Jacobs
defunct
hq_location_cityOmaha, Nebraska, U.S.
area_served
owner
num_employees_year
website
::

| name = Bozell | logo = File:Bozelle logo.png | type = | industry = Advertising, Public relations | fate = | predecessor = | successor = | founded = 1921 as Bozell & Jacobs, Inc. | founders = Leo B. Bozell Morris Jacobs | defunct = | hq_location_city = Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | hq_location_country = | area_served = | key_people = | products = | owner = | num_employees = | num_employees_year = | parent = | website = Bozell{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/03/business/advertising-ex-bozell-executives-form-own-agency.html |title=Ex-Bozell Executives Form Own Agency |author=Philip H. Dougherty |date=December 3, 1986}}{{cite news |newspaper=Advertising Age |title=Bozell at 75 |author=John Mcdonough |date=April 8, 1996 |pages=C1–C32}} was an American full-service public relations and advertising agency in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1921, the agency rose to global prominence in the 1980s and 90s through a series of mergers and acquisitions, before its Omaha office split off from Interpublic in 2001 and reestablished it as a local agency. Bozell closed in 2025.

History

Bozell traced its roots to the company founded in 1921 in Omaha, Nebraska by Leo Bozell and Morris Jacobs as Bozell & Jacobs, Inc. In 1985, the firm was purchased by Lorimar and merged with another Lorimar entity, Kenyon & Eckhardt to form Bozell, Jacobs, Kenyon & Eckhardt.{{cite news |title=Lorimar Buying Bozell & Jacobs For $40 Million|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/06/13/lorimar-buying-bozell-jacobs-for-40-million/ |access-date=January 18, 2017 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=June 13, 1985}} In 1992 the firm shortened its name to Bozell Worldwide.{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/27/business/the-media-business-advertising-a-shake-up-for-bozell.html |title=A Shake-Up For Bozell |quote=will be consolidated into one, called Bozell Worldwide. |author=Stuart Elliott |date=May 27, 1992}} From 1986 to 1993, the company was headed by noted advertisement executive Leo-Arthur Kelmenson, who contributed significantly to the turnaround of Chrysler Corporation.

Bozell Worldwide was well known for its campaigns, which have introduced memorable slogans and ads, such as:

In 1997, Bozell was acquired by True North, holding company for FCB.{{cite news |newspaper=AdWeek |url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/ace-consolidates-account-bozell-chicago-36128 |title=Ace Consolidates Account With Bozell In Chicago |date=December 8, 1997}} The New York Times described the combination as the world's sixth largest advertising company.{{cite news |newspaper=Advertising Age |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/01/business/another-madison-avenue-independent-finds-buyer-bozell-jacobs-plans-join-true.html |title=Another Madison Avenue independent finds a buyer: Bozell, Jacobs plans to join True North |quote=True North Communications Inc., the world's seventh-largest agency holding company, said yesterday it had agreed to buy the 14th-largest, Bozell, Jacobs, Kenyon & Eckhardt |author=Courtney Kane |date=August 1, 1997}}

In 2001, the remaining largest offices of Bozell Worldwide were merged with Lowe Worldwide as part of the Interpublic Group of Companies. The managing partners of the Bozell office in Omaha then bought themselves out from the holding company, renamed using the historic Bozell & Jacobs name, and continued as an independent shop again; other units of the conglomerate continued as Bozell until 2003, when they were merged with Lowe Worldwide.{{Cite news |newspaper=AdWeek |url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/bozell-back-where-it-all-started-53316 |title=Bozell Back Where It All Started |author=Trevor Jensen |date=December 3, 2001 |language=en-US |access-date=2018-11-27}}

In 2013, Bozell proclaimed on their website Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) certification for being 50+% woman-owned.{{cite web |url=https://bozell.com/bozell-earns-national-womens-business-certification |title=Bozell Earns National Womens Business Certification |date=August 8, 2013}}

In 2024, Bozell announced that it was using a new cost structure in response to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency closed in March 2025.

Leadership

References

References

  1. Atkins, Claire; Thomaselli, Rich (February 3, 2003). Interpublic to fold weakened Bozell into Lowe. ''[[Advertising Age]]''
  2. "Bozell".
  3. Vitello, Paul. (2011-09-03). "Leo-Arthur Kelmenson, Ad Man Who Helped to Save Chrysler, Dies at 84". The New York Times.
  4. "A Unique Tribute to a Great Man – Bozell".
  5. "Members".
  6. (22 September 2016). "Omaha-based ad agency Bozell is still going strong after 95 years". Omaha World-Herald.
  7. "Interpublic to fold weakened Bozell into Lowe".
  8. Bozell. (2024-06-27). "Bozell Shatters Agency Cost Structure".
  9. "The end of an era: Bozell's legacy will live on.".
  10. Kiley, Richard. [https://web.archive.org/web/20101121141326/http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/brandnewday/archives/2009/01/no_such_thing_as_corinthian_leather_in_the_cordoba.html No Such Thing As Corinthian Leather in the Cordoba]. "Bloomberg Business Week". Bloomberg L.P. United States of America, 2009-01-15. Accessed: 2010-09-25. Archived from [https://web.archive.org/web/20101121141326/http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/brandnewday/archives/2009/01/no_such_thing_as_corinthian_leather_in_the_cordoba.html the original] on 2010-09-25. "It’s also worth noting that “rich Corinthian leather” was an invention of a Bozell copywriter..."

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advertising-agencies-of-the-united-statescompanies-based-in-omaha,-nebraskamarketing-companies-established-in-19211921-establishments-in-nebraska