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French/West/Vaughan
112 E. Hargett Street,
Raleigh,
NC
27601
919/832-6300
Employees: 147. Founded: 1997.
Agency Statement:
French/West/Vaughan (FWV) is the Southeast's leading public relations, public affairs, advertising and digital media agency, a distinction it has held since 2001. Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., and founded in April 1997, FWV has received 36 Global or National Agency of the Year honors over the past 28 years.
The firm is led by Chairman & CEO Rick French, President David Gwyn and Chief Operating Officer Natalie Best. FWV is the parent company of fashion and lifestyle PR firm AMP3 (New York City); mobility and transportation practice FWV Detroit; pet and animal health practice FWV Fetching and feature film development imprint Prix Productions (L.A.). FWV employs more than 140 public relations, public affairs, social media, advertising and digital marketing experts between its Raleigh, N.C., headquarters and offices around the country.
FWV is also a partner in IPREX, a $508 million+ network of global communication agencies, with 1,100 staff and 62 offices worldwide.
The agency maintained top five rankings in two key practice areas in the latest O'Dwyer's rankings – Entertainment (No. 3) and Sports (No. 5). It jumped from the No. 4 to No. 3 spot in Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle, as well as moved up from No. 7 to No. 5 for Agriculture. FWV also landed in the top five among Adult Beverages & Spirits (No. 5) and Crisis Communications (No. 4), both new categories in O’Dwyer’s specialty rankings this year. The agency moved into the top 10 rankings in four sectors – Environmental, Sustainability & Greentech (No. 10, up from No. 14), Home Furnishings (No. 10, up from No. 15), Public Affairs (No. 9, up from No. 16) and Real Estate Finance and Development (No. 10, up from No. 11). It also moved up in top 10 rankings in two practice areas – Automotive/Transportation (No. 8, up from No. 9) and Energy (No. 7, up from No. 9). Finally, FWV maintained its top 10 ranking in Travel, Hospitality & Economic Development (No. 10).ture (No. 7) and Travel, Hospitality & Economic Development (No. 10).
In addition to its National Agency of the Year honors, FWV has amassed more than 1,700 PR, advertising and digital marketing awards on behalf of its global roster of blue-chip clients. It is also the most-decorated agency in the history of the Southeastern U.S. FWV is one of the nation's go-to agencies for issues management and crisis counseling work, having defended the reputation of dozens of high-profile individuals, institutions, companies and associations.
Rick French, Chairman & CEO; David Gwyn, President; Natalie Best, COO
Clients Include:

ABB
Caesars Virginia
Canidae Pet Food Company
Cary, NC
Case Knives
Children’s Flight of Hope
City of Durham (NC)
Community Coffee
Concord Hospitality Enterprises
Downtown Raleigh Alliance
Durham Housing Authority
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Eaton
Epsilon Advanced Materials
Ethos Discovery
Feetures
First Nation Group
Freedom Solar Power
Healthy Pet
Hercules Tire and Rubber
HH Brown
I-CAT
Kontoor Brands (Wrangler)
LG Energy Solution
Lumos
Melitta
Mitsubishi
Natural Balance Pet Foods
NC Dept. of Transportation
Octapharma Plasma
Ontex
Proximo (Pendleton Whisky)
PureTalk
Q30 Innovations
Raleigh Economic Development
Ride for Mental Health
Santana Leather Care
Steakhouse Elite
Teen Cancer America
Trammel Crow Company
Tru Western Fragrance
Underrated Golf
Velera
Veterans Guardian
Visit Greenville, NC
Wilmington and Beaches CVB
French/West/Vaughan in the news with O'Dwyer's:
• | Accounts in Transit: French/West/Vaughan Lands ZippoTue., Apr. 15, 2025...
French/West/Vaughan is selected to lead PR efforts for Zippo Manufacturing Company, maker of the Zippo windproof lighter. FWV has overseen public relations for Zippo-owned W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company (“Case Knives”) since 2021. ... |
• | On the Move: French|West|Vaughan Hires Hulu's NewberryWed., Jan. 15, 2025...media strategies that drive engagement and leading influencer partnerships for top tier brands,” said FWV VP of social media, influencer and experiential marketing Megan Calderone.
(L-R) Grace Torrance, Deanna Meservey
Matter... |
• | Accounts in Transit: French/West/Vaughan Lands FITCRUNCHWed., Sep. 4, 2024...record for FITCRUNCH, a protein snack brand created by chef, restaurateur and television personality Robert Irvine. FWV will manage and execute comprehensive media relations, influencer marketing and consumer activation services designed... |
• | On the Move: French/West/Vaughan Rehires SwansonTue., May 28, 2024...was most recently VP of key accounts at TriMark Digital. She previously served at FWV as an SVP from 2018-2021 and a group account director from 2012-2015, in addition... |
• | Ads Are Best Way to Reach Pet OwnersWed., Aug. 9, 2023...out about new pet-related products and brands, according to a new survey commissioned by FWV Fetching.
