CRO (Corporate Responsibility Officer) magazine, the voice of the corporate responsibility profession, has named MS&L its public relations partner for 2009. CRO and MS&L will work together to advance the corporate responsibility, governance and sustainability efforts of national businesses and nonprofits.  

The year-long partnership includes PR support for CRO Magazine’s annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens list, CRO Summits, TheCRO.com and the professional development activities of the CRO Association.

MS&L, one of the world’s leading communications firms and ranked by CRO as the top public relations firm in corporate responsibility in 2008, will raise awareness of the growing importance of corporate citizenship, sustainability and cause marketing efforts.

MS&L works across industry sectors to develop corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs and platforms that give clients a voice, increase transparency and demonstrate the business value of corporate responsibility initiatives. The agency’s capabilities include CSR reporting, stakeholder engagement, community relations, thought leadership, issues management, media relations, cause-related marketing, energy and environmental communications.

Drawing on the firm’s energy and environmental capabilities, MS&L also has a strong global ECO Network that helps clients break through the clutter of environmental stories with pragmatic counsel and program execution. The group’s mission is to help clients succeed in the midst of an enormous cultural shift in attitudes about energy and the environment by bringing clients’ values to life and building trust with critical audiences. 

MS&L also recently announced the launch of Social Activism Marketing (SAM), which combines the power of corporate social responsibility and cause marketing with digital tools to spawn social movements that move messages, product and profit on behalf of companies and brands. The firm’s proprietary Social Activism Marketing Optimization process includes four stages of social movement that corporations can utilize to develop unique cause programs.

About CRO

CRO Magazine, TheCRO.com, the CRO Summits and CRO Association have evolved into the leading voices of the Corporate Responsibility professions, following the 2006 acquisition of Business Ethics Magazine, which originated CRO’s 100 Best Corporate Citizens List®.  CRO’s mission is to enhance the standing and practice levels of the Corporate Responsibility professions—including governance, risk, compliance, sustainability, EH&S, CSR, philanthropy and HR.  More information on the 100 Best Corporate Citizens List®, CRO and the CRO Association can be found at www.TheCRO.com.

About MS&L

MS&L is a leading global communications firm and part of MS&L Worldwide, a network of communications brands and consultancies with 54 offices in North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia, as well as an extensive affiliate network. The agency specializes in using research, insights and technology to create and execute powerful communications strategies that are critical to client success. With a unique combination of advice, advocacy and action, MS&L delivers measurable business results for many of the world's largest companies and most successful brands.

MS&L Worldwide is a member of the Publicis Groupe (Euronext Paris: FR0000130577), the world’s fourth largest communications group, and a global leader in digital and online advertising, media consulting, and healthcare communications. With some 45,000 professionals in 104 countries, the Groupe's activities cover advertising through three global advertising networks:  Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, as well as through its two multi-hub networks Fallon Worldwide and 49%-owned Bartle Bogle Hegarty; media agencies with two worldwide networks ZenithOptimedia and Starcom MediaVest Group; and marketing services, including digital and interactive communications through Digitas, relationship and direct marketing, public and media relations, corporate and financial communications, multicultural communications, and event communications. The Groupe is also the world leader in healthcare communications. Web site: www.publicisgroupe.com.