COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 541613

Marketing Consulting

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

18companies1914–1998founding years18still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedGeorge P. Johnson Company
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedUnited Business Media plc
1918
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedHarris Interactive Inc.
1956
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
FoundedSealaska Corporation
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedMicrosoft Corporation
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedAmdocs Ltd.
1982
FoundedAPL LimitedFoundedPlanar Systems, Inc.
1983
FoundedHooters of America, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedPDI, Inc.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedWFS Financial Inc.
1988
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
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.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
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
The 2003 NAIAS again featured a series of elaborate automotive displays from the firm, with new clients this year…
United Business Media plc →
Active · founded 1918 · United Kingdom
Early 1980s:United Newspapers makes its first major U.S.
Harris Interactive Inc. →
Active · founded 1956
Harris Interactive 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,…
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…
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.
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.
Hooters of America, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Hooters of America, Inc.
PDI, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
PDI, Inc., formerly Professional Detailing, Inc., was the first company to offer product detailing services to the…
WFS Financial Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
WFS Financial 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…
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.
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