ecco, worldwide partners form strategic alliance

ecco, worldwide partners form strategic alliance
 
New partnership gives clients, partner agencies better access to broader range of marketing, PR resources worldwide.
 
 
ECCO International Public Relations Ltd, which is represented in the Gulf region by Dubai-based agency Total Communications, has formed a strategic alliance with Worldwide Partners, Inc. to offer clients and partner agencies stronger global PR and marketing support.
 
Worldwide Partners is the world’s largest network of independent agencies with 83 agency partners in 42 countries and over $3.3 billion in capitalised billings. ECCO has over 30 members in over 40 countries with ˆ48,000,000 in billings.  
 
Al Moffatt, President and CEO of Worldwide Partners, Inc. said: “We live in a new, collaborative world in which no one agency or network can meet all the fast-paced needs of global companies.
 
“As we focus on the ever-changing needs of middle-market clients, the alliance with ECCO allows us to provide these companies with a new level of highly dedicated resources throughout the world. Now, we can truly tailor the structure of a client’s business to include geography, category expertise and the full range of communication disciplines in order to build global brands with a local touch.”
 
Sara Render, Chairman of London headquartered ECCO, added: “The two networks are very similar in terms of experience across both established blue chips and the mid tier of challenger businesses, with growing international businesses but still developing sales and marketing infrastructures. 
 
“Both networks are also committed to systems and concepts that enable economies of scale and brand consistency without ever taking a one size fits all approach to either different geographies or businesses. 
 
“The agreement with Worldwide Partners enables us to offer clients better integrated international marketing programs and a comprehensive choice of communication disciplines.  ECCO already had a strong presence across Europe, the Middle East, India and China but only two agencies in the US.  This partnership has the additional benefit of having filled in some important gaps in our physical presence.”
 
Worldwide Partners, Inc., started in 1938, is the world’s largest independent network and the tenth largest marketing communications network overall with capitalised billings of $3.3 billion (EUR 2.4 billion), 117 offices and over 4,200 employees worldwide. Network clients include Novartis Ciba Vision, Hormel, Lehman Bros., Phonak, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Grupo Santander.
 
ECCO is a network of independently owned and operated PR and marketing communications consultancies located in over 40 countries around the world and headquartered in London.  ECCO member agencies are successful in their own right and are owner-managed by senior people with big agency/big client experience.  Total Communications has been ECCO’s Arabian Gulf affiliate since January 2002.
 
ECCO’s clients range from fast growing businesses such as Regus, MEGA and Interface FLOR to long established global brands like Xerox, Sony, Conoco Jet Nordics and UPS Logistics Group. ECCO was ranked fourth largest European PR network in the last PR Week League Tables to cover the independent networks (PR Week European League Table 2005).