NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--An overwhelming majority of public relations firms are off to a fast start in 2007, according to a business benchmark survey conducted by the Council of Public Relations Firms (Council). Surveyed firms averaged an 8.8% increase in first quarter revenues over Q1 2006. Additionally, 90% of those firms expect revenues to increase again in 2007.
Revenues increased an average of 13.9% in 2006, according to a different Council survey conducted in January.
The sectors generating the most revenue for firms in 2006 were, in order, consumer products and services, technology and healthcare. More than half of firm revenues were generated in marketing communications (51%), followed by corporate communications (26%) and public affairs (11%).
“For public relations firms, these are really good times,” said Kathy Cripps, President of the Council of Public Relations Firms. “The industry as a whole has benefited from the emergence of social/interactive media as a viable channel to reach consumers. Add to that the fact that firms are doing a great job running their businesses, and it’s easy to understand why there has been sustained growth across the industry for the past several years.”
The Council’s Business Practices Benchmarking Study, conducted in March and April, and was completed by 72 public relations firms.
Other findings included:
New business is strong: 73% of firms reported an increase in the number of Requests for Proposals (RFP) in 2006 vs. 2005.
Average profitability increased for the fourth consecutive year: Double digit profit margins were reported.
The U.S. cities with the most representation in the study include, in order: New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Dallas. (This refers to the cities where Council members have offices.)
The Council of PR Firms is comprised of America’s leading public relations firms. Its 100 members represent the premier global, mid-size, regional and specialty agencies across every discipline and practice area. The Council is dedicated to strengthening the recognition and role of public relations firms in corporate strategy, business performance and social education, serving as an authoritative source of information and expert comment and helping set standards for the public relations industry. For more information about the Council of Public Relations Firms, call 1-877-PRFIRMS or visit our website at www.prfirms.org.
Thursday, 14 June 2007
Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide/China and JL McGregor Announce Strategic Alliance
BEIJING, June 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide/China (Ogilvy PR) and JL McGregor & Company, a premier China research and advisory company, have signed an exclusive strategic alliance to offer comprehensive client support. Under the strategic alliance, the two companies are jointly offering clients services in the areas of China government relations, public relations, communications and commercial complexities involving China.
JL McGregor & Company is a China-focused research and advisory company with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and New York. Ogilvy PR is the largest public relations agency in China. The partnership builds on the existing cooperation between Ogilvy PR and James McGregor, the founder of JL McGregor & Company. Mr. McGregor has served as Senior China Advisor to Ogilvy PR for the past four years.
"We have been working with Jim for many years, and his knowledge, experience and deep insights into China are widely respected by government officials and the international business community. His team also brings a very strong skill set," said Scott Kronick, president of Ogilvy PR/China. "Coming together in an alliance is a natural fit."
"Jointly, Ogilvy and JL McGregor & Co offer an unparalleled breadth and depth in terms of China expertise on the ground," said James McGregor, chairman and CEO of JL McGregor & Company. "This strategic alliance allows us to leverage our joint talent pool, operational experience and network of business and government relationships to help clients successfully execute the right business strategy for the China growth opportunity."
At his firm, McGregor has gathered a team of more than two dozen China professionals from diverse and complementary backgrounds who will add to the value equation of this newly formed strategic alliance. Among the key executives who will work closely with Ogilvy PR are: -- James McGregor. A Mandarin speaking journalist-turned-businessman who
has lived in China for two decades. He is the author of the book One Billion Customers: Lessons From the Front Lines of Doing Business in China, a widely-acclaimed best-seller published by Simon & Schuster in 2005. Previously, McGregor headed the China Wall Street Journal bureau
and served as chief executive of Dow Jones & Co in China, as well as Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China.
-- William McCahill. A former senior American Foreign Service career officer who has extensive hands-on experience doing business in China, most recently as Senior International Business Advisor of the law firm WilmerHale. In his final diplomatic posting, McCahill served as Deputy
Chief of Mission and Charge of the American Embassy in Beijing, where he played a key role in the conclusion of the U.S.-China bilateral WTO agreement.
-- Anne Stevenson-Yang. A former business consultant and entrepreneurial executive who successfully founded four companies in the software and media businesses. Previously, Stevenson-Yang served as China Director of the US-China Business Council and Managing Director of the US Information Technology Office in Beijing.
