Canada’s top-rated communications firm shifts to new global name, brand
Toronto, ON — 16 January 2012 – Hill & Knowlton Canada today announced it is repositioning as Hill+Knowlton Strategies and Hill+Knowlton Stratégies in Quebec. This follows a global rebranding exercise that began in December 2011.
“While it’s rare for companies to change their brand names, we’re excited about what this repositioning means to the future of our business,” said Mike Coates, president & CEO of H+K Strategies in Canada. “The addition of “Strategies” is not just a polishing of our long-respected and well-established company name, it is also a better reflection of the work we already do for our clients in Canada.”
The new company name represents a continued emphasis on strategic communications advice that ensures a client’s business imperatives are achieved — business advice informed by research and insight, and built upon a rich heritage of strong counsel.
“Our new brand points to a shifting market for our clients, one with an explosion of information and a revolution in the ability of almost everyone to find that information,” said Jack Martin, global chairman and chief executive officer of Hill+Knowlton Strategies. “This democratization of information is fundamentally changing the way they do business.”
The global press release announcing the brand change alluded to increased investment in expanding research capabilities in order to better understand the public and stakeholders. It also referred to heavy investments in digital, as it increasingly becomes people’s primary communications channel.
“This re-brand also marks a historic milestone for us as our Quebec colleagues, formerly HKDP, join us in sharing the same brand, allowing us to have one strong brand across Canada,” said Coates.
The company has been operating in Canada for 30 years and globally since 1927. It operates nine wholly-owned offices across Canada – Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Regina, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria. Globally, Hill+Knowlton Strategies has 85 offices in 46 countries and continues to serve clients as a premier PR and public affairs agency.
The new name and logo take effect January 16, 2012.
Coates has been president and CEO of Hill+Knowlton in Canada for 16 years.
About Hill+Knowlton Strategies
Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Inc. is a leading international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational and global clients. The firm is headquartered in New York, with 85 offices in 46 countries, as well as an extensive associate network. The agency is part of WPP, one of the world’s largest communications services groups.