Burson-Marsteller

Burson-Marsteller Agrees to Acquire i&e, One of France’s Leading PR Agencies

by Urs Rellstab on 26th June 2012 • Press Release

Paris, 25 June 2012 – Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations and communications firm, announced today that it has agreed to acquire French communications consultancy i&e. The company will merge with Burson-Marsteller’s French operation and together they will trade as “Burson-Marsteller i&e”.

The combined operation will be led by Philippe Pailliart, currently CEO of Burson-Marsteller SAS in France. i&e has 50 years of experience in the French market and specialises in reputation management, brand marketing and change management. Burson-Marsteller i&e will become the largest Burson-Marsteller office in its Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region as a result of this acquisition.

“Burson-Marsteller is committed to growing and expanding our capabilities within the EMEA region,” said Mark Penn, worldwide CEO of Burson-Marsteller. “We believe that acquiring such a respected and leading French agency that shares our strong evidence-based approach to communications demonstrates that commitment. i&e advises a significant number of public institutions and companies including some of France’s biggest brands, which will now have access to our firm’s global network.”

”We are very pleased to join Burson-Marsteller because we share the same approach to strategic communications This is an approach based on senior level strategic consulting and the common values of excellence, transparency and evidence. Both companies have an outstanding reputation in the French market and rank among the most innovative agencies. Our combined talents and areas of expertise, as well as Burson-Marsteller’s international network, will provide the best PR offering in the French market,” said Tristan Follin and Jean-Pierre Beaudoin, the co- chairmen of i&e, both of whom will remain within the company as corporate officers.

“With the combined operation under the accomplished leadership of Philippe Pailliart as CEO, I am delighted to welcome Tristan and Jean-Pierre, together with their strong leadership team, to our network. Burson-Marsteller France has been central to our network since we first opened an office in Paris in 1977. As Burson-Marsteller i&e, we will become the premier agency in France with more than 150 employees and continue to help clients build trust and strengthen their relationships with stakeholders in France and around the world,” said Jeremy Galbraith, CEO Burson-Marsteller EMEA.

Burson-Marsteller i&e will be located at the i&e offices in the ninth district in central Paris. The current Burson-Marsteller team will move in August to join their new colleagues.

Contact:

Dr. Urs Rellstab
CEO Burson-Marsteller, Schweiz
urs.rellstab@bm.com
T: +41 79 669 56 10

About i&e
Since 1962, i&e has specialised in helping its clients build and improve their relationships with stakeholders in the French market. Based in Paris, it is one of the largest players in the French PR industry with a proven track record of success in managing reputation, brand and change for large international companies and French institutions.

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