Company: Weber Shandwick Singapore
Company Description: Weber Shandwick is one of the world's leading global public relations firms with offices across 80 countries.We have received numerous awards including United Nations Grand Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Relations and the runner-up for the Consultancy of the Year at the 2007 Asia Pacific PR Awards for Weber Shandwick Singapore.
Nomination Category: Corporate Communications, Investor Relations, & Public Relations Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Public Relations Agency

Nomination Title: Weber Shandwick Singapore

   1. Tell the story about what this nominated agency achieved (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:

          Full Steam Ahead

          The year 2007 was a momentous year for Weber Shandwick Singapore. The year set
          new benchmarks with phenomenal record setting revenue growth, a 15% rise in
          employee numbers, a star-studded client list and a near 100% retention rate of
          the best talent in the industry.

          Among the nation’s largest agencies, the office also ranks as the “gateway to
          Asia” within the Weber Shandwick global network.  Spearheading a significant
          proportion of pan-Asian campaigns, regional business now comprises over 50% of
          the firm’s revenue compared to 30% two years ago.  Today, 11 out of the top 20
          clients operate in two markets or more. 

          The office was named runner-up for Consultancy of the Year at the 2007 Asia
          Pacific PR Award, an endorsement reinforced by multinational client, Cheryl
          Hudgins Williams, Associate Director, Global Communications, SK-II: “I have
          worked with many of the top boutique and multinational PR agencies with beauty
          expertise in Western Europe and the United States, and I would place this Weber
          Shandwick team among the best.”  Georgette Tan, Vice President, Communications,
          APMEA region of MasterCard said of the team: “Constantly pushed to raise the
          bar on their performance, the team has not disappointed.” 

          Record High Revenues Highlights Financial Strength

          The agency hit all-time high revenues target in 2007.  Overall, revenues grew
          by over 71% over the last two years, posting year-on-year revenue growth of 34%
          in the first half of 2007.  Astute financial management resulted in Singapore
          being the first office in the agency’s regional network to meet aggressive 2007
          targets, a milestone achieved by May of that year.  New business contributed to
          33% of this.

          Our Heroes

          Without a doubt, people are the agency’s heroes.  Amongst its staff, the office
          has two “Young PR Professionals of the Year”; five industry veterans, each with
          more than 16 years’ PR experience under their belt; five former journalists and
          one PR “face to watch out for in APAC”, according to Media magazine.

          Talent management is a key priority for our office and over the past year, we
          have achieved an exemplary near-perfect record retention rate with only four
          departures out of 52, stacking well against the fast-moving Singapore job
          market where the PR industry average turnover is 17% (Source: Aquent Survey
          2007).

          In an annual staff survey, 95% of Singapore employees believed the agency is
          going in the right direction, and 79% thought Weber Shandwick is the same or a
          better place to work—compared to 59% three years ago.  Furthermore, 82% felt
          proud to be part of the firm.

          Fighting for a cause

          Pro-bono work with Habitat for Humanity continues to be a strong focus, now
          into its fifth year.  In addition to consulting on positioning, messaging, and
          monetary funding, Weber Shandwick Singapore drives the publicity campaigns for
          the charity, including a world record-breaking fundraising initiative dubbed
          Build4Hope where 1000 volunteers helped to build world's largest display house
          made of drink packs.

   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]:

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

          Baxter Jolly is Managing Director of Weber Shandwick, Singapore. He has overall
          responsibility for the business operations of the agency, client servicing,
          employee welfare and new business development.

          Tim Sutton, Chairman, Weber Shandwick – Asia Pacific, said “We have been
          thrilled by the continuing excellence of performance of our office in Singapore
          where we have an outstanding senior management team led by Baxter Jolly, and a
          highly skilled and motivated staff. Our clients continue to demonstrate their
          huge confidence in this team by the number, breadth and depth of repeat
          assignments they give to the office.”