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 26th year, Ogilvy PR provides strategic public relations counsel to a variety of clients across its consumer marketing, corporate, healthcare, technology, public affairs, social marketing and entertainment practices. The agency also offers biotechnology and government affairs expertise through its subsidiaries Feinstein Kean Healthcare and Ogilvy Government Relations, respectively. Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide is part of the WPP Group, one of the world's largest communications services organizations (NASDAQ: WPPGY) . For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.ogilvypr.com/.
About JL McGregor & Company, LLC
JL McGregor & Company is a China-focused research and advisory company with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and New York. JL McGregor & Co has a total staff of more than two-dozen people who have a very wide and deep reach into every corner of China's fastest growing industries, most innovative and entrepreneurial companies, national and local government offices and global and local money managers. The focus of the company's research and advisory business is providing common sense advice, clear-minded and comprehensive research and business intelligence and savvy and executable political, business, management and communications strategies in China -- and helping clients execute those strategies. For more information, visit http://www.jlmcgregor.com/. Website: http://www.ogilvypr.com/Website: http://www.jlmcgregor.com/
JL McGregor & Company is a China-focused research and advisory company with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and New York. Ogilvy PR is the largest public relations agency in China. The partnership builds on the existing cooperation between Ogilvy PR and James McGregor, the founder of JL McGregor & Company. Mr. McGregor has served as Senior China Advisor to Ogilvy PR for the past four years.
"We have been working with Jim for many years, and his knowledge, experience and deep insights into China are widely respected by government officials and the international business community. His team also brings a very strong skill set," said Scott Kronick, president of Ogilvy PR/China. "Coming together in an alliance is a natural fit."
"Jointly, Ogilvy and JL McGregor & Co offer an unparalleled breadth and depth in terms of China expertise on the ground," said James McGregor, chairman and CEO of JL McGregor & Company. "This strategic alliance allows us to leverage our joint talent pool, operational experience and network of business and government relationships to help clients successfully execute the right business strategy for the China growth opportunity."
At his firm, McGregor has gathered a team of more than two dozen China professionals from diverse and complementary backgrounds who will add to the value equation of this newly formed strategic alliance. Among the key executives who will work closely with Ogilvy PR are: -- James McGregor. A Mandarin speaking journalist-turned-businessman who
has lived in China for two decades. He is the author of the book One Billion Customers: Lessons From the Front Lines of Doing Business in China, a widely-acclaimed best-seller published by Simon & Schuster in 2005. Previously, McGregor headed the China Wall Street Journal bureau
and served as chief executive of Dow Jones & Co in China, as well as Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China.
-- William McCahill. A former senior American Foreign Service career officer who has extensive hands-on experience doing business in China, most recently as Senior International Business Advisor of the law firm WilmerHale. In his final diplomatic posting, McCahill served as Deputy
Chief of Mission and Charge of the American Embassy in Beijing, where he played a key role in the conclusion of the U.S.-China bilateral WTO agreement.
-- Anne Stevenson-Yang. A former business consultant and entrepreneurial executive who successfully founded four companies in the software and media businesses. Previously, Stevenson-Yang served as China Director of the US-China Business Council and Managing Director of the US Information Technology Office in Beijing.
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 26th year, Ogilvy PR provides strategic public relations counsel to a variety of clients across its consumer marketing, corporate, healthcare, technology, public affairs, social marketing and entertainment practices. The agency also offers biotechnology and government affairs expertise through its subsidiaries Feinstein Kean Healthcare and Ogilvy Government Relations, respectively. Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide is part of the WPP Group, one of the world's largest communications services organizations (NASDAQ: WPPGY) . For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.ogilvypr.com/.
About JL McGregor & Company, LLC
JL McGregor & Company is a China-focused research and advisory company with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and New York. JL McGregor & Co has a total staff of more than two-dozen people who have a very wide and deep reach into every corner of China's fastest growing industries, most innovative and entrepreneurial companies, national and local government offices and global and local money managers. The focus of the company's research and advisory business is providing common sense advice, clear-minded and comprehensive research and business intelligence and savvy and executable political, business, management and communications strategies in China -- and helping clients execute those strategies. For more information, visit http://www.jlmcgregor.com/. Website: http://www.ogilvypr.com/Website: http://www.jlmcgregor.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
