Weber Shandwick Chosen To Support General Motors’ Sponsorship of Shanghai World Expo 2010

General Motors (GM) has named Weber Shandwick as its official public relations counsel for the World Expo 2010 Shanghai taking place from May 1 through October 31, 2010 in Shanghai, China.

GM’s Expo campaign will showcase the automaker’s longstanding support of world expositions and its ongoing innovation leadership internationally and in China. Continuing its venerable legacy, including the famous “Futurama” exhibition at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933 and “Tomorrow Land” at the New York World’s Fair in 1964, GM will demonstrate its vision for personal urban mobility in the year 2030 at the Shanghai World Expo 2010.

The Shanghai office of Weber Shandwick will assist the automaker, a global client, by utilizing its signature Advocacy-based methodology to engage brand advocates with GM in China and worldwide through social media, Web sites, vehicle rides and drives, forums, press activities and media relations.

“Historically, world expositions have always provided a platform for GM to introduce its latest technology and innovation,” said Jean Liu-Barnocki, GM’s project manager for the Shanghai World Expo 2010. “We’re particularly pleased to have Weber Shandwick’s global network and dedicated Expo task force on the ground in Shanghai as our official global strategic counsel to communicate GM’s technology leadership around the world and in China.”

The Shanghai 2010 World Expo marks GM’s first world exposition sponsorship outside of the United States. GM is the official automotive sponsor of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai along with its joint venture partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), which owns a 50 percent stake in Shanghai GM. Both SAIC and Shanghai GM are running their own independent Expo campaigns related to the joint venture’s corporate pavilion and product line.

As global strategic counsel for the automaker, Weber Shandwick brings a wealth of world exposition experience — having helped the Shanghai city government win the bid to host the Expo and having taken the Expo to Aichi, London, Hamburg and Paris as part of Shanghai Week in addition to supporting both corporate and country pavilions.

“The World Expo 2010 Shanghai will provide an unparalleled platform for GM to showcase its future advanced technology solutions to their largest growing market — China,” said Weber Shandwick Shanghai Managing Director Darren Burns. “The Expo will be a great opportunity for consumers to experience the new GM whether through their online Web site or offline Expo activities.”

World Expo 2010 Shanghai will be the first registered world exposition held in a developing country. Participants will experience urban civilization to its fullest, exchange expertise on urban development, disseminate advanced ideas on cities, and explore new approaches to human habitat, lifestyle and working conditions in the new century. Visitors will learn how to create an eco-friendly society and maintain the sustainable development of human beings.

The organizers of World Expo 2010 Shanghai will seek to attract about 200 nations and international organizations to take part in the exhibition as well as 70 million visitors from China and abroad, ensuring the widest possible participation in the history of world expositions.

About Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a leading global public relations agency with offices in 77 markets around the world. The firm’s reputation is built on its deep commitment to client service, creativity, collaboration and harnessing the power of Advocates — engaging stakeholders in new and creative ways to build brands and reputation. Weber Shandwick provides strategy and execution across practices such as consumer marketing, healthcare, technology, public affairs, corporate/financial and crisis management. Its specialized services include digital/social media, advocacy advertising, market research, and corporate responsibility. Weber Shandwick was named Global Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report and Large PR Firm of the Year by PR News in 2008. The firm also won the United Nations Grand Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Relations an unprecedented three times. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com/.