Shandwick International launches Shandwick InteractiveNew York, NY (March 6, 1997) Shandwick International, the world's largest independent public relations agency, today announced the launch of Shandwick Interactive, a business unit that will significantly expand the services of the companys rapidly growing new media business. This newly formed unit will draw on the in-house skills of MBAs, engineers, management consultants, writers, designers, marketing strategists and information architects to offer clients assistance in the development, implementation, and management of their worldwide Internet strategy.Shandwick Interactive will serve large, multi-national clients who have an enterprise-wide need for strategic new media counseling, design, content production, marketing integration, monitoring, measurement and technology support. Since we entered this market a little more than one year ago, we already have become the public relations industry leader with new media revenues in 1996 in excess of $4 million, said Dermot McNulty, Shandwick International Group Chief Executive. Our intent is to leverage our global base of Fortune 500 clients, our comprehensive new media resources, and our commitment to providing innovative reputation management and marketing services into the best available interactive operation in the world. Craig M. Kaminer, managing director of Shandwick's St. Louis office, who has played a central role in the strategic development of key technology accounts including Microsoft and Compaq, will have management responsibility for Shandwick Interactive in the Americas. He will lead a core team of experts who will assess new business opportunities, coordinate special assignments, cross-sell complementary services, and ensure a product and service excellence standard. "By integrating our current access to senior management, senior marketing executives and senior information technology resources, we will be the first company capable of providing clients comprehensive counsel in the strategic use of interactive technology," said Kaminer. There are dozens of interactive companies without our resources, global reach and client base. By coordinating our activities, talent and resources, we are confident that Shandwick Interactive will provide innovative marketing, communications and business solutions that bring our clients and their key audiences closer together, placing us in an enviable position, not only in the public relations business, but also in the broader web-enabled communications category. According to industry sources, the new unit is well positioned. Stan Lepeak, program director at META Group, a leading high-tech retainer consulting and market research firm stated, "While many management consulting firms, advertising/pr agencies and Internet specialists are all vying for the same spot in a client's heart, firms like Shandwick International have experience, especially with content and marketing depth, access to key decision makers and client lists to leverage the current market reality into a unique sales proposition. If they can deliver, they will be the leaders when it comes to delivering interactive services on a worldwide basis." The new unit will consist of employees in multiple offices, working seamlessly by using the latest technologies to deliver state-of-the-industry marketing and communications products via the Internet. Spiderworx, the companys current new media unit, which has offered consulting, training and limited production services, will become part of Shandwick Interactive. In addition to in-house experts, Shandwick Interactive will partner with specialists from leading technology companies to provide applied technology insights to client needs. Shandwick Interactive is in the process of formalizing these relationships and expects to announce them shortly. In 1996, Shandwick International completed interactive projects for clients such as Digital Equipment, Eastman Kodak Company, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Northwest Airlines, Reebok and Shell International, generating revenue of more than $4 million. For 1997, Shandwick Interactive expects significant growth resulting from aggressive marketing of its services. Shandwick Interactive is a unit of Shandwick International, the worlds largest independent public relations firm with more than 90 offices in 20 countries. |