Company: Hill & Knowlton
Company Description: Hill & Knowlton is a leading international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational and global clients. The agency has 72 offices in 38 countries, an extensive associate network, and is part of WPP, one of the world’s largest communications services groups. H&K was named Pan European Consultancy of the Year in 2004 by The Holmes Report.
Nomination Category: Company, Office & Product Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Agency, Brokerage, or Satellite Office or Facility

Nomination Title: Hill & Knowlton Europe, Middle East and Africa

1. Tell the story about what this nominated agency, office or facility achieved in the past year (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

The Power of Hill & Knowlton Europe, Middle East and Africa

Hill & Knowlton, the first ever PR agency, opened its doors in 1927. Since then it
has grown to cover 39 countries in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Hill & Knowlton is a full service Public Relations and Public Affairs consultancy
and manages transnational and domestic communications programs for our
clients across a range of sectors, including technology, consumer goods,
healthcare, government, manufacturing, tourism and many more. Our services
include corporate and marketing communications, public affairs, crisis and issues
management, interactive communications, sports marketing and sponsorship and
internal communications. We are part of the WPP network, giving us access to a
further 69,000 people in 1700 offices in 104 countries.

Hill & Knowlton works with many of the biggest companies in the world, including
Hewlett Packard, Procter & Gamble, Kellogg’s, Microsoft, Sabic, Merck, B&Q,
adidas, DeBeers, Johnson & Johnson and many more.

We have listed below some examples of the impact of our campaigns in EMEA
last year:

• We have helped the Maldives develop and communicate the most radical
constitutional reform programme ever undertaken in the country’s history.

• Our support for The Palm across EMEA resulted in all residential
properties and hotel plots being sold out.
 
• We mange HP’s brand positioning, consumer marketing and thought
leadership, delivering results across EMEA and the world; in one project in
particular, we increased HP’s website traffic by 750% through a key partnership
with ELLE magazine.

• Working with easyJet in Germany, France and Belgium, we ensured
landing slots and new routes were guaranteed and the low-cost model understood
by key decision-makers.

• We took SEGA’s Sonic Heroes to the top of all platforms in the UK – twice!
 
• We increased AMEX’s sales of Amex Cheques Secure Funds by 42%
in Russia.

• Our lobbying and publicity for the Wholesale Suppliers Association
ensured partial reversal of unpopular tax legislation, saving the Christmas Hamper
market in The Netherlands €61 million.

Our focus is on service and with an unparalleled network of worldwide offices we
have a track record of award winning success for our clients, big and small. We
are winners of the Pan European Consultancy of the Year award from The Holmes
Report, European Consultancy Report Card 2004, and were International Agency
of the Year 2003, 2001 and 1999. We have Investors in People accreditation and
Consultancy Management Standard accreditation from the PRCA.

Clients are now facing increased pressure with more complexity, contradiction,
change and confusion than ever before. Effective communication has the power to
help resolve these ever tougher challenges. But what once worked well no longer
does. So the need for powerful, compelling communications has never been
greater. Yet now, more than ever, achieving real results demands we meet a
higher standard.

Hill & Knowlton is able and willing to resolve these tough challenges – conquering
difficult markets, advancing a social agenda, building or defending reputations,
facilitating change and resolving conflict. We undertake to our clients that we will
deliver real, measurable outcomes - and will be judged by them.

2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:

http://www.myhillandknowlton.com/iba2005

3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this nominated agency, office or facility:

Andrew Laurence
Chairman & CEO Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA)

Previously Chairman, EMEA Practices of Hill & Knowlton, Andrew joined the
consultancy in 1989 and is currently Chairman & CEO EMEA.  He has also held
other senior management positions including Deputy Chairman and joint CEO, Hill
& Knowlton UK.
 
As a consultant he has led international assignments for leading companies in the
energy, technology, FMCG and financial and professional services industries.  He
has also advised the Government of Turkey and the City of Newcastle on inward
investment and image issues.

In the area of employee communications he has advised senior managements on
the communications aspects of organisational change.

Previously, Andrew spent three years with the London Docklands Development
Corporation (LDDC), where his work extended across the range of investment,
development, planning, political and community issues associated with Europe’s
largest regeneration project.  He was part of the team that saw Canary Wharf from
concept to construction.
 
Andrew graduated from Reading University with an honours degree in law.  He is a
barrister, a graduate of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and a
member of the Institute of Public Relations.