Two complementary agencies with best-in-class skills unite
Alignment with other WPP companies further enhances service offering
Dubai, 3rd December 2008: Cohn & Wolfe, the 'top ten' global communication consultancy, launched its brand throughout the Middle East and North Africa today, adding the region to its already strong international network. The new firm, which is owned by WPP and headquartered in New York, was formed following the merging of sister agencies Cohn & Wolfe and GCI Group earlier this year. With its strong foundation in creativity, corporate reputation, and more recently digital communications, the new Cohn & Wolfe is singularly suited for the transformed global communications environment.
As a full service communications consultancy, Cohn & Wolfe will offer support to all business sectors from consumer brands and B2B to financial and technology. In addition to public relations fundamentals such as event management and media relations, the team at Cohn & Wolfe will offer more progressive clients strategic communications concepts practiced in the US and Europe.
Jordana Tasker, MENA regional director for Cohn & Wolfe commented; "Despite all the development and progress this market has seen in terms of communications activity, we still have a long way to go. That said, there are a solid number of clients that are showing a growing interest in the full communication spectrum; corporate reputation, stakeholder relations, and not simply crisis and issues management, but preparedness too. That next level of communications is about creating a network of advocates and partners, both online and offline, supporting each other as message multipliers and making sure that your brand and reputation are strong in good times and bad."
The Cohn & Wolfe brand will be adopted by the existing GCI Group offices in all markets and remains a core part of Grey Group's MENA operations. Working alongside Grey, Mediacom and G2, Cohn & Wolfe can offer, both the Group's and other clients', access to a fully integrated solution as well as independent public relations consultancy. As such Cohn & Wolfe currently has a PR presence in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Lebanon. Of course, the option to work with other Grey operations to deliver PR services in Kuwait, Jordan, and Morocco further widens our reach and capabilities.
The Middle East and North Africa is one of Cohn & Wolfe's EMEA priorities for next year as they look forward to growing the business locally and opening other international markets to regional companies. Equally, there is an expectation that relatively higher growth rates projected for the region may drive companies from West to East in search of opportunities which will counter any losses in Europe and the US.
Mark Cater, EMEA regional director for Cohn & Wolfe said, "Having a branded presence in the Middle East and North Africa is essential if we are to create the strong EMEA and global presence we need to drive the business forward. We have already seen a lot of traffic to and from the region as companies look for opportunities outside their own markets. We want to match our clients' global footprint so we can support them in the ways and places they need most. The Middle East and North Africa are some of those places."
One of the major focuses being undertaken by the new Cohn & Wolfe operation is digital communication. Tasker explains, "As businesses are increasingly pushed online to reduce costs and increase reach, an opportunity to develop digital PR will present itself. Driven by the US and Europe, Cohn & Wolfe has access to proprietary tools and methodologies designed to help clients approach the online environment in the most effective, creative and yet appropriate way possible. In tougher, leaner times like these digital PR and social media offers a way to engage in a two way conversation with your audience to best possible value and effect."
Global Resources
Cohn & Wolfe combines offices from all regions of the world to create a new global resource for clients. Headquartered in New York, Cohn & Wolfe has offices in almost all major markets worldwide. To further enhance its offering to clients, Cohn & Wolfe will align with additional WPP companies Quinn Gillespie, a leading public affairs firm and Schematic, an interactive agency that creates branded experiences.
"This is the right time to bring together two very complementary agencies," said Howard Paster, executive vice president, Public Relations and Public Affairs, WPP Group. "They have been close partners for the past few years and benefited from shared resources and integration. Together, and in partnership with Quinn Gillespie and Schematic, Cohn & Wolfe will be a powerful agency focused on delivering big ideas across all media channels."
The merger which was announced in July 2008 follows Cohn & Wolfe's acquisition in April of AxiCom, a leading pan-European technology firm, boosting the agency's depth in its global technology practice. Cohn & Wolfe's practices will include Consumer Branding, Corporate, Healthcare, Technology, Digital, Sustainability and Sports Marketing.
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About Cohn & Wolfe
Cohn & Wolfe is a strategic communications consultancy dedicated to creating, building and protecting the world's most prolific brands. With offices around the world, the agency is committed to breaking new ground in the delivery of cross-channel media strategies, creative programming, and practice area excellence.
Cohn & Wolfe is recognized year after year by clients and the industry for excellence in creativity, client service, digital communications, media strategy, senior management and strategic counsel. Cohn & Wolfe also consistently ranks among the top "Best Agencies to Work For" in an annual, industry-wide employee survey. For more information, visit: www.cohnwolfe.com. Cohn & Wolfe is part of WPP Group plc (Nasdaq: WPPGY), one of the world's largest communications services group.
For further information please contact:
Jordana Tasker
Regional Director - MENA
+971 (0)4331 0331
+971 (0)50 1594 987
Jordana.tasker@cohnwolfemena.com
© Press Release 2008
