Agency
Closer. To build trust
200+ EMPLOYEES
Sticking to standard approaches isnât enough these days. The world is too complex, and media and society are changing too quickly for that. Thanks to data-based strategies and co-creation between our experts and your team, we get you and your messages closer to your target groups.
Our Team
NETWORK AND PARTNERSHIPS
Communicate with your stakeholders all over the world. Through our networks and partnerships, we have a local presence in over 100 markets on six continents.
History
Since 1951, our organisation has been shaping and reflecting the way communication is changing thanks to new disciplines, new locations, new knowledge and new skills.
1951
Rudolf Farner establishes the first PR agency with a modern structure in Switzerland
1951
The first clients are Confiserie SprĂŒngli and the Coca-Cola Corporation
1958
Gustav DĂ€niker becomes the agencyâs first partner and takes charge of its operational management
1963
Farner conducts the first groundwater campaign and makes environmental protection a media issue
1964
Rudolf Farner becomes World President of the International Advertising Association
1964
The agency produces a film for Expo64 called âWehrhafte Schweizâ (English title: âFortress of Peaceâ), which is nominated for an Oscar (in the Best Live Action Short Film category)
1965
Farner promotes Barbie â with fashion shows
1972
The PR agency cuts its legal ties with Farner Advertising and becomes a separate entity
1977
Farner launches the Mitsubishi auto brand â with a race in Sockental and a Japanese buffet with sake
1978
The âUf dâSocke macheâ health campaign gets half of Switzerland moving â our annual company day out has been called âSockenmarschâ ever since
1980
Dominique Brunner and Heinz Gut assume operational management of the agency; DĂ€niker takes up a position in the Swiss military
1981
Farner wins the referendum campaign for the Zurich S-Bahn on behalf of SBB (Swiss Federal Railways)
1982
Farner helps to rebuild the McDonaldâs Stauffacher restaurant in Zurich following an arson attack and continues to work with the company on the opening of a further 36 restaurants
1984
A Social Democratic Party (SPS) initiative on Swiss banking is defeated by 73% of the voting public â thanks in part to six years of work by Farner
1987
The first Farner office in Geneva opens
1988
Farner designs the Swiss pavilion at Expo88 in Brisbane â complete with a chairlift and ski slope
1989
Farner wins the Berlin-Brandenburg airport project, coming out on top of 55 international agencies
1990
The first agency in Bern is founded, led by Walter Spahni and Andreas Kurz
1992
Farner is the first major agency to exhibit at the Internet-Expo in Zurich
1993
Farner launches a campaign for the Swiss Aids Federation and organises a demonstration for a political mandate that is attended by 35,000 people, the largest since the 1930s
1993
Christian König returns to Farner and joins the management alongside Dominique Brunner and Heinz Gut
1997
The first ExRelations event for former employees is held
1999
Christian König takes over operational management of Farner in a management buy-out
1999
Other partners are Dominique Brunner, Jacqueline Moeri, Walter Spahni and Andreas Kurz
1999
The agency becomes a member of the Vereinigung fĂŒr ökologisch bewusste UnternehmensfĂŒhrung Schweiz (Swiss Association for Ecologically Aware Corporate Management)
1999
The theme of the fourth âFarner Forum Investor Relationsâ is investor relations on the internet
2000
Jacqueline Moeri becomes President of the SPRG, and Farner launches the first hybrid car, the Toyota Prius, on the market
2001
Farner comes in first in the BPRA Ranking again and continues to consolidate its position from this point onwards
2002
Farner wins the IPRA Golden Word Award for Public Relations for the âDiabetes Breakfastâ preventive campaign
2002
Farner marks its company anniversary by hosting a free workshop for volunteer organisations
2003
Farner sets up a separate Creation and Advertising unit under Philipp Weltiâs management as well as professional development and fitness programmes for employees
2004
The agency changes its name to Farner Consulting AG and becomes the exclusive partner of global Omnicom agency network Porter Novelli
2004
Daniel Heller and Urs Knapp become company partners
2005
Christian König represents the BPRA in the umbrella organisation ICCO, and the agency obtains CMS certification
2006
Farner becomes the exclusive partner of Regester Larkin, the global market leader for crisis communications
2006
Christian König is the first Swiss and second German-speaking European to be accepted into the ICCO Hall of Fame
2008
The first Farner office in Basel opens, managed by Baschi DĂŒrr, a future member of the Basel Executive Council
2009
The agency creates a new service package combining event management and sponsoring
2012
Roman Geiser takes over operational management and acquires the majority of shares, making him the fourth majority shareholder in over 60 years of agency history
2012
Farner is the first Swiss agency ever to win the Holmes Report award for âDACH Consultancies of the Yearâ
2012
The agency becomes a partner of the global Omnicom agency network FleishmanHillard
2012
Frédéric Jacquemoud becomes a partner
2013
Daniel Jörg establishes the first Farner Digital Marketing and Research & Analytics unit
2014
Philipp Skrabal takes over management of the Advertising & Events unit as chief creative officer
2014
Michel Grunder, head of the Bern agency, becomes a partner
2015
Farner is named the winner of âDACH Consultancies of the Yearâ once more
2015
The agency acquires Enzaim, which specialises in change management and communications
2015
Daniel Jörg and Frédéric Jacquemoud become company partners
2016
Farner enters into a partnership with the Reputation Institute and acquires YJOO Communications, a branding agency based in Eastern Switzerland
2017
Nina Krucker sets up the Brand Communications unit; the company owns its first agency in Eastern Switzerland, YJOO by Farner
2017
Nina Krucker, Philipp Skrabal and Martin Zahner become company partners
2017
In April, a special 40-page supplement on Farner appears in âpersönlichâ, the sectorâs leading magazine
2017
The agency joins the LEADING SWISS AGENCIES association
2018
Farner is awarded âDACH Consultancy of the Yearâ (The Holmes Report) for the third time
2018
Michel Grunder takes over the Public Affairs department as Daniel Hellerâs successor
2018
Tim Frey becomes a company partner and heads the offices in Berne, Geneva and Lausanne
2018
The agency opens the Farner Lab, an innovation lab in Zurich
2019
Farner takes over a majority share of DU DA and launches Data & Commtech offer
2019
Markus Gut becomes a partner at Farner and builds up the new business area for branding
2019
Farner acquires Rod Kommunikation; Regula BĂŒhrer Fecker, Pablo Koerfer and David SchĂ€rer become partners
2020
Farner enters into an exclusive affiliate relationship with Edelman, the largest global communications firm
2021
Farner is awarded 'DACH Consultancies of the Year' by PRovoke Media for the fourth time after 2012, 2015 and 2018.