EMG joins strategic alliance

September 17, 2002 - APCO Worldwide announced today it has formed APCO Industriasm, a strategic alliance with AH&M Marketing Communications (AH&M) of Pittsfield, Mass., U.S.A., and The European Marketing Group B.V. (EMG) of Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands. APCO Worldwide is headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA.

APCO Industria provides a "total solutions" approach to business-to-business communications across geographies, as well as vertical industries. The offering includes corporate and product brand reputation management, product preference marketing and market entry, investor relations, business and industry trade press publicity, advertising, interactive technology, marketing communications, technical writing, crisis communications, and strategic planning.

APCO Industria's alliance partners have collaborated closely on a variety of successful global business-to-business initiatives. "More than ever before, industrial companies are grappling with the challenge of managing their marketing initiatives in far-flung geographies against lower-cost and regional competitors. APCO Industria provides the full range of services they require, as well as a veteran, global team of experts committed to managing the communications investment for greater value and market impact," said Jan Hausrath, APCO senior vice president and director of the strategic alliance for APCO.

"APCO's global network and full-service communications portfolio is greatly complemented by this new alliance with AH&M and EMG, two business-to-business agencies that have earned an excellent reputation serving Fortune 500 companies. We have been doing exciting work together for well over a year and have great chemistry, so it just made sense to formalize our relationship," added Hausrath.

"EMG has worked with top industrial companies for more than 10 years on a wide range of successful Pan-European public relations and marketing communications programs," said Greg Farrett, president of The European Marketing Group. "We are now one of the leading independent marketing communications agencies in the region and our partnership with APCO and AH&M allows us to offer truly global service to clients as part of a diverse team of experts that fully understands how to help them succeed in all the geographic and vertical markets they serve, anywhere in the world."

Jim Allison, AH&M president, said that what sets this strategic alliance apart from other communications offerings is that, "…APCO Industria offers a broad and deep technical understanding of global business and industry. We know what it takes to help clients succeed in today's global arena," he said, "and we have the sophisticated strategic planning and in-house resources needed to implement truly integrated global communications. Combined with our experience serving the world's leading multinational corporations, few agencies—if any—can match our level of capabilities or collective expertise."

In one recent example of their work together, the APCO Industria team launched the new web-based XIAMETER™ brand for Dow Corning Corporation. The global media blitz generated more than 400 news stories in North America, Europe, and Asia within two months of the brand's launch. "APCO has been Dow Corning's global marketing communications agency of record for some time, and we trusted their decision to work with the right strategic partners on the launch of Xiameter," says Dow Corning's Randall Rozin, global brand manager. "The drive, commitment, skill, and seamless communication between APCO, AH&M, and EMG made this effort one of the largest, most comprehensive, and successful business launches in the history of our company."

In addition to Dow Corning, other B2B accounts held by the strategic alliance partners include PolyOne Corporation, Owens Corning, Eastman Chemical Company, Great Lakes Chemical Corporation, and Omnexus.

APCO Worldwide is a public affairs and strategic communications firm with 23 offices around the world. While primarily known for its work in the public affairs arena, APC