Hill & Knowlton expands its global footprint into India with IPAN

Singapore — IPAN, one of India’s leading PR consultancies and a Hill & Knowlton associate for more than 20 years, is to be renamed IPAN Hill & Knowlton after transferring management stewardship from JWT to Hill & Knowlton, the leading international communications consultancy, from 1st July 2009.

IPAN Hill & Knowlton will be a valuable addition to Hill & Knowlton’s operations in the Asia Pacific region. IPAN is one of India’s leading and most respected public relations consultancies with some of the best in class clients across several sectors. IPAN has more than 140 employees and operations in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Calcutta, with local affiliations that reach more than 100 other cities across India. IPAN President Radhika Shapoorjee will report to Hill & Knowlton Asia Pacific President & Chief Operating Officer Vivian Lines. All existing management and staff at IPAN will continue in their current roles.

Radhika Shapoorjee, President IPAN, commented: “It’s truly a double delight to become part of a specialist global PR network across 43 countries. And we continue to partner with JWT to provide a 360 degree communication solution to our clients. Hill & Knowlton is one of the most well known and well established PR companies in the world. Its unrivalled expertise, extensive network and innovation in public relations best practice will ensure that standards are raised across India and that our clients and our people will benefit from world class advice, insights and services.”

Vivian Lines, President & Chief Operating Officer of Hill & Knowlton Asia Pacific said: "Hill & Knowlton has historically pioneered the development of international public relations, and India is a key market in the new world economic order. We have worked with IPAN as an associate for 20 years. Now we have the opportunity to fully integrate them into the Hill & Knowlton network and to grow business together in what is one of the most vibrant business markets globally.

“While we are still seeing turmoil in the global markets, all the indicators are very positive for India, especially now it has a confident and stable new government. We believe our international client base, as well as our clients in India looking outbound to the world will gain tremendously from the strength of the combined Hill & Knowlton and IPAN brands.”

Colvyn Harris, Chief Executive Officer, JWT India said: “In today’s complex business environment specialization will drive success in the market place, we believe that this management realignment for IPAN with Hill & Knowlton will enhance the value proposition for globalization of Public Relations in India and will strengthen our ability to build a bridge into the international PR arena for our clients in India.”


About Hill & Knowlton
Hill & Knowlton (www.hillandknowlton.com) is a leading international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational and global clients. The firm is headquartered in New York, with 80 offices in 43 countries, as well as an extensive associate network. The agency is part of WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY, www.wpp.com), the world’s largest communications services group.

About IPAN
IPAN is one of India’s leading and most respected Public Relations consultancies with some of the best in class clients across several sectors. It has a network of offices in 6 major cities staffed by skilled PR practitioners. IPAN has over 140 people and operations in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata and local affiliations that reach over 100 cities across India.

Our client list includes Citigroup, Hindustan Lever, Goldman Sachs, the Swatch Group, Continental Airlines, ITC, HP ProCurve, Alstom, ESPN, Kingfisher Airlines, Turner International, British Telecom, Max New York Life Insurance, Monsanto, Viacom Colors, Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association, Hyundai and the MAIT among others.

About JWT India
JWT India is one of the leading integrated communications companies with interests in advertising, digital, activation, public relations, direct marketing, design, social and rural communications. It operates through offices in six cities and partners India’s best and most admired blue chip clients including Airtel, Bharti Retail, Diamond Trading Co, Exide, Ford, FritoLay, GE, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Godrej, Hero Honda, Hindustan Lever, ITC, Kellogg’s, Levi’s, Nike, Nestle, Pepsico, Pizza Hut, Sony Vaio, Sony Bravia and Tisco among others. JWT works with 26 of the top 100 super brands ranked by Superbrands India, and 9 of the top 25 Most Trusted Brands in India as per the Economic Times Brand Equity Survey. JWT is a WPP company.

About WPP
WPP is the world’s largest communications services group. Through its operating companies, the Group provides a comprehensive range of advertising and marketing services including advertising; media investment management; information, insight and consultancy; public relations and public affairs; branding and identity; healthcare communications; direct, digital, promotion and relationship marketing and specialist communications. The company employs 135,000 people (including associates) in 2,400 offices in 107 countries. For more information, visit www.wpp.com.