Peter Himler
After leading the media teams for several venerated global PR firms, Peter jettisoned the big agency world in 2005 to form Flatiron Communications, with The New York Times as the firm’s first client. Flatiron is a NYC-based PR and digital media consultancy offering emerging and established companies the latest communications tools and strategies to advance their business goals. Prior to Flatiron, he served as Executive Vice President & Chief Media Officer for Edelman Worldwide, following 11 years with WPP’s Burson-Marsteller as Executive Vice President and Head of the agency’s U.S. corporate and strategic media team, as well as its worldwide spokesperson.
Prior to Burson, Peter was Senior Vice President and Media Director for six years at B-M sister agency Cohn & Wolfe, which followed five years at Hill and Knowlton where he led the agency’s broadcast and consumer media relations team, as the firm’s youngest Vice President. He began his career with three years at NYC-based entertainment PR firm Robert Zarem, Inc.
Peter comfortably straddles the worlds of traditional PR and digital communications, frequently lecturing and writing about the two for his blog and, previously, Forbes.com. He founded and edits the Medium.com publication “Adventures in Consumer Technology,” which has 46,000 followers. He also maintains an active presence on social media, including on BlueSky, Threads, TwitterX, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, and elsewhere. More recently, he’s been focused on AI’s role in the PR equation, spending time with Anthropic’s Claude, Pi, Perplexity, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and Google’s Gemini and NotebookLM platforms.
Career Highlights
Media Industry Clients
- The New York Times Co.
- New York Times Digital
- International Herald Tribune
- MSNMoney.com
- Courier Newsroom
- College Sports Television (CSTV)
- Online Publishers Association (OPA)
- Newspaper Association of America (NAA)
- The Associated Press
- Dow Jones & Co.
- New York Daily News
- Metro New York
- Woman’s Day magazine (formerly Hachette Filipacchi)
- Details magazine (Condé Nast)
- Ziff-Davis Publishing
- IDG Publishing
- Cablevision Systems
- HSN, Inc.
The New York Times
- The events marking the 100th anniversary of the Ochs-Sulzberger family ownership of the new organization
- The colorization of The New York Times newspaper and opening of the College Point printing plant
- Advising on how to use social media to drive incremental traffic to NYTimes.com
- Speaking ops for Times reporters/editors including then tech editor Damon Darlin and the SF bureau, David Pogue, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Brian Stelter, Saul Hansell, and Tara Parker-Pope
- The launch of TimesSelect, an experiment in premium content delivery
- Support for various NYTimes.com editorial, e.g. Fashion Week, the Frugal Traveler Matt Gross, “On Par” with Bill Pennington, and Lynn Hirschberg’s T Style video vignettes.
- Worked with Vivian Schiller and her team to drive eyeballs to NYTimes.com.
- The launch of New York Today
- The elimination of the fee for international access to NYTimes.com
- The launch of the New York Times Scholarship Program
- Promotion of NYTimes.com’s ad-targeting capability enabled through site registration
- The installation of Michael Golden as the publisher of the IHT a year after NYTCO’s purchase
Other Media Industry Cases
- The New York Daily News – Served as public relations strategist and crisis counselor to Mortimer B. Zuckerman prior to, during, and following his acquisition of the New York tabloid.
- Newspaper Association of America – Conceived and promoted “Competitive Media Index” to gain audience parity with other forms of media, as traditional circulation diminished.
- The Associated Press – Mounted year-long campaign marking The AP’s 150th anniversary; Aligned the news org with the World War II Memorial to produce and tour an exhibition of iconic AP photos from the second World War.
- CSTV – Led communications the program to launch the first all-college sports cable network.
Technology Startups
- InductEV, the pioneer in wireless EV charging technology for commercial fleets
- Anaconda, the dominant enabling technology platform for articial intelligence (AI), machine learning and data science
- PaperG Inc., an ad-tech startup in local display dynamic content creation
- Xandr, AT&T-formed advertising technology company.
