Cohn & Wolfe Takes Minority Stake in Leading MENA PR Network

- Partnership with BPG | pr deepens global agency's regional capabilities, client portfolio

NEW YORK, May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cohn & Wolfe (www.cohnwolfe.com) announced today it will take a minority stake in BPG | pr, one of the most respected PR agencies in the Middle East.  The move strengthens and broadens Cohn & Wolfe's offer to clients across the MENA region and follows on the heels of the agency's Asia-Pacific expansion in China, India and Southeast Asia.

The new agency, BPG | Cohn & Wolfe, will provide current BPG clients access to an award-winning international network, while bringing Cohn & Wolfe clients deep expertise in the MENA region across lifestyle, FMCG, travel and tourism, healthcare, corporate and government. 

BPG | Cohn & Wolfe provides PR and marketing services to leading global and regional brands including Rolls Royce, Visa International, Omega, Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), Masafi Mineral Water, Jumbo Electronics and Dusit Thani Hotel Group.  BPG | Cohn & Wolfe has a multinational, multilingual staff of 34 professionals from 13 countries.  The network is one of the few public relations agencies established in the Middle East, with headquarters in Dubai and additional offices in Abu Dhabi, Baghdad, Doha, Jeddah and Kuwait, as well as affiliates in Cairo and Muscat. 

"The Middle East is one of the world's most dynamic and fastest growing regions and is becoming increasingly important for our global clients. When it came to finding an established, credible partner that understands the complexities and opportunities of this market, and its demand for world class communications services, BPG | pr was best in class," said Donna Imperato, CEO of Cohn & Wolfe.

"Cohn & Wolfe is looking forward to ensuring that the synergies between our two businesses offer our global clients stronger services in the MENA region while providing clients of BPG | pr with an opportunity to benefit from our global network and international expertise," she added.

Commenting on the new partnership, BPG Group Chief Executive Avi Bhojani said "We are delighted to have engaged in this new relationship to add significant value and further impetus to what is already a successful and growing public relations business at BPG. It will enable us to share best global practices and bring new concepts to our clients in the region, while offering our local as well as regional clients a global network."

About Cohn & Wolfe
Cohn & Wolfe, a global communications agency, builds brands and corporate reputations through an uncompromising commitment to creativity. The agency's strategic approach unearths fresh, relevant insights leading to communications solutions that deliver measurable business success. Over its 40-year history, Cohn & Wolfe's award-winning brand marketing work and world-class digital media campaigns have attracted top brands around the world. Cohn & Wolfe was named Agency of the Year by PRWeek in 2013, and a Best Place to Work by Advertising Age in 2011 and 2012. The agency has more than 1,100 employees in over 50 offices across North America, EMEA and Asia. Cohn & Wolfe is part of WPP (Nasdaq: WPPGY), the world's largest communications services group.

About BPG | pr
Established in 1995, BPG | pr is among the few public relations agencies to have been created in the Middle East region and is a fully integrated part of the BPG Group. It has offices in Abu Dhabi, Baghdad, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah and Kuwait and affiliates in Cairo and Muscat delivering comprehensive PR and marketing services solutions to a growing client base. It is staffed by a multinational team from 13 countries delivering all services in Arabic and English from its office network. BPG | pr works with world class brands and best in class regional businesses that include Rolls Royce, Visa International, Omega, Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), Masafi Mineral Water, Jumbo Electronics and Dusit Thani Hotel Group.