ST. LOUIS, Nov. 5, 2009 — Fleishman-Hillard International Communications today announced a selective co-marketing and product development agreement with evolve24, a business analytics and research firm with leading capabilities in the measurement of perception, reputation and risk. This agreement will drive science-based advances in communications planning and reputation management that are shaped by both traditional and social media.

One key element of the partnership is providing clients with powerful web-based analytical software called The Mirror that delivers data in near real-time to the desktop. The Mirror integrates both traditional media content and social media coverage, including conversation on Twitter, blogs and forums, trade publications, journals, wires, television, radio and news releases. It captures the continuous stream of information across all channels and categorizes and analyzes it by a wide range of metrics such as stakeholder, topic, concept, sentiment, share of voice, influence and reputation impact.

The Mirror can be customized to collect and present data in ways that meet the needs of diverse clients. It provides an easy-to-use, self-search capability for reviewing content and receiving analysis by region, publication or psychographic categories, and translates content from multiple languages into English. It also can provide dashboards that enable management of reputation, risk and stakeholder relations.

The result is a complete, accessible and immediate view of the full spectrum of conversation that provides a clear picture of the emerging issues and opportunities a company faces.

“evolve24, with its leading-edge technology, understanding of the global communications environment and commitment to excellence in client service, is an ideal partner for FH,” said Dave Senay, president and chief executive officer of Fleishman-Hillard. “Together, we are enabling our clients and account teams to measure and manage communications in a more informed, timely and effective way across the entire spectrum of conversation. The Mirror also provides a forward-looking picture of clients’ communications landscapes and enables us to anticipate issues, seize opportunities and actively manage reputation. The predictive nature of this technology acts like an early warning system, giving us the head start we need to anticipate and act.”

“By partnering with Fleishman-Hillard, we can push forward the state of the industry in managing global communications and its impact on reputation,” said Anthony M. Sardella, chief executive officer and founder of evolve24, LLC. “We believe The Mirror advances the state of the art in managing communications by integrating monitoring, measurement across very powerful metrics and outreach to key voices. It tells not only what people are saying, but what they believe about a brand. It provides the whole story. By evaluating data across the spectrum of online conversation, clients get an intimate understanding of the influencers, the followers, and the bystanders, while continually monitoring the ebb and flow of current belief, and engaging as needed.”

This partnership and new integrated media monitoring and measurement system complement and add depth to Fleishman-Hillard’s research capabilities that include surveys and polling; brand research and message testing; executive interviews; communications audits; focus groups; stakeholder personas; competitive intelligence; media segmentation and targeting; and news distribution and content optimization.

About Fleishman-Hillard
Fleishman-Hillard Inc., one of the world’s leading public relations firms, has built its reputation by using strategic communications to deliver what its clients value most: meaningful, positive, and measurable impact on the performance of their organizations. The firm is widely recognized for excellent client service and a strong company culture founded on teamwork, integrity, and personal commitment. Based in St. Louis, the firm operates throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, South Africa, and Latin America through its 80 owned offices. For more information, visit the Fleishman-Hillard Web site at www.fleishman.com.

Fleishman-Hillard is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing, and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations, and other specialty communications services to more than 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

About evolve24
Formed in 2004, evolve24 is a business analytics and research firm specializing in the measurement of perception, reputation and risk. The firm analyzes traditional and social media to determine their clients’ overall information landscape and provide quantitative metrics that let clients measure and report the value of their marketing and communications efforts. With this information, clients are able to identify ongoing topics and risks that could become issues without management attention, or could become opportunities if approached correctly. evolve24 is the unique provider of a fully integrated solution based on scientifically peer-reviewed methodology that analyzes existing issues, predicts changes in those issues and identifies the emergence of new issues early in their life cycle.

DALIAN, China, Sept. 10, 2009 — Multinational corporations based in China, India, Japan and South Korea have unprecedented opportunity to succeed in the current global business environment, according to a study released today by international communications and public affairs consultancy Fleishman-Hillard.

The study, titled The New Asian Champions, was conducted among an elite group of high-ranking business executives and opinion leaders, and its findings were released in Dalian, China, where the World Economic Forum is holding a major conference.

