Vianovo

Last updated
Vianovo
TypePrivate
IndustryManagement consulting
Communications
Advocacy
Public relations
Founded2005
Headquarters
United States
Mexico
Number of locations
4 (2014)
Services Strategic planning
Crisis communications
Issue campaigns
Coalition building
Grassroots mobilization
Opinion research
Market entry
Website www.vianovo.com

Vianovo is a United States and Mexico-based management and communication consultancy. The firm serves as a strategic advisor to corporations, startups and non-profit organizations on brand, policy and crisis issues. The bipartisan firm was founded in 2005 by political strategists Blaine Bull, Matthew Dowd, Tucker Eskew and James Taylor. Many of the firm's partners were previously senior staff members on presidential campaigns, at the White House, and on Capitol Hill.

Contents

Company overview

Vianovo is a management, advocacy and communication consultancy with offices in Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Washington, D.C. and Mexico City. [1] [2] The firm's services include opinion research, strategic planning, public campaigns, issue advocacy, public relations, coalition building, crisis management and cross-border expansion. [1] [3] [4] Vianovo serves as an advisor to corporations, startups and non-profit organizations. [5] [6]

Notable clients have included AT&T, [7] the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, [8] the NBA, [4] Malaria No More, [9] Valeant Pharmaceuticals, [10] and Bears for Leadership Reform. [11] The firm also has an investment group, Vianovo Ventures, which partners with and supports startups. [6]

Vianovo is led by eight partners: Blaine Bull, Tucker Eskew, Matthew Miller, [12] Billy Moore, [1] Katherine Nash Goehring, [13] Robert Norcross, [1] Michael Shannon [1] and James Taylor. [14] Other key Vianovo staff members include vice presidents Julie Hillrichs, [15] Elizabeth Lippincott, [16] Cesar Martinez, [17] Lori McClure and senior advisor M.C. Andrews. [18]

Company history

Vianovo was established as a bipartisan firm in May 2005 by political strategists Bull, Dowd, Eskew and Taylor. [19] The firm merged the founders' four agencies: Eskew Strategy Group, Dowd Strategic Consulting, StratCom Group, and CIMA Strategies. [19] The name Vianovo is derived from the Latin root meaning “new way.” [20]

Previous to their work at Vianovo, Dowd and Eskew held senior positions on the presidential campaigns of former president George W. Bush, [19] [21] and Eskew served as head of media affairs in the White House. [22] Bull, Dowd, Moore and Taylor worked for Senator Lloyd Bentsen in Congress. [14]

In 2005, the company employed a new proprietary process called AIMD, which stands for Audience, Insight, Message and Delivery. [5] Vianovo uses the process to plan and implement targeted communication. [23] In 2006, partners William "Billy" Moore, Michael Shannon and Robert Norcross joined Vianovo. [1] Moore was a veteran of over 50 political campaigns. [24] Shannon came to Vianovo from the Boston Consulting Group and had previously been a strategist on the 2004 George W. Bush presidential campaign. [1] That same year, Norcross opened a new Vianovo office in Dallas-Fort Worth. [2] Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Antonio "Tony" Garza joined Vianovo as a partner in June 2009. [25] As of 2013, Garza is chairman of Vianovo Ventures, Vianovo’s investment arm, which partners with and funds startups. [25] [26]

Matthew Miller joined Vianovo as a partner in 2011 after leaving his role at the United States Department of Justice, where he served as Attorney General Eric Holder's spokesperson. [27] In March 2014, the firm formed Mexico Energy Strategic Advisory (MESA), an advisory board that offers U.S. companies and investors information, strategic advice and policy analysis on the Mexico energy market. [2]

Founding partner Matthew Dowd left Vianovo in 2015 to launch Paradox Capital, a social impact venture fund. [28] Katherine Nash Goehring became a partner in 2015. [13] Prior to that, Goehring led communications and investor relations for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. [29]

Notable projects

Vianovo was hired by the National Basketball Association to help the league find a new demographic of fans in 2005. [4] The firm conducted focus groups and consulted with NBA Commissioner David Stern. Stern implemented a controversial dress code for players later that year, banning baggy jeans, gold chains and large white T-shirts while players represented the league in an official capacity. [4]

