Ketchum Pleon Strengthens its Communication Thought Leadership as Exclusive Partner and Survey Sponsor of the European Communication Monitor

LONDON and DÜSSELDORF, Germany, November 23, 2011 -

The European Public Relations Education and Research Association and Ketchum Pleon today announced they have entered into an agreement for Ketchum Pleon to be an exclusive research partner and sponsor of the European Communication Monitor survey for the next three years. The prestigious survey focuses on current challenges and future trends in communication management in Europe, and in its 2011 edition covered such areas as the ROI of communications, the development of new communications disciplines, and the development of social media skills and governance.

The European Communication Monitor is the largest international survey on strategic communication in the world, with participation from more than 2,200 PR professionals in 43 countries, and provides an important vehicle for promoting strategic communications’ insights on an international level. As communications professionals play a bigger role in companies and organizations across Europe, the survey will offer a valuable resource for European PR pros to learn from their peers.

Ansgar Zerfass, professor, Institute of Communication and Media Studies, University of Leipzig, and executive director, European Public Relations Education and Research Association, said, “With Ketchum Pleon, we have won a strong partner with long-standing experience, especially in regard to the balance between consistency and innovation in such a diverse market as Europe. Ketchum Pleon offers valuable expertise in research in such an international setting.”

The agreement includes the sponsorship of a survey for the annual European Communication Monitor as well as a new research partnership in five major European markets. Both the survey and the new research project will be delivered as annual editions in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and completed as independent research projects according to the highest academic standards, through a research team of universities from several European countries.

The new research partnership has been designed as a joint project that will use the European Communication Monitor’s quantitative empirical results. The primary objective will be to stimulate a dialogue about the results and its practical implications, to inform academic and professional debate.

“We are proud to partner and cooperate with such a prestigious research organisation as the European Public Relations Education and Research Association,” said David Gallagher, CEO, Ketchum Pleon. “The European Communication Monitor data and research network will provide valuable insights on communication trends and issues that will help us to strengthen our client work.”

About EUPRERA

The European Public Relations Education and Research Association (EUPRERA) is an autonomous organisation that aims at stimulating and promoting innovative knowledge and practices of public relations education and research in Europe. With nearly 600 members across 35 countries - among them most universities and professors focusing on research and education in communication management across the continent - its main objectives are fostering joint research and knowledge transfer between academia and practice.

www.euprera.org

About Ketchum Pleon

Ketchum Pleon is one of the largest, most geographically diverse communications consultancies and the established European market leader. Worldwide, Ketchum has more than 2,400 employees in owned operations and operates in 70 countries with more than 100 owned and affiliated offices. Ketchum is a unit of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC). Additional information on Ketchum Pleon and its award-winning work can be found at www.ketchumpleon.com.

About Ketchum

Ketchum is a leading global communications firm with operations in more than 70 countries across six continents. Named 2010 Large PR Firm of the Year (Holmes Report and PR News) and the winner of an unprecedented three consecutive PRWeek Campaign of the Year Awards, Ketchum partners with clients to deliver strategic programming, game-changing creative and measurable results that build brands and reputations. For more information on Ketchum, a unit of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC), visit www.ketchum.com.

Contact: Petra Heinrich, Ketchum Pleon, petra.heinrich at ketchumpleon.com , +49-211-9541-2113