Among the highlights:

• 40 percent of respondents see “a great deal of opportunity” in the current economic environment;
• 67 percent believe that a “great deal of opportunity” exists five years from now, given global economic trends;
• 70 percent agree that “by the year 2020, a China-dominated Asia will be the most influential region in the global economy.”

The survey also revealed a number of challenges Asian multinationals must overcome in order to capitalize on opportunities outside of their home markets. While most respondents (72 percent) still view a low cost base and access to inexpensive labor as the number-one advantage of Asian companies, 35 percent saw a lack of profile and branding as their single greatest weakness. And a collective 48 percent of participants expressed concern about the impact of the global economic downturn and a range of other issues that includes lack of familiarity with foreign markets, cultural and linguistic barriers and global availability of international distribution channels.

“Clearly, the New Asian Champions have unprecedented opportunities to succeed globally,” said Dave Senay, president and chief executive officer of Fleishman-Hillard. “However, there is no room for complacency among Asia’s top companies. The leaders we surveyed by no means view Asia’s global leadership as automatic. Now is the time for Asian MNCs with global ambitions to invest in their brands and in differentiating their products, services and competitive advantages in business and consumer markets around the world. ”

The survey results also indicate that, while such Asian brands as Lenovo, Tata Group, Hyundai, Daewoo and NEC are widely recognized, many others are not. Respondents largely attributed this to a relative lack of communications and branding expertise on the part of some Asian players. For example, 72 percent agree with the statement, “An investment in communications will be necessary for Asian multinational corporations to compete in the global marketplace,” while only 15 percent believe that these companies have all the marketing and branding expertise they need to compete globally.

The study revealed other communications-related challenges, as well, with 58 percent of respondents agreeing that “Asian multinational corporations need more visibility to compete with companies in the U.S. and Europe.” Only 11 percent of respondents say that companies from the region have the public affairs expertise to succeed in the global arena.

“This survey’s findings mirror my own experiences advising companies in Asia,” commented Patrick Chovanec, assistant professor, School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University. “Asian multinationals have demonstrated their mastery of the production process, advanced technologies, and succeeding at home. Many agree that these companies produce the best quality for the lowest prices worldwide. It is the ‘soft skills’ — the ability to communicate value, to build strong emotional bonds with customers, to navigate unfamiliar cultures and political systems — that often present Asia’s top firms with their greatest challenge.”

“The fast-growing economies of India and North Asia have provided unprecedented opportunities for today’s Asian MNCs,” Senay added. “As they continue to grow and take on new markets, the next few years will test their ability to reinvent themselves into global success stories.”

The study was conducted in the month of August among 130 high-ranking business executives, members of the financial community, academics, think tank leaders, government officials and regulators. Participants were identified through a variety of resources and included several members of Fleishman-Hillard’s International Advisory Board (a client resource that brings together an array of distinguished thought leaders from the private and public sectors), as well as subject-matter experts identified by two independent research and service companies that partnered with Fleishman-Hillard on the study.

The sample was drawn from these resources to obtain the opinions and insights of a geographically and demographically diverse, yet specifically targeted, mix of high-ranking and influential individuals, as opposed to a randomly selected sample. Thus, sampling error is not applicable.

About Fleishman-Hillard
Fleishman-Hillard Inc., one of the world’s leading public relations firms, has built its reputation by using strategic communications to deliver what its clients value most: meaningful, positive, and measurable impact on the performance of their organizations. The firm is widely recognized for excellent client service and a strong company culture founded on teamwork, integrity, and personal commitment. Based in St. Louis, the firm operates throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, South Africa, and Latin America through its 80 owned offices. For more information, visit the Fleishman-Hillard Web site at www.fleishman.com.

Fleishman-Hillard is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing, and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations, and other specialty communications services to more than 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

Read: PRSA Foundation John D. Graham Scholarship

While at HHS, Pearson led successful communications strategies on diverse health care issues, such as the Medicare prescription drug benefit, health information technology, import safety, pandemic and emergency preparedness and chronic disease prevention.

“Christina has a sterling reputation as one of the most experienced health care communicators inside the beltway,” said Bill Pendergast, general manager of Fleishman-Hillard’s Washington, D.C., office. “Having served as a top communications strategist on health care in the executive branch, on Capitol Hill and in the private sector, she will be a tremendous asset to Fleishman-Hillard as we meet our clients’ growing needs in this core practice area.”