In December 2006, Vianovo handled media relations and communications for the White House-backed non-profit organization Malaria No More. [9] That same year, the firm developed a marketing campaign using a political model for AT&T’s launch of U-verse, the company's bundle of fiber-optic services. [30] AT&T and Vianovo held promotional neighborhood block parties, a tactic used by partner Dowd during the 2004 Bush campaign. [30]

In 2008, Vianovo partnered with Convio for a National Press Club panel discussion called “Converging Campaigns: How the Internet is changing philanthropy, advocacy and politics”. [31] The talk featured strategists and executives from Facebook, Rock the Vote, the American Cancer Society, and the Cancer Action Network. [31] In 2009, the firm partnered with Hart Research Associates to conduct a survey among registered U.S. voters to determine public opinion in America on immunizations for children in developing countries. The project was commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. [8]

In 2012, the firm invested in the series A round of an online fundraising platform, Rally.org, alongside Bully Pulpit Initiative, Greylock Partners, Charity: Water, and Google Ventures. Together, the investors raised $7.9 million. [32] In September 2013, Vianovo funded and completed a survey of 1,000 Mexican citizens on Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto’s energy reform agenda to assess the Mexican political landscape and gauge public opinion. [33]

In both 2012 and 2016, the firm and advertising agency GSD&M conducted a national poll of U.S. adults measuring American perceptions of Mexico. [34] [35] [36]

In 2015, Valeant Pharmaceuticals hired Vianovo for crisis management support related to public scrutiny and congressional investigations of the company’s drug pricing. [10] In 2016, the firm began representing Bears for Leadership Reform, a group of Baylor University alumni advocating for transparency and changes to the university’s governance in response to its sexual assault scandal. [11] [37]

Related Research Articles

George E. Norcross III is an American businessman, Democratic Party organizer, and power broker in southern New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Garza</span> American lawyer (born 1959)

Antonio Oscar "Tony" Garza Jr. is an American lawyer and diplomat who was the United States Ambassador to Mexico from 2002 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. In recognition of his work, Mexico bestowed on him the Águila Azteca, the highest award granted to foreigners, in 2009. Prior to his appointment as ambassador, Garza had served as Secretary of State of Texas from January 1995 to November 1997 and was also chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission.

Sara Taylor Fagen is a technology and data entrepreneur, and former staff member in the administration of President George W. Bush.

Bausch Health Companies Inc. is a Canadian multinational specialty pharmaceutical company based in Laval, Quebec, Canada. It develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and branded generic drugs, primarily for skin diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, eye health and neurology. Bausch Health owns Bausch & Lomb, a supplier of eye health products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grupo Garza Ponce</span> Mexican construction company

Grupo Garza Ponce is a Mexican construction company based in Monterrey, Nuevo León. It was founded in 1966 by civil engineer José María Garza Ponce after he decided to take advantage of the boom in public works that Mexico was experiencing during that time. In the early 1980s, the company nearly went out of business due to the country's debt crisis; during that decade, they built the first private industrial park in Nuevo León, and later tapped into different markets by partnering with transnational companies in multimillion-dollar construction projects. They are currently one of the largest construction firms in Mexico and one of the leading ones in the northern part of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TechCrunch</span> American technology news website

TechCrunch is an American global online newspaper focusing on high tech and startup companies. It was founded in June 2005 by Archimedes Ventures, led by partners Michael Arrington and Keith Teare.

Thomas A. "Tad" Devine is an American political consultant. Devine was a senior adviser in Al Gore's 2000 and John Kerry's 2004 Presidential campaigns. He was also the chief strategist for Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign. He has worked on campaigns for president and Prime Minister in Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as several U.S. Senate races. Devine is the president of Washington, D.C.-based media consulting firm Devine Mulvey Longabaugh.

Douglas Brian Sosnik is an American political strategist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Dowd</span> American political pundit and consultant

Matthew John Dowd is an American political pundit and consultant. He was the chief strategist for the Bush–Cheney 2004 presidential campaign and was an ABC News political analyst. On September 29, 2021, he announced a run for lieutenant governor of Texas as a Democrat against the incumbent, Dan Patrick. On December 7, 2021, Dowd announced the end of his campaign.

