# Lou Hoffman

> Lou Hoffman is the founder and CEO of The Hoffman Agency, the independent communications consultancy he started in Silicon Valley in December 1987. A journalism major and former union-newspaper editor, he built his approach around a lesson learned while launching CD-ROM technology for Philips in 1985: candid stories connect better than polished corporate messages. The firm later expanded across Asia, Europe and the United States, and in 2025 acquired London-based CCGroup.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at The Hoffman Agency
- **Organizations:** The Hoffman Agency, LPJ Foundation, Ishmael's Corner
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Journalism studies; degree type not publicly specified, University of Arizona
- **Known for:** Founded an independent technology communications consultancy in 1987 and expanded it across the United States, Europe and Asia., Built one of the early Silicon Valley PR footprints in Asia, beginning with Singapore in 1996 and Beijing in 2000., Developed and taught a practical business-storytelling methodology centered on anecdotes, contrast, conversational language and human detail.

## Career timeline

- **Early 1980s** — Ran a union newspaper serving California school employees and freelanced for the Silicon Valley publication The Corporate Times.
- **1983** — Joined a public relations agency focused on technology.
- **1985** — Led communications for Philips' introduction of CD-ROM technology and developed his stories-over-messages philosophy while working with Philips executive Rob Moes.
- **1987** — Founded The Hoffman Agency in Silicon Valley in December.
- **1994** — Ran the agency's first global campaign, supporting Hyundai Electronics on a five-city Asian press tour.
- **1996** — Opened the agency's first overseas office in Singapore on October 20.
- **2000** — The agency opened in Beijing, extending its Asia-Pacific presence.
- **2001** — The agency expanded to London and Seoul.
- **2009** — Began publishing Ishmael's Corner on storytelling through a business lens.
- **2012-2016** — Restructured the weakened U.S. operation; reported U.S. revenue rose from $2.3 million in 2012 to $4.5 million in 2016.
- **2024** — Shifted North American day-to-day leadership to Gerard LaFond while remaining global CEO.
- **2025** — Led the acquisition of London-based CCGroup, the agency's second acquisition since its founding.

## Achievements

- Founded an independent technology communications consultancy in 1987 and expanded it across the United States, Europe and Asia.
- Built one of the early Silicon Valley PR footprints in Asia, beginning with Singapore in 1996 and Beijing in 2000.
- Developed and taught a practical business-storytelling methodology centered on anecdotes, contrast, conversational language and human detail.
- Led the agency through a U.S. restructuring that nearly doubled U.S. revenue between 2012 and 2016.
- Oversaw 14% global growth to $30.328 million in 2024 revenue before acquiring CCGroup in 2025.
- Co-founded a scholarship program that covers two years of tuition and fees for a California community-college student transferring to an HBCU to study communications.

## Latest updates

- **2025-11** — Discussed the mechanics and judgment involved in agency acquisitions on the PRmoment podcast after buying CCGroup.
- **2025-06** — Visited the agency's Jakarta operation and described its global model as a Silicon Valley mindset built on flat hierarchy and ideas from anywhere.
- **2025-04** — Wrote that the newly combined London operation had grown beyond 50 people and described the work as harmonizing two teams.
- **2025-03** — The Hoffman Agency acquired London technology marketing firm CCGroup; the company reported $30.328 million in 2024 global revenue.

## Links

- Website: https://www.hoffman.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louhoffman
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/LouHoffman
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Hoffman_Agency

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/lou-hoffman
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-22