Ketchum and Pleon to Merge, Creating Global Communications Powerhouse

London (ots/PRNewswire) - In an agreement that marks one of
the largest mergers ever in the public relations industry, Ketchum, a
leading global public relations firm, and Pleon, Europe's largest
strategic communications consultancy, have announced today they will
combine operations.

The merger creates one of the largest, most geographically
diverse communications consultancies in the world, and by far the
largest communications consultancy in Europe, augmenting Pleon's
position as the established European market leader. The combined
consultancy has more than 2,000 employees in owned operations and
will now operate in 66 countries with 103 owned and affiliated
offices worldwide.

Building on the strong business performance of both firms,
Ketchum and Pleon are committed to creating a best-in-class
consultancy, bringing together high-caliber talent and a range of
clients representing many of the world's top brands and corporations.
On a worldwide basis, this merger will combine Ketchum's strong
global management capabilities, collaborative culture and reputation
for creativity with Pleon's entrepreneurial style and expertise in
strategic business communications. Both firms have been widely
recognized for delivering effective and often award-winning work on
behalf of their clients. As a result, both firms typically rank at or
near the top of client loyalty assessments.

Ketchum and Pleon also have both created work environments often
recognized among the best places to work in the industry.

"Today, organizations everywhere around the world value the
competitive advantage that well-executed public relations and
communications programs can deliver," explained Raymond L. Kotcher,
senior partner and CEO, Ketchum. "Clients are looking to their
agencies for service that is effective and efficient at the local and
regional level and consistent and seamlessly integrated globally -
across time zones, geographies and cultures. In today's highly
complex environment, clients also are looking for expert counsel and
innovative communication solutions to help them meet their challenges
and seize opportunities. By combining operations, we create a
platform that ensures we will continue to deliver demonstrable value
for our clients everywhere they do business and well into the
future."

Each firm brings considerable and distinctive strengths to the
merger:

- Established in 1923, Ketchum has long been considered a
leader in building brands and corporate reputations. Ketchum also is
known for the professional development of its staff and has been widely
recognized for its culture of collaboration and its creativity. This is
best exemplified in the award-winning work the agency does for its
clients. For example, with 112, Ketchum has won more Public Relations
Society of America Silver Anvils than any agency in history. Silver
Anvils are one of the industry's highest honors.
- Since its beginning as Kohtes & Klewes in 1988 and now as
Pleon Europe, the consultancy has been recognized for its corporate
communications expertise, incorporating a deep understanding of
business, political and social environments into client solutions.
Pleon has been a strong and reliable business with solid growth, and
was recently named "European Consultancy of the Year" by The Holmes
Group.

"Our combined expertise brings a wide-ranging, deep arsenal of
talent to our European offer and at the same time provides EU-based
multinational clients one of the strongest worldwide networks in the
industry," said Timo Sieg, senior partner and CEO of Europe, Ketchum
Pleon. "Together we will transform our businesses and build a unified
communications consultancy, with a culture that will maximize our
collective success."

The firm will operate as Ketchum globally and as Ketchum Pleon in
the U.K. and across continental Europe. Raymond L. Kotcher, senior
partner and CEO, Ketchum, will retain leadership of the organization
and Timo Sieg, who most recently served as chairman and CEO of Pleon,
will be the company's CEO of Europe. David Gallagher is appointed
president of Europe and continues as a senior partner of the firm and
as CEO, London. Mark Hume serves as the chief financial officer for
the region. Management teams at both firms are committed to achieving
a seamless integration beginning immediately, with full integration
completed by year end.

Jon Higgins, who also is a senior partner of Ketchum with
responsibility for its international operations, now adds the title
of CEO and becomes senior partner and CEO, international. Along with
Joachim Klewes, a senior partner with Pleon in Germany, Higgins will
co-lead the global merger integration team. Higgins also will have
management responsibility for the firm's newly combined operations in
Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Sieg joins Ketchum's global Executive Committee, which in
addition to Kotcher, Higgins, and Gallagher includes Dale Bornstein,
senior partner, global practices; Rob Flaherty, senior partner and
president; Rob Lorfink, senior partner, COO and CFO; Jerry Olszewski,
senior partner and chief client officer; Barri Rafferty, senior
partner and director, New York; and Lorraine Thelian, senior partner,
North America.

Global headquarters will be maintained in New York. The European
headquarters will be located in Dusseldorf, Germany.

About Ketchum

A communications innovator, Ketchum ranks among the largest
global public relations agencies, operating in more than 50
countries. With five global practices - Brand Marketing, Corporate,
Healthcare, Food & Nutrition, and Technology - and specialty
capabilities that include Access Communications (high- and
consumer-tech PR), Concentric Communications (experiential marketing,
events and meetings), MMG (clinical trial recruitment), Ketchum
Global Research Network, Ketchum Sports and Entertainment Marketing,
and Stromberg Consulting (change management and workplace
communications), Ketchum leverages its marketing and corporate
communication expertise to build brands and reputations for clients.
In 2009, Advertising Age named Ketchum to its annual "Ones to Watch"
Agency A-List, noting the agency's long-standing client partnerships,
digital and disruptive media expertise, and CSR and sustainability
programming. For more information on Ketchum, a unit of Omnicom Group
Inc. (NYSE:OMC), visit http://www.ketchum.com.

About Pleon

Pleon is Europe's leading communications consultancy. It offers
global reach with local experience, combining business understanding,
political insight and creative thinking to devise and implement
communication strategies that deliver tangible results to its
clients. Pleon has 33 branded offices across Europe, Middle East and
Africa. More than 25 percent of its clients are serviced in more than
one country and up to 100 clients are listed among the Euro Stoxx top
300. Pleon was recently named "European Consultancy of the Year" by
The Holmes Group. For more information, visit http://www.pleon.com.

Contacts:
Ketchum: Robyn Massey
+44-(0)20-7611-3658
robyn.massey@ketchum.com
Alicia Stetzer
+1-646-935-3910
alicia.stetzer@ketchum.com
Pleon: Dirk Popp
+49-351-84-30-414
dirk.popp@pleon.com

For more information about the merger, please visit
http://www.ketchumpleonmerge.com.

ots Originaltext: Ketchum
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Contacts: Ketchum: Robyn Massey, +44-(0)20-7611-3658,
robyn.massey@ketchum.com. Alicia Stetzer, +1-646-935-3910,
alicia.stetzer@ketchum.com. Pleon: Dirk Popp, +49-351-84-30-414,
dirk.popp@pleon.com