Spencer Elliot Livermore, Baron Livermore is British politician and strategist serving as a Member of the House of Lords since 2015. A member of the Labour Party, he was chief strategist to Gordon Brown during his tenure as Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tucker Eskew</span> American businessman

Tucker Eskew is a political and communications strategist in the United States who served as Deputy Assistant to the President for Media Affairs and Global Communications under President George W. Bush. He joined Senator John McCain's presidential campaign in August 2008 as senior advisor and counselor to Sarah Palin. He was the founder of Eskew Strategy Group, an Alexandria-based communications firm. In 2005, he merged the Eskew Group into a new bipartisan communications firm called Vianovo.

<i>Game Change</i> (film) 2012 television film directed by Jay Roach

Game Change is a 2012 American political drama television film based on events of the 2008 United States presidential election campaign of John McCain, directed by Jay Roach and written by Danny Strong, based on the 2010 book of the same name documenting the campaign by political journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann. The film stars Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson, and Ed Harris, and focuses on the chapters about the selection and performance of Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin (Moore) as running mate to Senator John McCain (Harris) in the presidential campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pershing Square Capital Management</span> American hedge fund

Pershing Square Capital Management is an American hedge fund management company founded and run by Bill Ackman, headquartered in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Glover Park Group</span>

The Glover Park Group was an American communications consulting firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. The company was founded in 2001 by former White House and Democratic campaign officials Carter Eskew, Michael Feldman, Joe Lockhart and Chip Smith. In January 2021, the firm merged with Finsbury and Hering Schuppener to form Finsbury Glover Hering, which itself later merged in December 2021 with New York City-based Sard Verbinnen & Co to form FGS Global.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple Strategies</span> American communications firm

Purple Strategies is an American communications firm headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia and founded in 2008. The name Purple Strategies reflects the company's bipartisan blend of strategists from both "blue" and "red" political backgrounds. Purple Strategies also operates a subsidiary, a reputation management firm Citizen2.

Mark Squier is an American strategic advisor and media consultant who has worked for Democratic candidates including Howard Dean, Ann Richards, and Robert Weygand. He is a founding partner of the media consulting firm McMahon Squier and Associates and is also a founding partner of Purple Strategies, a bipartisan communications firm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chip Smith</span>

Chip Smith is an American businessman, corporate adviser and political strategist. He was the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at 21st Century Fox until its acquisition by The Walt Disney Company in 2019. A long-time political adviser, Smith served as chief of staff and deputy campaign manager for Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign and then in 2001 co-founded The Glover Park Group where he was the CEO until 2016. He became the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for 21st Century Fox in July 2016. He has been featured as an expert by publications, television networks, and broadcast programs including Anderson Cooper 360°, Fox News, and MSNBC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Holmes</span> American criminal and businesswoman (born 1984)

Elizabeth Anne Holmes is an American former biotechnology entrepreneur who was convicted of fraud in connection to her blood-testing company, Theranos. The company's valuation soared after it claimed to have revolutionized blood testing by developing methods that needed only very small volumes of blood, such as from a fingerprick. In 2015, Forbes had named Holmes the youngest and wealthiest self-made female billionaire in the United States on the basis of a $9-billion valuation of her company. In the following year, as revelations of potential fraud about Theranos's claims began to surface, Forbes revised its estimate of Holmes's net worth to zero, and Fortune named her in its feature article on "The World's 19 Most Disappointing Leaders".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FGS Global</span> Public relations company based in London and New York

FGS Global is a public relations company formed in 2021 by the merger of Finsbury Glover Hering and Sard Verbinnen & Co. It is a subsidiary of British advertising and media conglomerate WPP plc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Dubke</span> American entrepreneur & political aide (born 1970)

