Growth in International Public Relations Network reflective of growing trend of global collaborations

IPRN’s new members are:

• 

  Crest Communications, from Prague (Czech Republic)
  

• Headline, from Santiago (Chile)
  
• INC and L45/The Van Group, from Rome and Milano (Italy)
  
• Lopito, Ileana & Howie from San Jose (Puerto Rico)
  
• Publik Kommunikation based in Stockholm (Sweden)
  
• W7 Worldwide based in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), and
  
• TDUB from Hamburg (Germany)

The member growth in Quarter 1 of 2019 is indicative of the growing power of global collaborations in the public relations industry. Says Nicole Capper, MD of MANGO-OMC, the South African PR agency in the network: “The massive shift in the nature of PR due to changing technologies, coupled with growing globalisation and a undoubtable need to remain ahead of the skills game has meant that as an agency, we’ve had to find ways to remain relevant. Partnering with the IPRN was one of our strategies in 2018 – one that has definitely shown value.”

The new firms join a growing number of public relations agencies (46); making the IPRN one of the world’s largest independent agency networks, with reach in North and South America, Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and Australia. The combined fee income of these members exceeds US $5 billion and represents a total staff of more than 7,000. The organisation’s goal is to provide local knowledge and global reach for all clients who require public relations and communication activities in markets around the world.

In addition to networking with international contacts, members have access to local media opinion leaders, award winning case studies, resources and people on the ground with local knowledge and hands-on experience in the specific market. “IPRN is vital for agencies who want to expand their capabilities to conduct global work. We welcome our newest members and are very happy with our strong growth in the last year,” said Luis Gonzalez, IPRN President.

Adds Capper: “Last year IPRN had their biggest new member growth to date. I believe that with the political and economic uncertainty across the globe, brands and companies are looking to explore new territories and understand untapped markets. South Africa and the rest of Africa is this, and potentially a lot more. Dealing with a PR agency within the territory you are speaking to, who understands the nuances of working locally certainly offers a much higher success rate for most PR campaigns.”

Each year, one member hosts the IRPN’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). This meeting is critical for fostering personal, professional and cultural relationships for member businesses. The 2019 AGM will be held in May, 2019, in Warsaw, Poland. Pawel Bylicki, IPRN Chairman, and owner of Public Dialog, the member agency hosting the event, commented: “Public Dialog is very proud to organise this year’s conference and to welcome our associates from all parts of the world to Warsaw. The five-day event will include programs that continue to develop our members’ international capabilities,” Bylicki said.

About IPRN

IPRN was formed in 1995 and is now one of the world’s largest independent agency networks. The organization has members all over the world covering markets in North and South America, Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Far East and Australia. The combined fee income of our members exceeds five billion dollars, with staffing of more than 7,000 professionals providing local knowledge and global reach for clients. Every year, one member hosts the network’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and conference attended by all members, the next will take place in Warsaw in May 2019, organised by Public Dialog. The AGM is critical to the network as it enables members to interact personally for a better understanding of different cultures and competencies.

For more information, visit www.IPRN.com.