New Research from Pleon – the first communications consultancy with a European business model – highlights the domestic opportunities for growth identified by Europe’s business leaders.
Brussels, Oct 5th 2004. Europe’s CEOs have identified domestic innovation as a primary engine for growth – ahead of opportunities in Asia - according to a research conducted by Pleon, a new European corporate communications consultancy. Innovation in Europe – new products and services coming from R&D in key industries – was highlighted by 82 per cent of CEOs, when discussing future growth opportunities. Accordingly, the majority of European CEOs plan to increase investment in Europe. One note of caution is that regulations affecting the European employment market, tax and competition are the most pressing concerns for the region’s top executives. These are the conclusions from “Business Agenda of Europe’s Top 100 Companies”, in which Pleon has analysed Europe’s top companies’ assessment of the most pressing issues affecting them.
Dr. Rainer Zimmermann, CEO of Pleon said, “The message from Europe’s CEOs is clear. Parallel to the strong interest in Asia, business is undergoing a new phase of Europeanisation, quietly and without hype. Companies will respond to the new opportunities in different ways – through new alliances or mergers or by developing new organisational structures, marketing processes and dialogues between politics and economics to build a truly European perspective.”
One of the reasons for the renewed European focus identified in the Pleon research could be the continued momentum of the EU. With 25 members, a new parliament and a new constitution waiting to be ratified, the EU aims to develop Europe into the most dynamic economic area of the world by 2010. These facts confront companies with new chances and challenges.
“While Asia is dominating the headlines, Europe is dominating business reality”, says Alex Schoep, President of Pleon, “European companies are going to focus on their core competencies and will gain strength to expand business outside Europe.”
The renewed business focus on Europe calls for a paradigm shift in corporate communications, with the need for a truly European communications consultancy. Pleon is the first PR firm with a genuinely European business model. It offers strategic counselling and high level public relations, combining political competence, business thinking and communications expertise. In contrast to national agencies on the one hand and Anglo-American networks expanding from the US to Europe on the other, Pleon is the first international communications firm with a genuinely European corporate culture.
Ranked among the top three players in communications consultancy in Europe, the new firm is a merger of the German ECC Group with Brodeur agencies in France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and UK. The ECC Group includes two market leaders - ECC Kohtes Klewes (Germany/Brussels) and ECC Publico (Austria/Hungary) as well as Brodeur Communications in Germany.
Pleon in Europe employs 680 people from 23 offices in nine European key markets and expects equivalent revenues. Relevant Eastern European and Scandinavian markets are covered by established partners. The proven partnership with Brodeur located in the US, Latin America and Asia Pacific confirms Pleon’s claim to be a Europeean specialist with global reach. Brodeur | Pleon Worldwide is present in 50 markets world-wide.
Being operated locally in nine countries, the company is managed by a European board of 12 shareholders from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and UK. BBDO Europe, London, is Pleon’s majority shareholder. Pleon and BBDO work closely together to offer fully integrated communications campaigns to their clients.
For further information, please contact:
Alex Schoep
Overschiestraat 55
1062 HN Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tel: +31 20 487 4000
alex.schoep(at)pleon.com
Dr. Rainer Zimmermann
Schanzenstrasse 56
40549 Duesseldorf, Germany
Tel: +49 211 9541 333
rainer.zimmermann(at)pleon.com