Themis Group, Inc. enlists Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide

New York, NY – Themis Media today announced it has selected Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide (Ogilvy PR) to build visibility for its industry-leading video gaming lifestyle publication, The Escapist. Ogilvy PR will work with the company to execute visibility campaigns and strategic communications initiatives to brand The Escapist as the most desired online destination that informs and entertains video gamers around the world with its in-depth features and exclusive videos.

“This partnership with Ogilvy PR validates our dedication to making The Escapist the conduit that brings the contemporary gamer lifestyle to a broader audience,” said Thomas Kurz, co-founder and chairman of Themis Group, Inc. “Ogilvy PR’s wealth of branding and digital influencer experience in the video gaming sector and proven track record for leading results-driven communications campaigns, makes the agency a natural fit as we work to help consumer brands better understand the significant opportunities with the video gamer market.”

The Escapist offers video game enthusiasts high quality entertainment and intelligent commentary, including articles and columns authored by leading video game authorities, in addition to cutting-edge videos, engaging forums and robust social media elements that access gamer sensibility.

“As an intelligent resource for gamers, The Escapist is an ideal platform for advertisers and marketers catering to a loyal, tech-savvy audience. With its innovative approach to community engagement, The Escapist is setting new standards for successful online publishing,” said Siobhan Aalders, senior vice president with Ogilvy PR’s Technology Practice. “This relationship with The Escapist will help build upon our digital influence capabilities as well as our strong links with the media and advertising community.”

“Presently, video gaming is the most successful entertainment medium and one of very few industries maintaining momentum amid today’s tumultuous economy,” said Alexander Macris, co-founder, president and CEO of Themis Group, Inc. “Our rapid growth and popularity among an extremely active and devoted community base is testament to the fact that we provide insightful and intelligent video gaming media that resonates with our audiences’ sensibilities as progressive and thoughtful consumers.”

Ogilvy PR will provide ongoing planning and strategic counsel on programs and activities to raise awareness for The Escapist as well as support for Themis’ other video game-centric sites with a readership of more than four million unique visitors across the Themis network. The agency will also lead efforts for key annual events including The Escapist’s first-of-its-kind Internet Film Festival for Gamers and March Mayhem game developer competition.

Aalders will lead the account from Ogilvy PR’s New York office leveraging the agency’s expertise across its global network of events organization and digital influence practices.

About The Escapist
Founded in 2005, The Escapist (www.escapistmagazine.com) is a leading video gaming destination offering video game enthusiasts high-quality, innovative and exclusive content with a considered approach to its audience. The mouthpiece of the gaming generation, The Escapist aims to capture and celebrate the contemporary video gaming lifestyle and the diverse global video game culture by way of in-depth features, thought provoking articles and relevant columns authored by leading video game authorities, as well as cutting-edge video shorts, engaging forums and robust social media elements that incorporate the video gaming experience. Honored with both a Webby Award and People’s Voice Award in 2008, The Escapist is responsible for the web’s most viewed video game review series, Zero Punctuation, in addition to introducing the first-of-its-kind Internet Film Festival for Gamers and the March Mayhem game developer competition. The Escapist is part of Themis Group, Inc.’s online media arm Themis Media, and currently generates over 25 million page views each month.

About Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide (Ogilvy PR) is a leading global marketing communications firm, with offices in more than 60 cities around the world. In its 28th year, Ogilvy PR provides strategic public relations counsel to a variety of clients across its social marketing, public affairs, healthcare, consumer marketing, 360˚ digital influence, corporate, technology and entertainment practices. Through its subsidiary, Feinstein Kean Healthcare, the agency also offers additional experience in the cancer field, as well as specialized expertise in molecular medicine, advanced biomedical research, leading life science and healthcare technologies and treatments. Ogilvy PR also offers government affairs services through its subsidiary Ogilvy Government Relations. Ogilvy PR is part of the WPP plc, one of the world’s largest communications services organizations (NASDAQ: WPPGY, www.wpp.com). For more information, visit our Web site at www.ogilvypr.com.