Michael D. Dubke is an American entrepreneur and political aide who was the White House Communications Director for U.S. President Donald Trump until his resignation effective June 2, 2017.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Paul Holmes (20 January 2006). "Vianovo Adds Three Senior Counselors". The Holmes Report. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Nicholas Sakelaris (20 March 2014). "Want to drill in Mexico? Consultants launch new practice to get you ready". Dallas Business Journal. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  3. ↑ E. Eduardo Castillo (22 November 2012). "Mexican president tries to change country's name". USA Today. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Scott Shoshnick (31 May 2005). "Matthew Dowd, Who Helped Bush Win, Hired to Find New NBA Fans". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  5. 1 2 Paul Holmes (1 June 2005). "Political Veterans Join Forces to Create Consulting Firm". The Holmes Report. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Antonio O. Garza to Join White & Case" (Press release). White & Case LLC. 23 June 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  7. ↑ Robin Andersen (September 2013). "Aaron Sorkin's Newsroom; a deeply flawed yet riveting lament for the news". Extra!. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Childhood Immunizations: Successes Evident; Equity Gaps Clear". Global Health Council Blog. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Malaria No More unites private, public sectors" (Press release). Press Week. 18 December 2006. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  10. 1 2 Jason Tannahill (15 December 2015). "In Response to Mounting Scrutiny, Valeant, Hires Crisis Management Firm Vianovo". EverythingPR. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  11. 1 2 John Carroll (2 December 2016). "BU reform group to meet with Baylor regents for first time". KWTX-TV . Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  12. ↑ "The Note: Fiddle Sixes". ABCNews. 6 January 2006. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  13. 1 2 Hazley, Greg (11 March 2015). "Ex-MSLO PR Exec Goehring Named Partner at Vianovo". O'Dwyer's . Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  14. 1 2 Alex Guillen (20 March 2014). "Podesta pushes back on greens over grass". Politico. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  15. ↑ "Julie Hillrichs". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  16. ↑ The Alcalde. TX: Texas Exes. 2009. p. 80. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  17. ↑ Vicki Vaughan (6 April 2014). "Texas to benefit as Pemex ends its mythology". El Paso Inc. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "Mary Catherine Andrews". Harvard IOP. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  19. 1 2 3 Judy Sarasohn (26 May 2005). "Aid in Schiavo Case Lands a Lobbying Gig". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  20. ↑ John McCaslin (30 May 2005). "Not Again". The Washington Times. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  21. ↑ "Matthew Dowd". ABCNews. 4 January 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  22. ↑ "Tucker Eskew: American Spin Doctor in London". The Independent . 19 Mar 2002. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  23. ↑ Paul Holmes (2 November 2006). "Public affairs and Strategic Communications Consultancy". The Holmes Report. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  24. ↑ "William K Moore". txdot.gov. Texas Department of Transportation . Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  25. 1 2 Peggy Fikac (23 June 2009). "Tony Garza, consultant". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  26. ↑ Rodney Gibbs (6 May 2013). "TribLive: A Conversation with Tony Garza". The Texas Tribune . Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  27. ↑ Andrew Ramonas (14 June 2011). "Matthew Miller, top DOJ spokesman leaving". Main Justice. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  28. ↑ Allen, Mike (30 January 2015). "Playbook: Plouffe Steers Kinder, Gentler Uber". Politico . Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  29. ↑ Mitchell, Elizabeth (13 March 2015). "Roll Call: Hill+Knowlton, MWW, WPP, and More". AdWeek . Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  30. 1 2 Marc Lifsher (18 July 2006). "Gov.'s Aide Serves Firm With Stake in State Bill". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  31. 1 2 "Convio and Vianovo Hosting National Press Club Panel". Wireless News. 15 May 2008. Archived from the original on 12 December 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  32. ↑ "Raising Funds for Causes that Matter: Rally.org Raises $7.9 Million to Rally the World" (Press release). Rally.org. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  33. ↑ Shannon K. O'Neil (24 September 2013). "Public Perceptions of Mexico's Reform Agenda". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  34. ↑ "Few Americans have favorable image of MX". Mexico News Daily. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  35. ↑ Carin Zissis (9 August 2016). "The Trump Effect: Why Mexico's Image Problem Spells Trouble for the U.S." World Politics Review. Retrieved 19 June 2017. A Vianovo/GSD&M survey from June 2016 found that 28 percent of respondents think that ties have worsened over the past four years, compared to only 8 percent who think they've improved.
  36. ↑ Alfredo Corchado (23 November 2012). "Poll finds that Mexico's image is suffering in the U.S." The Dallas Morning News . Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  37. ↑ Kalyn Story (9 November 2016). "New task force created to address Board of Regents operations". The Baylor Lariat . Retrieved 19 June 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.