The Lobbyist in the Gray Flannel Suit - Mega Corp., London base taking over and

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consolidating US lobbying firms.

See >>> http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/the-lobbyist-in-the-gray-flannel-suit/

As the American political classes become more polarized, with faction pitted against faction, there is a consolidating force at work in the $6 billion-a-year influence-peddling industry.

Once a free-wheeling, if ethically challenged, crowd of men (and almost no women), who swapped stories about their clients over Jack Daniels, these expert manipulators of the legislative process and of public opinion have become corporate employees. Slowly but surely, WPP, an immense international holding company based in London — with a workforce of 158,000 in 107 countries and 2011 billings of $72.3 billion — has been buying up Washington’s top lobbying, public relations, advertising and political strategy firms.

Companies once viewed by those in politics as independent powerhouses — QGA (formerly Quinn Gillespie), Glover Park, Hill+Knowlton, Burson-Marsteller, Public Strategies, Prime Policy Group, Dewey Square, Ogilvy Government Relations, Wexler & Walker – are now minor players in a marketing-communications conglomerate.

In the process, Washington political media strategy shops have come to play second fiddle to the biggest money makers for WPP — Madison Avenue advertising firms like Y & R.

See >>> http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/the-lobbyist-in-the-gray-flannel-suit/