Press Releases

Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide/China and JL McGregor Announce Strategic Alliance

BEIJING, CHINA, June 13, 2007 – Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide/China (Ogilvy PR) and JL McGregor & Company, a premier China research and advisory company, have signed an exclusive strategic alliance to offer comprehensive client support.  Under the strategic alliance, the two companies are jointly offering clients services in the areas of China government relations, public relations, communications and commercial complexities involving China. 

JL McGregor & Company is a China-focused research and advisory company with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and New York.  Ogilvy PR is the largest public relations agency in China.  The partnership builds on the existing cooperation between Ogilvy PR and James McGregor, the founder of JL McGregor & Company.  Mr. McGregor has served as Senior China Advisor to Ogilvy PR for the past four years.

“We have been working with Jim for many years, and his knowledge, experience and deep insights into China are widely respected by government officials and the international business community. His team also brings a very strong skill set,” said Scott Kronick, president of Ogilvy PR/China. “Coming together in an alliance is a natural fit.”

“Jointly, Ogilvy and JL McGregor & Co offer an unparalleled breadth and depth in terms of China expertise on the ground,” said James McGregor, chairman and CEO of JL McGregor & Company.  “This strategic alliance allows us to leverage our joint talent pool, operational experience and network of business and government relationships to help clients successfully execute the right business strategy for the China growth opportunity.”

At his firm, McGregor has gathered a team of more than two dozen China professionals from diverse and complementary backgrounds who will add to the value equation of this newly formed strategic alliance.  Among the key executives who will work closely with Ogilvy PR are:

  • James McGregor.  A Mandarin speaking journalist-turned-businessman who has lived in China for two decades. He is the author of the book One Billion Customers: Lessons From the Front Lines of Doing Business in China, a widely-acclaimed best-seller published by Simon & Schuster in 2005.  Previously, McGregor headed the China Wall Street Journal bureau and served as chief executive of Dow Jones & Co in China, as well as Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China.
  • William McCahill.  A former senior American Foreign Service career officer who has extensive hands-on experience doing business in China, most recently as Senior International Business Advisor of the law firm WilmerHale.  In his final diplomatic posting, McCahill served as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé of the American Embassy in Beijing, where he played a key role in the conclusion of the U.S.-China bilateral WTO agreement.
  • Anne Stevenson-Yang.  A former business consultant and entrepreneurial executive who successfully founded four companies in the software and media businesses.  Previously, Stevenson-Yang served as China Director of the US-China Business Council and Managing Director of the US Information Technology Office in Beijing.

About Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide (Ogilvy PR) is a leading global marketing communications firm, with offices in more than 60 cities around the world. In its 26th year, Ogilvy PR provides strategic public relations counsel to a variety of clients across its consumer marketing, corporate, healthcare, technology, public affairs, social marketing and entertainment practices. The agency also offers biotechnology and government affairs expertise through its subsidiaries Feinstein Kean Healthcare and Ogilvy Government Relations, respectively. Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide is part of the WPP Group, one of the world's largest communications services organizations (NASDAQ: WPPGY, www.wpp.com). For more information, visit our Web site at www.ogilvypr.com.

About JL McGregor & Company, LLC

JL McGregor & Company is a China-focused research and advisory company with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and New York. JL McGregor & Co has a total staff of more than two-dozen people who have a very wide and deep reach into every corner of China's fastest growing industries, most innovative and entrepreneurial companies, national and local government offices and global and local money managers.  The focus of the company’s research and advisory business is providing common sense advice, clear-minded and comprehensive research and business intelligence and savvy and executable political, business, management and communications strategies in China -- and helping clients execute those strategies. For more information, visit www.jlmcgregor.com

Contact Information
Belinda Rabano
+86 1360 107 8488
belinda.rabano@ogilvy.com

Caroline Straathof
caroline.straathof@jlmcgregor.com