COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 541613

Marketing Consulting Services

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

32companies1914–1998founding years30still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedGeorge P. Johnson CompanyFoundedGeorge P. Johnson Company
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedUnited Business Media plc
1918
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedFrost & Sullivan, Inc.FoundedLancaster Colony Corporation
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedRoland Berger & Partner GmbH
1967
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
FoundedSealaska Corporation
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedMicrosoft Corporation
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedAmdocs Ltd.
1982
FoundedAPL LimitedFoundedAPL LimitedFoundedPlanar Systems, Inc.
1983
FoundedHooters of America, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedPDI, Inc.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedCambridge Technology Partners, Inc.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedBad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedObie Media Corporation
1996
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedIMS Health, Inc.
1998
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

George P. Johnson Company →
Active · founded 1914
1910s:Johnson begins doing work for Detroit Auto Shows.
George P. Johnson Company →
Active · founded 1914
1910s:Johnson begins doing work for Detroit Auto Shows.
United Business Media plc →
Active · founded 1918 · United Kingdom
Early 1980s:United Newspapers makes its first major U.S.
United Business Media plc →
Active · founded 1918 · United Kingdom
Early 1980s:United Newspapers makes its first major U.S.
Frost & Sullivan, Inc. →
Active · founded 1961
Frost & Sullivan, Inc.
Frost & Sullivan, Inc. →
Active · founded 1961
Frost & Sullivan, Inc.
Lancaster Colony Corporation →
Active · founded 1961
Lancaster Colony Corporation's subsidiaries manufacture a wide variety of products, including automotive floor mats,…
Lancaster Colony Corporation →
Active · founded 1961
Lancaster Colony Corporation's subsidiaries manufacture a wide variety of products, including automotive floor mats,…
Roland Berger & Partner GmbH →
Active · founded 1967 · Germany
German-based Roland Berger & Partner GmbH is among the leading management consulting firms in Europe.
Roland Berger & Partner GmbH →
Active · founded 1967 · Germany
German-based Roland Berger & Partner GmbH is among the leading management consulting firms in Europe.
Sealaska Corporation →
Active · founded 1971
A Native-owned corporation with more than 16,500 shareholders, Sealaska Corporation is the largest private landholder…
Sealaska Corporation →
Active · founded 1971
A Native-owned corporation with more than 16,500 shareholders, Sealaska Corporation is the largest private landholder…
Microsoft Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
With annual revenues of more than $32 billion, Microsoft Corporation is more than the largest software company in the…
Microsoft Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
With annual revenues of more than $32 billion, Microsoft Corporation is more than the largest software company in the…
Amdocs Ltd. →
Active · founded 1982
Amdocs Ltd.
Amdocs Ltd. →
Active · founded 1982
Amdocs Ltd.
APL Limited →
Active · founded 1983
APL Limited, formerly called the American President Companies Ltd., operates container shipping services by container…
APL Limited →
Active · founded 1983
APL Limited, formerly called the American President Companies Ltd., operates container shipping services by container…
Planar Systems, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Planar Systems, Inc.
Planar Systems, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Planar Systems, Inc.
Hooters of America, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Hooters of America, Inc.
Hooters of America, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Hooters of America, Inc.
PDI, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1987
PDI, Inc., formerly Professional Detailing, Inc., was the first company to offer product detailing services to the…
PDI, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1987
PDI, Inc., formerly Professional Detailing, Inc., was the first company to offer product detailing services to the…
Cambridge Technology Partners, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Founded in 1991, Cambridge Technology Partners, Inc.
Cambridge Technology Partners, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Founded in 1991, Cambridge Technology Partners, Inc.
Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group →
Active · founded 1992
Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group is owned by Sean Combs, an entertainment and media dynamo whose many business…
Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group →
Active · founded 1992
Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group is owned by Sean Combs, an entertainment and media dynamo whose many business…
Obie Media Corporation →
Active · founded 1996
Obie Media Corporation specializes in the sale, design, production, and installation of "out-of-home" advertising,…
Obie Media Corporation →
Active · founded 1996
Obie Media Corporation specializes in the sale, design, production, and installation of "out-of-home" advertising,…
IMS Health, Inc. →
Active · founded 1998
IMS Health, Inc.
IMS Health, Inc. →
Active · founded 1998
IMS Health, Inc.
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