The PR Week, 6.5.2025: Shankar Narayanan, Real Chemistry

Maybe the biggest news to come out of PRWeek’s Agency Business Report 2025 was that Real Chemistry supplanted Edelman as the No. 1 PR firm in the U.S. by revenue for 2024.

Real Chemistry CEO Shankar Narayanan talks about that honor, and what the disposal of specialist shop Swoop will mean for his firm, on the latest edition of The PR Week podcast. He also previews Real Chemistry’s presence at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, talks about how nearly all of his firm’s work is rooted in communications and discusses what happens when large organizations combine — spoiler: they don’t become more creative.

Plus, the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, from the opening honorees on

PRWeek’s Pride in PR list to McDonald’s chief impact officer Michael Gonda’s new job at Nike.

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