You’ve been tasked with finding the right PR agency. Your shortlist has two names on it, MSL vs Hanover Communications.
Both are respected and MSL vs Hanover Communications serve serious clients. But they are built for very different briefs.
That’s the decision you’re facing, and it’s not a small one.
Choose the wrong agency, and you’ll spend months trying to make a relationship work that was never the right fit to begin with.
Choose the right one, and you gain a communications partner who genuinely understands your sector, your audiences, and what it takes to move the needle.
So let’s break down the MSL vs Hanover Communications comparison in plain language. No jargon or filler.
Just what you actually need to know.
MSL: The Publicis-Backed Healthcare and Consumer Influence Powerhouse
MSL, formerly Manning Selvage & Lee, is one of the flagship PR agencies within Publicis Groupe, one of the world’s largest communications holding companies.
With over 2,000 professionals across more than 100 offices in 40 countries, MSL has built one of the most recognizable reputations in healthcare and consumer communications.
According to MM+M’s Agency 100 report, MSL’s healthcare revenue in North America grew 11% from 2022 to 2023, reaching an estimated $19.3 million.
That growth continued in 2024, climbing a further 9% to an estimated $21 million. Those aren’t vanity figures.
They reflect a consistent demand from clients like Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Invisalign, and GSK who keep growing their accounts with the agency.
Additionally, PRovoke Media named MSL one of its 2025 Global Agencies of the Year, a distinction MSL has earned repeatedly, alongside being named Best Midsized Agency to Work For for four consecutive years.
What Makes MSL Different
MSL describes itself as an “influence engine for brands, companies and leaders.” That’s more than marketing language.
The agency has built a proprietary approach called Fluency for influencer marketing, a CultureIQ tool for algorithmic trend tracking, and Message ShAIping, an AI-powered tool for narrative testing.
Furthermore, MSL’s healthcare practice is anchored by a team dedicated to executive thought leadership, patient advocacy, and regulatory communications.
The 2024 focus, according to U.S. CEO Diana Littman, was on using earned media as an upstream driver of business decisions, not just communications outputs.
Key MSL facts at a glance:
- Parent company: Publicis Groupe
- Staff: 2,000+ globally
- Primary strengths: Healthcare PR, consumer communications, influencer marketing
- Notable clients: Pfizer, Eli Lilly, GSK, Procter & Gamble, Toyota, The Home Depot
- 2024 awards: PRovoke Global Agency of the Year 2025, Best Midsized Agency to Work For (4 years running)
Hanover Communications: The UK’s Independent Financial and Policy PR Leader
Hanover Communications takes a different path entirely.
Founded in London in 1998 by Charles Lewington, formerly press secretary to Prime Minister John Major, Hanover built its reputation around one thing; Understanding how power works.
That background shapes everything the agency does, from financial services PR to public affairs and regulatory navigation.
Hanover is now part of AVENIR GLOBAL, a Montreal-based communications group.
However, it operates with full independence and retains its specialist identity. Collectively, AVENIR GLOBAL ranks among the top 15 largest communication firms in the world.
The agency has 163 full-time employees across Europe, serves clients including Goldman Sachs, Airbus, Microsoft, Lilly, Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche, and Takeda.
They posted revenues of £19 million in 2018 with consistent 25% top-line growth in the years leading to its acquisition.
What Makes Hanover Different
Hanover’s strength is at the intersection of financial services, public affairs, and regulatory communications.
Its “Rewire” diagnostic tool helps leaders turn reputational vulnerabilities into strategic opportunities.
It is a valuable asset for financial services firms navigating regulatory change, investor scrutiny, or government policy shifts.
Conversely, Hanover also maintains a growing healthcare practice, specifically focused on NHS policy, pharma access, and patient advocacy within the UK health system.
The appointment of Professor Sir Stephen Powis, former National Medical Director of NHS England, as a senior advisor signals how seriously Hanover takes this vertical.
The agency describes itself as serving “enterprises, institutions, and individuals”, and that breadth reflects a firm that moves comfortably between corporate boardrooms, Westminster, and Brussels.
Key Hanover facts at a glance:
- Parent company: AVENIR GLOBAL (part of top 15 global comms groups)
- Staff: 163+ across Europe
- Primary strengths: Financial services PR, public affairs, regulatory communications
- Notable clients: Goldman Sachs, Airbus, Microsoft, Lilly, Novartis, Roche
- Founded: 1998, London
MSL vs Hanover Communications: A Direct Comparison
Here is where things get genuinely useful. MSL vs Hanover Communications are excellent. But they serve different needs, different geographies, and different decision-makers.
| Factor | MSL | Hanover Communications |
|---|---|---|
| Parent company | Publicis Groupe | AVENIR GLOBAL |
| Primary strength | Healthcare PR, consumer influence | Financial services, public affairs |
| Geography | Global (40 countries) | Europe & Middle East (primarily UK) |
| Healthcare focus | Deep — pharma, biotech, patient advocacy | Growing — NHS, pharma access |
| Financial PR | Limited | Core specialty |
| AI/Tech tools | Yes — CultureIQ, Fluency, Message ShAIping | Yes — Rewire diagnostic |
| Best for | Pharma, consumer health, FMCG brands | Financial services, regulated industries, policy |
| Holding company | Yes (Publicis) | Yes (AVENIR GLOBAL) |
The core difference is clear. MSL is a better fit if your priority is healthcare communications, consumer influence, or integrated global campaigns.
