Company: Hill & Knowlton EMEA

Company Description: Hill & Knowlton is a leading international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational and global clients. The firm is based in New York, with 71 offices in 40 countries, as well as an extensive associate network. The agency is part of WPP, one of the world’s largest communications services groups.

Nomination Category: Company, Office & Product Awards Categories

Nomination Sub Category: Best Multinational Company

Nomination Title: Hill & Knowlton Europe Middle East & Africa

   1. Tell the story about what this nominated company 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:

Hill & Knowlton Europe Middle East & Africa, international agency to the London 2012 Olympic bid, is the most comprehensive public relations agency in the world.

Established in 1927, the world’s first PR agency, we work with some of the biggest companies in the world, many of whom have been our clients for over 5 years. Through our unparalleled network of 71 offices in 40 countries we have a track record of delivering award-winning success for our clients, who include HP, Procter & Gamble, HSBC, Kellogg’s, Microsoft, Roche and adidas.

Our achievements are defining the Public Relations industry, setting new standards across the world:

• Worked with London 2012 across 27 markets on their successful bid for the Olympics.

• Increased nutella sales by 24% in Germany with our “40th anniversary” campaign.

• Reversed EU opinion on potential product bans on refrigerant-use for the European Partner for Energy and the Environment.

• Supported TomTom’s launch across eleven European markets, securing their position as Europe’s No.1 satellite navigation solutions provider.

• Generated significant coverage for HSBC’s Future of Retirement report.

• Worked with NVMO (the Dutch Oncology Association) to change the reimbursement system to end an unacceptable inequality in the treatment of

patients with cancer in the Netherlands.

We believe diversity of culture and thinking is our strength; at the same time we balance this with a common language for consistency, speed and economy. To ensure that we share best practice across markets and consistently deliver quality work we have a range of resources:

• ComPASS – our approach to campaign planning; Compass 2.0 launched in 2005/2006.

• QSP – our quality service programme which combines client feedback with independent senior H&K input.

• Blue Cow – our approach to creative thinking.

• Business Intelligence –proprietary, WPP and online research tools, including a partnership with Factiva, to ensure our campaigns are driven by informed insight. 

• Blogging – pioneers in this field, we were the first PR agency to set up a blogging platform. We encourage our clients to utilise this powerful tool by

advising them on blogging policy and training them in how to get the most out of blogs.

In 2005 we continued to strengthen our client portfolio with clients including AstraZeneca, Sanofi Pasteur (MSD), Shopping.com, TomTom and Helly Hansen. We added two more offices in Copenhagen and Hamburg and signed exclusive affiliate agreements with VRP in Lithuania and PR Media in the Maghreb. Furthermore we launched our pan-European consumer technology and sports marketing & sponsorship offers and our technology analyst relations service.

A new passion and energy has been ignited throughout the network, following the reinvigoration of our corporate brand. We have greater consistency of understanding and approach as our people actively embrace our core values: Accountable, Bold, Collaborative and Diverse.

Hill & Knowlton is able to resolve tough challenges – conquering difficult markets, advancing a social agenda, building or defending reputations,

facilitating change and resolving conflict. We undertake to 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/iba2006multinational

   3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this nominated company:

Andrew Laurence is Chairman & CEO, Hill & Knowlton Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA). Previously Chairman, EMEA Practices, he joined the consultancy in 1989. Other senior management positions at H&K include 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.