A public relations pioneer who built one of the world’s top public relations companies and is credited with developing many of the methods now standard in the field such as the use of celebrity endorsements has died.
The company Daniel Edelman started more than 60 years ago with two people now employs more than 4,000 in 66 offices worldwide.
His son, Richard Edelman, said he died of heart failure yesterday at a Chicago hospital. He was 92.
Daniel Edelman was a Columbia University graduate. He worked as a newspaper reporter and editor before he went into public relations. He first honed his public relations skills during World War II, while analysing German propaganda.
The Edelman firm’s clients include Microsoft, Pfizer, Wal-Mart and Royal Dutch Shell.