Y&R Group Launches Public Relations Agency PPR in North America

Industry Veteran Fred Hawrysh Appointed CEO

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Young & Rubicam Group (Y&R Group), the diversified, global marketing and communications organization, today announced the North American launch of full-service public relations agency PPR.

“This decision to pursue global growth will give our current and future clients the opportunity to access directly PPR services in North America and other regions, knowing they will reap the benefits of a seamless and market-leading service”

PPR, originally founded in Australia, will build on its more than 40 years of public relations and communications experience in Asia-Pacific as it establishes its North American headquarters in New York, and offices in San Francisco and Washington, DC.

The launch of PPR North America will complement the Y&R Group’s existing portfolio of global public relations firms. Y&R Group is a subsidiary of WPP, the world’s largest communications services group.

“PPR will be a stand-alone public relations agency with a single-minded focus on delivering innovative counsel and results to its clients,” said Y&R Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Peter Stringham.

“We see tremendous opportunities for a third agency network, both in pursuing clients conflicted out due to relationships with our existing agencies, and for clients seeking the energy and entrepreneurial spirit of a new, fresh brand that has a reputation for innovation and leadership.

“In a fast changing communications world, PPR is renowned for its creativity, agility, and highly effective strategic counsel amongst its more than 500 clients in the Asia-Pacific region,” Stringham said.

Fred Hawrysh has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of PPR North America. Hawrysh was previously global head of corporate communications at Accenture, the global management consulting and technology services company and head of corporate affairs at Thomson Reuters, the global news and information group. Hawrysh formerly worked as a senior executive for more than 20 years at Burson-Marsteller, where he led engagements for some of the firm’s largest clients. Hawrysh will report to Y&R leadership.

“PPR North America will launch with a staff of more than 40 communications professionals and a stable of blue-chip clients. With strong technology, consumer, corporate, and crisis communications capabilities, PPR North America will provide a full suite of communication services underpinned by outstanding media and government relations.

“We are committed to providing our clients with the 360-degree client service experience of a boutique agency, while having all the resources of the PPR, Y&R and WPP groups at our disposal to meet our clients’ most pressing communications challenges,” said Hawrysh.

“I am so proud that the firm is expanding to North America. This milestone is a true testament to the strength of our brand and proven market offering as we embark on an international expansion,” said Richard Lazar, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PPR Asia-Pacific since 1982.

Richard Lazar will continue to head PPR’s operations in Asia-Pacific.

In addition to serving clients throughout Asia-Pacific and North America, PPR intends to open its European operations within the year. Latin American operations are scheduled to begin in early 2014.

“This decision to pursue global growth will give our current and future clients the opportunity to access directly PPR services in North America and other regions, knowing they will reap the benefits of a seamless and market-leading service,” Lazar said.

“PPR will present a significant and clearly differentiated offering to North American clients. PPR’s proprietary suite of products, tools and services, together with the way it structures its agency, improves efficiency and speed for clients ensuring a channel agnostic approach so critical in driving strategic communications today.

“PPR structures its agency to ensure client teams employ all the consulting resources of a traditional agency but applies a new approach in managing content, creative, strategy, social, digital and community, to deliver a capability mix that is intelligent, cutting-edge and relevant for clients today,” said Lazar.

About PPR

PPR operates ten offices in North America and Asia-Pacific staffed by more than 200 communications professionals. PPR has served and continues to serve global clients including McDonald’s, Dell, Emirates, Microsoft, ALDI, Chevron and ExxonMobil, among others. Originally founded in 1970 in Australia by Peter Lazar, PPR is part of the Y&R Group family of companies and owned by WPP, the world’s leading communications services network.

About Young & Rubicam Group

Young & Rubicam Group is a diversified, global marketing and communications organization with integrated services in advertising, database marketing and customer relationship management, perception management and public relations, branding identity consultation and design services, and healthcare communications.