Our history

We are 25!
1999-2000
1999-2000
AKOS was established
AKOS, the first Russian professional association of PR consulting firms, was established to promote the development of the Russian public relations and communications services market, improve the image of the industry and communications agencies, and represent and protect the common, including professional, interests of its members. AKOS became the Russian branch of the International Association of Public Relations Consultants (ICCO) and the main initiator of the Charter of Principles of Cooperation and Competition in the Russian PR Services Market.
2000-2008
2000-2008
AKOS is developing as a union of PR professionals
The Association unites the largest and most reputable agencies that analyze pressing issues and current trends in the communications market. AKOS exerts expert influence on the development of key parameters of the national PR market in areas such as customer service quality standards, PR effectiveness criteria, ethical issues, approaches to organizing and conducting tenders, and other key professional areas.
2008-2016
2008-2016
AKOS membership is growing rapidly, and our work is becoming more systematic
AKOS is gradually uniting more than 30 agencies. The Association launches regular research, monitoring, and event cycles, offering memoranda and guidelines to the market. Among the main topics of AKOS are key aspects of the domestic PR industry, professional services and specialization of AKOS member agencies, tendering policy, the roles of PR agency staff, media analysis, and PR effectiveness assessment. AKOS has separately identified and has become a regular research topic for hourly rates of PR specialists in order to influence the formation of a unified and transparent pricing system in the industry. In 2013, under the auspices of the Russian Academy of Public Relations (RAOS) and major industry associations (AKOS, RASO, IABC Russia, AKMR), the first National Rating of Communications Companies in Russia was created and presented, subsequently becoming a significant annual event in the PR industry. In 2014, AKOS launched Russia's first web service for recruiting and finding PR agencies—PR-Navigator. Active engagement with students and young professionals began: student surveys, the development of intern requirements by members of the AKOS HR Directors' Club, the opening of a new faculty, "PR: Conscious Communications," in collaboration with the Wordshop Communications Academy, and the "Communications on the Internet" program for first-year students of the MGIMO Master's program in Advertising and Public Relations.
2016-2020
2016-2020
AKOS represents the industry's interests in government agencies and develops intersectoral and international cooperation
AKOS participates in the Open Government and the Expert Council under the Government of the Russian Federation, discussing strategic approaches to the information and outreach efforts of federal executive bodies. At AKOS's initiative, work has begun to coordinate the activities of communications associations: RASO, AKMR, and AKAR. Regular meetings of association representatives and negotiations on the creation of a unified calendar of communications industry events, updating industry standards, sharing analytical materials, and other issues have been organized. AKOS proposed the creation of a Public Relations Industry Advisory Council. Thanks to AKOS, the right of Russian communications agencies to participate in the authoritative global ranking The Holmes Report has been restored. AKOS was among the first to sign the Helsinki Declaration, presented at the ICCO Global Summit in Helsinki. Research on pricing, salary assessment, and tender policy, analysis of key development trends in PR effectiveness assessment approaches, and an annual industry study continued. The latest National Communications Companies Rating was presented. The first AKOS student competition, #PRfuture, was organized, and a new format for open PR consultations for small and medium businesses—Public Consulting—was initiated. In 2019, a new AKOS communications classifier was introduced (replacing the one adopted in 2013).
2020-2024
2020-2024
AKOS is becoming a center of excellence for the industry
During the unprecedented pandemic, with the Association's participation, letters of support for the communications industry were prepared and sent to the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. New players continued to join AKOS, reaching 50 member agencies. In 2020, with AKOS's support, the Coordinating Council for the Communications Industry was established under the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation. AKOS became a member of the Coordinating Group under the Expert Council of the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation. AKOS began publishing an annual analytical report, the AKOS Russia PR Report, reflecting industry trends, changes, and prospects. The Association is initiating a number of educational initiatives, partnering with RAOS and APSO in educational seminars for university professors, and in 2022, launching its first joint professional development course with the National Research University Higher School of Economics, "Strategic Communications as the Foundation of Modern Communications." Significant work has been done to prepare amendments to the Advertising Law regarding information labeling. The first meeting of representatives of the Federal Antimonopoly Service and Roskomnadzor with participants in the communications industry was organized. Work has begun to include public relations in the draft law on the development of creative industries. A glossary of digital terms has been presented to the professional community. Association members serve on the juries and expert councils of all key industry awards and competitions. In 2023, AKOS will become a partner of the AKAR PR Agency Creativity Rating.
2024-2025
2024-2025
AKOS is relaunching itself, introducing new formats and initiatives as a leadership organization open to new partnerships and connections, as well as professional and creative collaborations.
AKOS is updating the structure of its Committees and Working Groups with a focus on updating and developing products that meet the needs of today's market. The tasks being addressed by AKOS Committees and Working Groups include: building competencies and establishing connections in the international markets of Southeast Asia, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Latin America, and Africa; developing and implementing an industry standard for ad labeling requirements in PR communications tools; developing expertise in communications analytics and digitalization, fostering an analytical culture among participants in the communications industry as a whole, and developing standards for evaluating communications effectiveness based on data; developing industry standards for the application of artificial intelligence in PR and communications, creating a map of AI services recommended by AKOS; updating the AKOS Code of Ethics, and more. The areas of expertise have been expanded to include regional branding and PR as a creative industry. AKOS is introducing new formats of activity and partnerships (expert tours, collaborations, the PESHCOMM project, etc.). The Skillbox course, approved by AKOS experts, has been launched. The AKOS Advisory Board, comprising recognized public relations experts representing large businesses, government, and the expert community, has been established and is now operational for the first time. A regional AKOS partnership team is being formed. The status of AKOS Ambassador has been established. The Association and its agenda are represented at the SPIEF and other prominent venues. AKOS initiates its own diverse public discussions. For the first time in its history, AKOS established and held the international forum "Strategic Communications. Ideas & Insights."
We are 25!
We are 25!
AKOS celebrated its 25th anniversary (celebrated in spring 2024-2025) by creating a special Working Group.
Key Messages for AKOS's 25th Anniversary

  • Expertise (Role in the History and Development of the Industry). AKOS is a reputable expert platform. Its portfolio includes numerous initiatives, products, and research that have played a significant role in the development of the communications market over the past 25 years. AKOS's history is directly linked to the history of the Russian PR industry. Thanks to AKOS's contributions, its expertise is being developed and expanded.
  • Expertise (Relevance and Practice-Oriented Approach). AKOS continues to deepen its expertise and expand its scope, incorporating new, pressing challenges and trends into its agenda.
  • Scale (Ambition). AKOS is a leading Russian public relations association, an initiator and promoter of large-scale, ambitious ideas. The Association's scale and ambitions are determined by the goals and development strategy of both AKOS itself and its member agencies—key players in the Russian communications and public relations market.
  • Community (People). AKOS is a community of outstanding, high-level professionals, active individuals, and modern leaders. Owners, founders, directors, and top management of Russia's leading communications agencies participate in AKOS's activities. Each of them is an engaging personality, an experienced communicator, and a knowledgeable expert.
  • Reboot (Get to know who we are! We have a lot of new and useful information). We want to develop as a strong, close-knit community, open to new partnerships and connections, and interesting creative collaborations. We launch creative formats and initiatives, strive to communicate more about ourselves and our work, and provide similar opportunities to our partners. AKOS is a modern organization: flexible, engaging, and forward-looking. AKOS is vibrant and real communications.