Corporate Decisions, Inc. (now Mercer)

Creating a Climate for New Business Development

Frustrated by a lack of recognition for its services, management consulting firm CDI engaged Makovsky to engineer an image turnaround.

Ernst & Young

Claiming the Leadership Position

“Big Six” accounting firm Ernst & Young sought to create the perception that its tax consulting practice was best-in-class—and it turned to Makovsky for help. We were charged with building awareness of Ernst & Young’s superior line-up of tax specialists and its incomparable portfolio of business tax compliance and advisory resources.

How would we be evaluated? If we delivered a story in the Wall Street Journal, we’d be considered successful. So we blitzed the media on three fronts: with breaking news, industry-specific topics and important new research.

Kos Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Abbott in 2007)

Making a Case for Coverage under Part D

RTI International Metals

Winning Endorsements for a “Dark Horse” CEO

Changing leadership is always a perilous moment for a corporation. But when the change is unexpected, involves an heir with no operational experience in the business and is a woman in a male-dominated industry, the stakes are even higher.

XShares Advisors

Finding the Absolute Value of X

|X|Shares logoHow do you express the value of new ideas? How do you symbolize things that no one has ever thought of before?

XShares Advisors is a creator of astonishingly sophisticated financial products — families of exchange traded funds based on proprietary indices such as European carbon allowances and diagnostic technology futures.

Revitalizing W.P. Stewart & Company

New Life for an Aging Brand

 W.P. Stewart’s investment style had fallen out of fashion.

IPREX 2009

Makovsky's Social Media S.W.A.T. Team goes to work

Focus Financial Partners

Focus Financial Partners, the largest partnership of independent registered investment advisory (RIA) firms, was known as a young holding company hungry to acquire independent RIAs from owners who wanted to sell but continue to practice. Focus called on Makovsky in 2008 because the company wanted to be known as something other than a deal-making machine. The company offered best-in-class practice management, marketing and networking resources to firms, and this message was not getting through.

Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg

Leveraging the Parts to Create a Greater Whole

Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, a 20-year-old mid-sized Chicago-based law firm with a great client roster, was facing intense competition from its larger competitors for both clients and potential partner hires.  The problem?  It had virtually no visibility within its local market, let alone nationwide.  

Makovsky was engaged to burnish the firm’s image and identity, using all the platforms of persuasion, including media, marketing and advertising.  

Arrow Electronics

Creating Opportunities for Industry Leadership

Arrow, a distributor of electronic components, was locked in battle with its main competitor for recognition as the industry leader. Arrow’s management knew the company needed to raise its profile in the media to attract customers and reach investors, so they turned to Makovsky.