ECCO International Public Relations Ltd, which is represented in the Gulf region by Dubai-based agency Total Communications, has formed a strategic alliance with Worldwide Partners to offer clients and partner agencies stronger global PR and marketing support.

Worldwide Partners is the world’s largest network of independent agencies with 83 agency partners in 42 countries and over $3.3 billion in capitalised billings. ECCO has over 30 members in over 40 countries, said an official spokesman.
 
“We live in a new, collaborative world in which no one agency or network can meet all the fast-paced needs of global companies,” said President and CEO of Worldwide Partners Al Moffatt.

“As we focus on the ever-changing needs of middle-market clients, the alliance with ECCO allows us to provide these companies with a new level of highly dedicated resources throughout the world. Now, we can truly tailor the structure of a client’s business to include geography, category expertise and the full range of communication disciplines in order to build global brands with a local touch,” he added.

“The two networks are very similar in terms of experience across both established blue chips and the mid tier of challenger businesses, with growing international businesses but still developing sales and marketing infrastructures,” said chairman of London headquartered ECCO Sara Render.

Worldwide Partners, started in 1938, is the world’s largest independent network and the 10th largest marketing communications network overall with capitalised billings of $3.3 billion, 117 offices and over 4,200 employees worldwide. Network clients include Novartis Ciba Vision, Hormel, Lehman Bros., Phonak, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Grupo Santander.

ECCO is a network of independently owned and operated PR and marketing communications consultancies located in over 40 countries around the world and headquartered in London.  ECCO member agencies are successful in their own right and are owner-managed by senior people with big agency/big client experience.  Total Communications has been ECCO’s Arabian Gulf affiliate since January 2002.

ECCO’s clients range from fast growing businesses such as Regus, MEGA and Interface FLOR to long established global brands like Xerox, Sony, Conoco Jet Nordics and UPS Logistics Group. ECCO was ranked fourth largest European PR network in the last PR Week League Tables to cover the independent networks (PR Week European League Table 2005). – TradeArabia News Service