Brief covers corporate and consumer PR for Beiersdorf and its household-name skincare and personal care brands including NIVEA, Labello, Eucerin and Hansaplast

Dubai, UAE, 6 February 2013:  Beiersdorf, best known as the company behind the world's No. 1 skincare brand NIVEA, has announced the appointment of ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller to manage its public relations strategy and corporate and consumer communications in the GCC and Lebanon.  In addition to handling the corporate brand, the consumer PR brief covers NIVEA Skincare, NIVEA Face Care, NIVEA Men and NIVEA Sun in addition to the Labello, Eucerin and Hansaplast brand portfolios.

The appointment is indicative of Beiersdorf's increased focus on PR as an integral part of its advertising and marketing strategy. Jean Manuel Canga-Valles, Marketing Director, Beiersdorf Middle East & North Africa, said: "At Beiersdorf we aim to get closer to consumers in our key markets - and this is especially true here in the region, where our brands have been known and loved for generations. We believe that PR has a significant and growing role to play within our overall marketing strategy in the Middle East and are confident that this new partnership will drive our business forward. We are delighted to welcome the ASDA'A B-M team onboard."

ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller, the largest public relations agency in the Middle East, was appointed following a competitive pitch in which eight agencies were invited to respond and three were shortlisted. The new PR agency will work closely with Beiersdorf's retained advertising agency, Horizon Draftfcb and media agency, OMD.

Commenting on the appointment, Sunil John, Chief Executive Officer, ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller, said: "Beiersdorf and its brands are known and trusted across the globe and its commitment to innovation and research and development is second to none. Here in the Middle East, the Beiersdorf team is focused on identifying the needs of the region's consumers and investing in its relationships with them. We look forward to working with the team to develop and deliver PR strategies and programmes that help to foster even stronger ties."  

About Beiersdorf AG
Cosmetics company Beiersdorf AG is based in Hamburg, Germany, and has around 17,000 employees worldwide. Its sales in 2011 amounted to €5.633 billion. The company has been listed on the DAX since December 2008 and holds NIVEA, World's No.1 Skin Care Brand*. Other names in its successful international brand portfolio include Eucerin, La Prairie, Labello, 8x4, and Hansaplast. Subsidiary tesa SE is one of the world's leading producers of self-adhesive products and system solutions for industry, craft businesses, and consumers. Beiersdorf has 130 years of skin care experience and is known for its innovative and high-quality products. www.beiersdorf.com

*Source: Euromonitor International Limited; NIVEA by global brand name in the categories Body Care, Face Care and Hand Care; in retail value terms, 2011

About ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
Since its founding in 1999, ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller has played a pivotal role in the development of the Middle East public relations industry. Through its longstanding commitment to providing innovative, results-driven communications solutions, ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller has emerged as the region's premier public relations consultancy, with a growing portfolio of blue-chip corporate and government clients. Headquartered in Dubai, UAE, the agency has 11 fully-owned offices across nine markets in the Middle East and North Africa. ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller is part of the MENACOM Group, the region's leading communications network. www.asdaabm.com

For further press information:
Iman Ahmed / Rebecca Sageman
ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
+ 971 4 507 600
Iman.ahmed@bm.com / Rebecca.sageman@bm.com 

Shaima Tahboub
Beiersdorf Middle East
+971 4 4464211
Shaima.Tahboub@beiersdorf.com

© Press Release 2013