NEW YORK — Weber Shandwick has created a new global management consultancy aimed guiding companies through big change — and using communications to get buy-in.

The new unit, an expansion of the firm's United Minds offer—which joined the Interpublic agency when Weber Shandwick acquired Sweden's Prime—will offer clients management consulting services more often associated with professional services firms like Deloitte and McKinsey. The differentiator, though, is that United Minds also will be able to offer clients Weber Shandwick’s expertise in strategic communications — which leaders say is an essential component of businesses effectively ushering in change.

“This kind of consulting has always required stakeholder engagement to be successful,” said Kate Bullinger, who will be leading United Minds. “We can not only help companies think of  change strategy, but also come up with a creative campaign that is going to capture hearts and minds across the organization.”

Bullinger said United Minds is well positioned to offer the full breadth of services, tapping new and existing agency capabilities and expertise in management consulting, strategy and data science as well as communications. It will have 60 or so dedicated employees.

The new group was created through a merger of Weber Shandwick’s employee engagement and change management practice, which Bullinger led as global head, and United Minds Sweden.

CEO Andy Polansky said the new offer reflects clients’ growing demand for services that go beyond traditional communications — but very much tie into Weber Shandwick’s expertise in areas including organizational change

“Clients are increasingly are turning to Weber Shandwick more and more for consulting work, particularly for the areas of business transformation and employee engagement. It’s one of our fastest growing businesses around the world,” Polansky said.