COHN & Wolfe announced that it will take a minority stake in BPG | pr, one of the most respected PR agencies in the Middle East. The move strengthens and broadens Cohn & Wolfe's offer to clients across the MENA region and follows on the heels of the agency's Asia-Pacific expansion in China, India and Southeast Asia. BPG | pr is part of the BPG Group that has been creating and executing integrated solutions for its clients since it began operations in 1980 in Dubai. Since inception, the group has helped build global brands out of local initiatives. The new agency, BPG | Cohn & Wolfe, would provide current BPG clients with access to an award-winning international network, while bringing Cohn & Wolfe clients deep expertise in the MENA region across lifestyle, FMCG, travel and tourism, healthcare, corporate and government. BPG | Cohn & Wolfe has a multinational, multilingual staff of 34 professionals from 13 countries. The network is one of the few public relations agencies established in the Middle East, with headquarters in Dubai and additional offices in Abu Dhabi, Baghdad, Doha, Jeddah and Kuwait as well as affiliates in Cairo and Muscat. “The Middle East is one of the world's most dynamic and fastest growing regions and is becoming increasingly important for our global clients. When it came to finding an established, credible partner that understands the complexities and opportunities of this market, and its demand for world class communications services, BPG | pr was best in class,” said Donna Imperato, CEO of Cohn & Wolfe. “Cohn & Wolfe is looking forward to ensuring that the synergies between our two businesses offer our global clients stronger services in the MENA region while providing clients of BPG | pr with an opportunity to benefit from our global network and international expertise,” she added. Commenting on the new partnership, BPG Group Chief Executive Avi Bhojani said: “Engaging in this new relationship will add significant value and further impetus to what is already a successful and growing public relations business at BPG. “Cohn & Wolfe is recognized as one of the world's most creative agencies with a strong commitment to digital and social media that will enable us to share best global practice and bring new concepts to our clients in the region, while offering our local as well as regional clients access to a global network.” — SG