Pearson served as chief HHS spokesperson and communications strategist, overseeing all activities related to media, marketing and Web operations within the department’s 11 agencies, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the Food & Drug Administration. She was instrumental in the multi-faceted campaigns to bring greater awareness to pandemic influenza and enroll millions of seniors in the new Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Under her leadership, HHS led federal agencies in their expansion into new media with the establishment of the first cabinet-level blog, outreach to bloggers and increased use of webcasts, text messaging, virtual worlds and social networking Web sites. Prior to her confirmation in 2007, Pearson served in a variety of communications roles at HHS, including leadership of regional media outreach and coordination of the department’s public service advertising campaigns.

“I’m thrilled to join a marquee firm that serves major health care clients in both government and the private sector,” Pearson said.

Pearson began her career at the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance in 1995. As deputy communications director, she worked on a range of issues that included the creation of the Roth IRA and SCHIP, welfare reform and HIPAA. After leaving the Hill, she joined a start-up strategic communications firm and later became a spokesperson for the American Hospital Association. She is a graduate of Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y.

About Fleishman-Hillard
Fleishman-Hillard Inc., one of the world’s leading public relations firms, has built its reputation by using strategic communications to deliver what its clients value most: meaningful, positive, and measurable impact on the performance of their organizations. The firm is widely recognized for excellent client service and a strong company culture founded on teamwork, integrity, and personal commitment. Based in St. Louis, the firm operates throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, South Africa, and Latin America through its 80 owned offices. For more information, visit the Fleishman-Hillard Web site at www.fleishman.com.

Fleishman-Hillard is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing, and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations, and other specialty communications services to more than 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

CHICAGO, April 8, 2009  — When it comes to investing in sustainable business behaviors and programs, more than half of corporate marketers and communicators believe that their organizations will increase their involvement in environmental sustainability initiatives during the next two to three years, according to a survey conducted by the American Marketing Association and Fleishman-Hillard, Inc. In addition, half of those surveyed believe that economic realities will actually encourage the adoption of sustainability practices.

The survey shows that 58 percent of marketing and communication leaders believe their companies will place more emphasis on developing corporate sustainability opportunities in the months ahead, despite the belt tightening that is happening in the business world.

“At a time when the economy requires everyone to stay focused on the essentials, it’s noteworthy that businesses are putting sustainability programs into that must-do column,” said Nancy Costopulos, chief marketing officer of the American Marketing Association. “It is a signal that the business community is embracing environmental sustainability in a way that this country has probably never seen before.”

More than half of those surveyed believe that sustainability is an essential element of their company’s reputation right now. Nearly three-quarters believe that corporate reputation, corporate culture and technological advancements will be the drivers for sustainability. The new administration’s policies will further accelerate the adoption of corporate sustainability programs, according to 63 percent of responders in the survey.

However, optimism is tempered with some smart realities. While the majority of companies will continue to invest in sustainability initiatives during the next year, how companies chose to communicate that commitment is mixed. About 43 percent of those surveyed expect their companies to increase marketing of their sustainability programs. They say they will do so because it is the right thing to do; customers are asking for more information; it is supportive of the corporate culture; and because sustainability offers a clear and distinct business advantage. That said, more than half of the respondents do not expect to increase their storytelling in the category of sustainability.

“It is important that companies align their sustainability and business objectives internally, with engagement from management and employees, before communicating their goals externally,” said Aili Jokela, co-chair of FH Sustainability, a Fleishman-Hillard practice group specializing in environmental issues and corporate social responsibility. “Taking careful steps in building a communications program that correlates to a strategic plan and measurable operation improvements is extremely important for authenticity and credibility. Then, it’s time to communicate.”

Additional key findings from the study include:

• More marketers and communicators (53 percent) define sustainability as the need to balance financial, human and natural resources for the long-term benefit of business and communities. Few define sustainability in terms of focusing on renewable energy resources (3 percent) or driving inefficiency out of the supply chain (10 percent).
• Employees (82 percent) and customers (74 percent) are more likely to be the targets of communications about sustainability than are investors and analysts (52 percent).
• Sixty-three percent believe that the new administration’s policies will further accelerate the adoption of sustainability programs.
• Even the most popular sustainability programs — recycling (36 percent) and electric energy efficiency (20 percent) — are extensively embraced by only a minority of businesses.

