TECOM Investments, a member of Dubai Holding, today announced its entity JiWin Public Relations has become part of APCO Worldwide, an award-winning, independently owned global communication consultancy.
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO Worldwide has offices in major cities throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Abdullatif Al Mulla, Group CEO of TECOM Investments, said: "We are extremely proud of shaping a public relations firm that has the credentials to become part of a global consultancy major such as APCO Worldwide. JiWin has played a crucial role in contributing to TECOM Investments' overall deliverables. Its professional consultancy services are embedded with profound market intelligence that supports the communication requirements of a diverse portfolio of clients.
"APCO's acquisition ensures a promising future for JiWin that safeguards its achievements and provides ongoing growth opportunities for its people and business. In APCO, we found complementary values and business ethics, as well as a shared history of strong leadership, performance and growth, and a unique business model for strategic consulting that will further enhance JiWin's strong client service offerings."
Margery Kraus, Founder and CEO of APCO, said: "This is a tremendous opportunity to extend our global capabilities by combining APCO's 25-year history of developing and implementing corporate advisory and strategic communication programs with JiWin's extensive knowledge and contacts in the Middle East.
"The Arab region is an increasingly important region not only to our industry but also to the global economy, with Dubai at the intersection of global trade and commerce connecting Asia, Africa, Europe and the wider world. It will be a privilege to work together, and we look forward to integrating JiWin's talented team into our existing capabilities to create a truly unique offering."
APCO has supported its international client portfolio with a presence in the Arab region since 2007, but the acquisition will extend the company's growth potential in a dynamic, evolving market that connects Asia, India and Africa. The merger will also allow APCO clients greater access to JiWin's expertise in the Arab world, while APCO will support JiWin clients who wish to expand to and communicate in global markets.
Founded in 2006, JiWin comprises a team of more than 35 professionals and employs a multidisciplinary approach to strategic communication, offering services that include community relations, corporate communications, crisis communications and issues management. The firm works with a diverse number of clients throughout the Arab and Northern Africa regions, including Dubai Holding, Johnson & Johnson, Noor Islamic Bank, Merck, the Landmark Group, NASDAQ Dubai and Young Arab Leaders.
While JiWin will become part of APCO's global team, JiWin's current leadership, headed by Managing Director Mamoon Sbeih, will manage on-the-ground resources in the UAE and build regional capabilities for APCO's premium service offerings. Other senior leaders include Malcolm Ward, Elizabeth Sen and Tarek Sakik.
Sbeih said: "JiWin has a clear understanding of the regulatory, political and commercial issues and opportunities that exist in the Gulf region and the wider Arab world. We are proud to join with APCO, whose standards for professionalism, entrepreneurism and creativity we share. We look forward to leveraging APCO's cutting-edge resources to provide strategic advice to a worldwide set of clients with a variety of regional needs."
APCO has received numerous awards for outstanding and innovative client programs. The company was named 2010 Public Affairs Agency of the Decade by The Holmes Report; 2007 PR Agency of the Year by PRNews; 2006 Agency of the Year by PRWeek; and 2007, 2006 and 2005 European Consultancy of the Year by Public Affairs News. Earlier this year, APCO launched Global Political StrategiesSM, a new international strategic consultancy division to support businesses, governments and NGOs on geopolitics, global economics and new market opportunities.