Hanover, conversely, is the stronger choice if you need deep financial services expertise, UK regulatory navigation, or public affairs counsel at a senior level.
Read Also:Guaranteed PR Agencies Compared: Honest Truth About Real Results
MSL vs Hanover Communications: Which Agency Is Right for You?
This depends entirely on what you actually need, not what sounds impressive in a pitch meeting.
Choose MSL if:
- You’re a pharmaceutical or biotech company needing US or global healthcare PR
- Your brand requires consumer marketing and influencer-led campaigns at scale
- You want AI-powered insight tools embedded in your communications strategy
- You need a large global network coordinating multi-market campaigns simultaneously
Choose Hanover Communications if:
- You operate in UK financial services and need regulatory or policy navigation
- Your business is navigating a complex government affairs challenge in the UK or EU
- You’re a pharma or medtech company needing NHS access strategy or advocacy
- You want senior, independent counsel without the bureaucracy of a large holding company
Neither agency is right for you if:
- You’re an early-stage startup with a sub-$5,000 monthly PR budget
- You need hyper-specialised B2B tech PR with deep cybersecurity or SaaS knowledge
- Your communications challenge is primarily US-focused and consumer-retail in nature
What Clients and Industry Observers Say About
MSL vs Hanover Communications
MSL has been named PRovoke’s “Best Midsized Agency to Work For” for four consecutive years, a distinction that speaks to culture as much as client results.
A well-run internal culture, generally speaking, produces more consistent account service for clients. That matters when your account team is managing a complex, rolling healthcare communications programme.
Hanover, meanwhile, earned PRWeek UK’s recognition as an “agency to watch” in 2024, following its integration into the Team Farner / AVENIR network.
The agency’s ability to retain clients, with many relationships exceeding three years, points to a genuine delivery culture, not just a strong new business pitch.
Equally, MSL vs Hanover Communications have invested meaningfully in AI capabilities. MSL uses AI for influencer vetting, trend tracking, and narrative testing.
Hanover’s Rewire tool uses data to map reputational risk across stakeholder groups. This matters for clients who want communications rooted in intelligence, not instinct.
Pricing Expectations
Neither MSL nor Hanover publishes pricing publicly. Based on industry benchmarks for full-service agencies of their calibre:
- MSL retainers for ongoing healthcare or consumer campaigns typically start at $15,000–$25,000+ per month in the US, depending on scope and team size.
- Hanover retainers in the UK financial and public affairs space generally start around £8,000–£20,000+ per month, reflecting the London independent agency market.
MSL vs Hanover Communications represent meaningful investments. Both are designed for organisations, not solo founders or early-stage startups.
Frequently Asked Questions About MSL vs Hanover Communications
What is the difference between MSL and Hanover Communications? MSL is a global healthcare and consumer PR powerhouse backed by Publicis Groupe. Hanover Communications is a UK-based independent financial services and public affairs specialist. Each serves very different client needs.
Is MSL a good healthcare PR agency? Yes. MSL has posted consecutive years of double-digit healthcare revenue growth and serves major pharmaceutical clients including Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and GSK. PRovoke Media named it a 2025 Global Agency of the Year.
Is Hanover Communications good for financial services PR? Yes. Hanover has deep roots in UK financial services, regulatory affairs, and public policy. Its client roster includes Goldman Sachs, and the agency is particularly strong in navigating complex regulatory and government affairs environments.
Which is bigger – MSL or Hanover? MSL is significantly larger, with 2,000+ staff across 100+ offices in 40 countries. Hanover has approximately 163 employees across Europe and the Middle East, operating within the AVENIR GLOBAL network.
Does Hanover Communications do healthcare PR? Yes, but with a primarily UK focus. Hanover’s healthcare practice specialises in NHS policy navigation, pharma market access, and patient advocacy, complemented by its public affairs expertise.
Can MSL handle financial PR? MSL offers financial communications as part of its service suite, but its core strength sits in healthcare and consumer. For dedicated UK financial services PR or public affairs, Hanover is the stronger specialist choice.
MSL vs Hanover Communications
MSL vs Hanover Communications are genuinely excellent, within their respective lanes.
Hanover Communications is the right choice when you need a senior, independent voice to navigate the UK’s financial services landscape, regulatory environment, or government policy challenges.
Its heritage in political communications, combined with financial services expertise, creates a genuinely rare combination.
MSL is the right choice when scale, healthcare depth, and global consumer influence matter most.
It has the data tools, the network, and the proven track record with major pharma and FMCG brands to back up its positioning.
The mistake most organisations make is treating the PR agency selection process as a beauty contest.
Don’t pick the agency with the best slide deck. Pick the agency whose sector knowledge, team depth, and client references most closely match your actual business challenge.
Set up calls with MSL vs Hanover Communications. Ask them to walk you through a comparable client situation. Then decide based on evidence, not presentation style.