The survey, which was conducted by The Harris Poll from June 28-30, asked 1,493... |
• | Andrew Jackson's Hermitage Picks F|W|VTue., May 16, 2023...Hermitage is a living, thriving touchstone of history, and we are excited to have FWV on board to raise public awareness about all we have to offer,” said Andrew... |
• | Accounts in Transit: French/West/Vaughan Picks Up AirWayzThu., May 11, 2023...that connects subscribers with professional athletes, offering exclusive access to instructive and motivational content. FWV ’s work has already produced coverage in Forbes following the platform’s official launch in April. AirWayz contributors... |
• | News of Firms: Aria Marketing Partners with Escalate PRTue., Mar. 14, 2023...administrative, operational, and financial management centralized, OrthoPatients can focus on its core services for growth."
FWV Fetching, the division of French/West/Vaughan dedicated to pet and animal health PR/marketing, celebrates its 20th anniversary this... |
• | Accounts in Transit: Nickerson Picks Up WiredScoreWed., Feb. 8, 2023...and dance team showcase in the world, which took place in Atlanta on Feb. 4. FWV ’s services included strategic PR planning, message development and targeted media relations. The agency also... |
• | FWV Acquires The Millerschin GroupTue., Jan. 3, 2023...counts Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America, LG Energy Solution, Eaton, and SMAC Corp. among its clients.
FWV chief Rick French, a Detroit-area native, said he’s “been looking for an opportunity to... |
• | PR Firms Report Robust 29.7% Growth in '21Fri., Mar. 25, 2022...to elevate their message and on-air appearance for the nation's top-tier broadcast outlets," said Sparrer.
FWV Rises Above Social Unrest
Rick French
French|West|Vaughan achieved 10.8 percent growth in 2021 to $36.7M as... |
• | On the Move: Libra Group Names Emily Teitelbaum CCOMon., Feb. 7, 2022...to chief financial officer.
Cait Brauner
French/West/Vaughan hires Cait Brauner as associate vice president. Brauner comes to FWV from Sovereign Brands Fine Wines & Spirits, where she was communications director, working closely... |
• | Accounts in Transit: FWV Launches Devil's AdvocateWed., Jun. 2, 2021...effort between pop star Iggy Azalea and private-equity backed beauty and cosmetic company Merveilleux Beauty. FWV chief executive Rick French will serve as a special advisor to the company. His... |
• | On the Move: Gunpowder Adds KantnerMon., Mar. 1, 2021...Beitz
French/West/Vaughan promotes Molly Beitz to art director and Deegan Mundy to senior producer. Beitz joined FWV in 2014, and was previously associate art director. She has worked with clients in... |
• | On the Move: Edelman Adds Ryan to Crisis TeamThu., Feb. 11, 2021...paid media director; and Danny Nowell to content strategy director. Quesinberry has been with FWV since 2015, previously serving as director of social media and influencer marketing. Lavric joined... |
• | On the Move: French|West|Vaughan Ups SwansonTue., Jan. 19, 2021...
Rachel Swanson
French/West/Vaughan promotes Rachel Swanson to senior VP. Swanson, who first joined FWV in 2012, most recently served as VP. She oversees an clients in sectors ranging... |
• | Accounts in Transit: FischTank Lands SunHydrogenThu., Dec. 3, 2020...a focus on increasing awareness of the brand, its history, products and retail locations, FWV will work to further solidify Moravian Bake Shop owners the Wilkerson family as the... |
• | News of Firms: PAN Communications Revamps WebsiteThu., Jun. 25, 2020...spring 2020 graduates facing an unusually challenging job market. The six individuals that make FWV ’s inaugural apprentice class have each been assigned a mentor who will teach them the... |
• | 'Lockdown' to Drive Outdoor Activity BrandsFri., May 15, 2020...method of introducing and marketing products, the importance of virtual platforms will grow.
CGPR and FWV are working to capitalize on the turn toward the outdoors, with “Reach Out,” a... |
• | News of Firms: French|West|Vaughan Acquires CGPRThu., Feb. 6, 2020...1993, will continue to lead the agency, which will be known as CGPR, an FWV Agency. Former energy, conservation and urban recreation lobbyist, Goddard has also worked at Carl... |
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