About the American Marketing Association—Fleishman-Hillard Sustainability Study
Findings are based on an online panel survey among 270 corporate communications professionals, primarily those holding marketing or public relations jobs, in January and February 2009. For more information regarding the study, please click here.

The American Marketing Association (AMA) is the largest marketing association in North America. It is a professional association for individuals and organizations involved in the practice, teaching and study of marketing worldwide. It is also the source that marketers turn to every day for information/resources, education/training and professional networking. AMA members are connected to a network of experienced marketers nearly 40,000 strong and include leading marketing academics, researchers and practitioners from every industry. AMA offers highly acclaimed seminars, workshops and Hot Topic events focused on the immediate needs of marketers, as well as trends shaping the future. AMA’s website, MarketingPower.com, is the everyday connection to marketing data, articles, case studies, best practices and a robust job bank. The AMA also is the source for the field’s top magazines and journals, including Marketing News. AMA professional and collegiate chapters and special interest groups keep members in touch with the best people and the best practices. For more information on the American Marketing Association please visit www.MarketingPower.com.

Fleishman-Hillard Inc., one of the world’s leading public relations firms, has built its reputation by using strategic communications to deliver what its clients value most: meaningful, positive, and measurable impact on the performance of their organizations. The firm is widely recognized for excellent client service and a strong company culture founded on teamwork, integrity, and personal commitment. Based in St. Louis, the firm operates throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, South Africa, and Latin America through its 80 owned offices. For more information, visit the Fleishman-Hillard Web site at http://www.fleishman.com. Fleishman-Hillard is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (http://www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to more than 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 20, 2009 — Fleishman-Hillard International Communications today announced the launch of a global practice group focused on marketing to the consumer segment responsible for 85 percent of all household purchasing decisions: mothers. The new FH Moms practice combines the scope of Fleishman-Hillard’s global network with a deep understanding of the growing “momocracy” that has emerged as consumers in general exercise more and more control over where and how they interact with brands, and as moms increasingly lead the conversation, both as advocates and critics.

FH Moms will coordinate across the firm’s global network of 80 offices to provide strategic counsel on communicating with moms through an integrated range of touch points that includes both traditional and online media, as well as influencer and word-of-mouth marketing.

Fleishman-Hillard partnered with The Harrison Group, a strategic marketing and research consulting firm, to develop a proprietary study, “Women, Power and Money: A Shift to the New Female-Driven Economy,” in which 71 percent of the 3,000 respondents were moms. What emerged is a clear vision of mom as chief household officer — CEO, CFO, and COO all rolled up into one powerful package. In millions of American households, moms set the purchasing agenda for everything from traditional packaged goods to financial and home improvement services.

Dave Senay, president and chief executive officer of Fleishman-Hillard, noted that this expanded breadth of market influence is matched by the expertise within FH Moms, which comprises specialists from the firm’s diverse practice areas, including marketing communications, healthcare, technology, travel and tourism, FH Hispania, and financial communications. FH Moms co-chairs Liz Hawks, Heidi Hovland, and Kris Caputo Hurley also mirror the firm’s geographic diversity, representing its Kansas City, New York, and Sacramento offices respectively.

“While FH Moms is our newest global practice group, this is an area of rich expertise for our firm,” said Dave Senay. “The establishment of this practice formalizes and sharpens our focus on strategies and approaches that our integrated marketing communications experts have been applying and refining for years. Our expanded commitment to this important market segment promises to deliver tremendous value to our clients.”

“We know moms. Many of us are moms. And we know that, overwhelmingly, moms don’t think major brands are relating to them and their unique needs,” said Liz Hawks, co-chair of the new practice. “FH Moms will leverage deep knowledge and agency expertise to help clients bridge the gap between their organizational goals and moms’ needs as consumers.”

Fleishman-Hillard Inc., one of the world’s leading public relations firms, has built its reputation by using strategic communications to deliver what its clients value most: meaningful, positive, and measurable impact on the performance of their organizations. The firm is widely recognized for excellent client service and a strong company culture founded on teamwork, integrity, and personal commitment. Based in St. Louis, the firm operates throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, South Africa, and Latin America through its 80 owned offices. For more information, visit the Fleishman-Hillard Web site at http://www.fleishman.com.

Fleishman-Hillard is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (http://www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to more than 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.