- IndieGoGo, first and largest global crowdfunding platform
- bMobilized, web-to-mobile conversion technology
- Courier Newsroom, a new model for local journalism
- CloudMagic, mobile email client (iOS and Android app)
- Syncapse (aka Clickable), data-driven social marketing software
- Fracture, digital image-on-glass “maker” company
- Globality, Softbank-funded global vendor procurement platform
- Umami TV, second screen auto-synchronous iPad app
- Nellymoser, mobile, interactive print media enabler
- AmieStreet, indy (DRM-free) music e-commerce site (sold to Amazon)
- MealPal (formerly MealClass) – City-based restaurant subscription lunch platform
- Unigo, the largest online resource for student-generated content on colleges and universities
Government Work
- National World War II Memorial – Led the eight-year, award-winning PR campaign for the architect/site selection, construction, and dedication of the memorial. (Pictured at right on Dedication Day in 2004.)
- U.S. Commission on Presidential Debates – Served as senior communications strategist to the non-partisan commission that organized and hosted the 2000 U.S. Presidential Debates
- U.S. Treasury Dept. – Served as the senior media strategist for the respective introductions over three years of the newly-redesigned U.S. currency including the $100, $50, and $20 bills
- Washington Convention & Tourism Corp. – Conceived and proposed the summer-long citywide Washington DC cultural celebration honoring the greatest generation wherein virtually every cultural and educational institution in our nation’s capital mounted a World War II-themed event.
- America’s 250th Birthday — Leading PR and comms for Sail4th 250, the non-profit organization behind the capstone events July 3-8, 2026 in NY/NJ marking the nation’s 250th anniversary — America’s Semiquincentennial
Crisis/Issues Management
- AIG Private Client Group – Developed message set, media-trained division president, and organized top-tier media interviews during the 2008 financial crisis.
- “The September 11th Fund” United Way of NYC – Provide crisis counsel, communications training, and program execution for this, the second largest charity created in the aftermath of September 11th.
- PGA of America – Helped the PGA navigate the onslaught of critical news coverage of the PGA Championship held at a restricted Alabama country club (Shoal Creek CC).
- Dale Earnhardt Inc. – Represented Teresa Earnhardt in PR battle to protect her family’s privacy in wake of her husband’s death at the Daytona 500.
- Hong Kong Tourism Board – Worked with HKTB to re-instill traveler confidence during and in the aftermath of the SARS epidemic.
- DecisionQuest – Worked with the jury consultant advising the L.A. District Attorney’s Office during the criminal prosecution of O.J. Simpson.
- PGA Golfer – Worked with the legal team of a well-known professional golfer to expunge a potentially damaging cover story in Golf Digest magazine.
Corporate/Product
- Nissan Motor Co. – Organized and advised CEO Carlos Ghosn for U.S. television appearances
- Starbucks – Helped secure by-lined story in The New York Times tied to the company’s annual earnings
- Eastman Kodak Company – Managed the global media strategy and campaign for the launch of the Advanced Photo System (APS).
- Citibank – Handled news conference and interviewed on-camera (for satellite distribution) Sir Elton John’s as part of his agreement to appear in company ads
- Mattel – Counseled then-new CEO Bob Eckert in his first year on the job
- HotJobs.com – Served as agency-of-record, including IPO and three Super Bowl ad campaigns.
- Washington Mutual – Announced end of ATM surcharge; Opening of mortgage center in Harlem
- Intel Corp. – Organized national consumer magazine interviews for CEO Andy Grove (Condé Nast, Hearst)
- Mazda Motor (MMC) Corp – Opened first Detroit-area auto manufacturing facility for Japanese automaker
- Morgan Stanley – Orchestrated news conference for then co-CEOs John Mack and Phil Purcell to intro i-Direct
- Pepsi-Cola Co. – CEO Roger Enrico’s book “The Other Guy Blinked”
- Pepsi-Cola USA – Launched Pepsi sponsorship of Michael Jackson, others; Super Bowl ad campaigns
- P&G – Spic n Span’s 60th anniversary diamond promotion; Coast-to-Coast Shower Sing-off
- Mesa Petroleum – Advised T. Boone Pickens in his attempt to acquire Gulf Oil, putting the famed TX oilman on the media map.
