Cohn & Wolfe Appoints Drake Head of Asia Pacific

SHANGHAI, China, July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Cohn & Wolfe, a leading global
public relations agency, has announced the appointment of Jake Drake as
president of Asia Pacific. Prior to the recently announced merger of Cohn &
Wolfe and GCI Group, Drake served as president of GCI West in Los Angeles. In
his new role, he will be based in Shanghai with responsibilities for building
the combined firm's business in China and strengthening its presence across
Asia.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080722/NYTU084 )
"Growth in China and across the Asia Pacific region is one of the top
priorities of our newly expanded firm," said Donna Imperato, Cohn & Wolfe
Chief Executive Officer. "Our China operation is already a real star in our
global network, having received numerous awards for creativity and integrated
marketing. We are now tasking Jake with the responsibility to take it the next
level. We are confident he will ensure that any Cohn & Wolfe client with
business needs in the region has immediate access to the marketing and
communications resources and expertise they need regardless of market sector."
Cohn & Wolfe, which employs more than 1,000 professionals in 50 offices
around the world, will house its Asia Pacific headquarters in Shanghai. The
company's China operation has deep experience in b-to-b marketing, brand
consulting, lifestyle marketing, media relations and special events for a wide
range of companies in the auto, apparel, travel, technology and health care
sectors, including work for clients such as Ford, Kellogg's, Rolex, Hilton
Hotels Corp., Hampton Inns, JWT and others.
Drake has worked within WPP companies for more than 15 years, helping lead
initiatives on behalf of a wide range of global brands, including Dell,
Pioneer Electronics, Starbucks and Shell, among many others. He said the focus
in China will be on bringing out the best of the new Cohn & Wolfe offerings on
behalf of clients in this new agency. That includes market sectors, such as
healthcare, consumer and b-to-b marketing, luxury goods, digital entertainment
and food and beverage, as well as service, such as integrated marketing
communications, social responsibility and sustainable practices, and digital
and social media.
"The strategy behind the new Cohn & Wolfe is very well-suited to what we
believe companies need to be successful in this region," said Drake. "The
China market is so big and crowded that it demands big ideas. Cohn & Wolfe has
a long history of brand-building and creative programming that has given the
firm a well-deserved reputation as one of the most creative in the industry.
And with digital starting to dominate the communications landscape here, we
have the unique advantage of a global practice that has invested heavily in
developing digital and social media strategies that focus on ideas that
connect clients to the people who matter to them."
About Cohn & Wolfe
Cohn & Wolfe is a strategic public relations agency dedicated to creating,
building and protecting the world's most prolific brands. With offices around
the world, the agency is committed to breaking new ground in the delivery of
cross-channel media strategies, creative programming, and practice area
excellence.
Cohn & Wolfe is recognized year after year by clients and the industry for
excellence in creativity, client service, digital communications, media
strategy, senior management and strategic counsel. Cohn & Wolfe also
consistently ranks among the top "Best Agencies to Work For" in an annual,
industry-wide employee survey. For more information, visit: www.cohnwolfe.com.
Cohn & Wolfe is part of WPP Group plc (Nasdaq: WPPGY), one of the world's
largest communications services group.
SOURCE Cohn & Wolfe

Erica Jaeger, Director, Marketing of Cohn & Wolfe, +1-212-537-8145,
erica.jaeger@cohnwolfe.com