- BP – Helped BP and its CEO Sir John Browne communicate its break with the industry on the issue of global climate change
- Shell Oil – Media-trained the CEO and president of Shell Refining to announce a new environmentally enhanced fuel
- Unilever – Wrote two keynote speeches for the North American CEO on the company’s Internet strategy for the CPG
- Kraft – Helped conceive media strategy for the company to announce labeling and limits on kids’ advertising
- ConAgra – Launched Healthy Choice product line
- Beecham Laboratories – Led U.S. media relations team to introduce antibiotic Augmentin
- Schering-Plough – Led PR strategy for taking Gyna-lotrimin from Rx to OTC
- Equal brand – Media relations for Equal brand’s lawsuit against Splenda
- World Business Forum – Led all public relations activities for premier gathering in NYC of business, government, and academic leaders.
- Morgan Stanley – Orchestrated news conference for co-CEOs John Mack and Phil Purcell to announce their first consumer-facing digital platform.
- CEOs of public companies – Carlos Ghosn (Nissan), T. Boone Pickens (Mesa), Roger Enrico (Pepsi), Bob Eckert (Mattel), John Mack (Morgan Stanley), Andy Grove (Intel), Jeff Kindler (Pfizer), Charles Williamson (AIG), the Nordstrom brothers, others.
Sports
- Coca-Cola – Supported company’s Olympics marketing campaign, e.g., Torch Run, Pin Trading
- NHL – PR for league and All-Star game in New York City
- Super Bowl Halftime Show – Promoted Up with People performance
- Reebok – Olympics sponsorship; Shaquille O’Neal as spokesperson, The Pump, etc.
- Assn. of Tennis Professionals – Media-trained world’s top tennis pros including Pete Sampras.
- Marlboro Grand Prix Racing – Supported Indy Car circuit with PR for drivers, owners, etc.
- NBC Olympics – Fundraiser featuring comedian Jerry Seinfeld aboard cruise ship Monarch of the Seas
- America’s Cup – Represented America’s Cup skipper Dennis Conner in his defense of the coveted trophy (for Pepsi).
- PGA of America – National Golf Day; various initiatives
- Golden Bear International – Worked with Jack Nicklaus during the privatization of his company
- Philadelphia Eagles – Advised Jeff Lurie’s operations man Joe Banner on the acquisition of the NFL franchise
Society/Entertainment
- Quincy Jones “We Are the Future” global concert held in Rome;
- Reebok Human Rights Award with REM’s Michael Stipe, Peter Gabriel, others;
- Atlantic Records’ 40th Anniversary concert telecast
- Miss America Organization 75th Anniversary;
- Marie-Chantal Miller’s wedding to Prince Pavlos of Greece;
- Dedication of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall in DC;
- Media-trained HSH Prince Albert and Princess Stephanie of Monaco for the launch of the Princess Grace Foundation;
- Media-trained and organized national interviews for HRH Prince Michael of Kent;
- Israel Philharmonic’s 50th Anniversary;
- World’s Smallest Teen’s NYC visit for Ripley’s
- Films: “The China Syndrome,” “Absence of Malice,” “The Seduction of Joe Tynan,” “Ft. Apache: The Bronx,” “The Four Seasons,” and others
- Music: Singer Diana Ross’s 1st U.S. concert tour; Maestro Lorin Maazel’s 70th birthday world tour
- Theatre: Broadway opening of David Merrick’s “42nd Street”
- Television: CSTV, Cablevision, PBS Presents “Musical Comedy Tonight” with Sylvia Fine (Mrs. Danny) Kaye, Miss America Organization 75th anniversary ABC telecast
- Personalities: Actors Alan Alda, Michael Douglas, Shirley MacLaine
Travel/Tourism
- WindStar Sail Cruises – Launched the WindStar and WindSong luxury sail cruise ships
- Royal Caribbean Cruise Line – Launched Majesty and Monarch of the Seas
- Mexico Tourism – Developed and executed media campaign to communicate real effects of an earthquake
- Hong Kong Tourism Board – Helped establish and promote International Dragon Board Festival
- Washington Convention & Tourism Corp – Supported efforts to encourage tourism to D.C. post-9/11
- Loews Hotels – Publicized various events at NYC’s The Regency; Worked with Princess Grace Foundation