Marsteller named EMEA Region PR Consultancy of the Year JEDDAH - Global public relations and communications firm Burson-Marsteller has been awarded the prestigious title of ‘Consultancy of the Year' in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region by the Holmes Report. The Holmes Report, an influential publication focused on the public relations industry, awarded Burson-Marsteller the title for its achievements over the past 12 months. The growth the consultancy has seen over the past 12 months has been fuelled by what EMEA Chief Executive Jeremy Galbraith calls the “One EMEA strategy”, a strategy to integrate offices, practices, and products across the region. In 2008 Burson-Marsteller extended its regional reach beyond Europe and into the Middle East and Africa, with the acquisition via parent company WPP of ASDA'A (now ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller), the leading agency in the Middle East, and affiliate relationship with South African firm Arcay Communications, which runs a truly indigenous pan-African network. The ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller merger follows WPP's majority investment in Middle East communications leader The Holding Group, parent company of ASDA'A. The resulting regional public relations network covers all major markets in the Middle East and Africa and is fully integrated into Burson-Marsteller EMEA. Jeremy Galbraith said: “Being recognized as EMEA Region Consultancy of the Year is a result of the fantastic work done by our team in EMEA and the trust that our clients place in us. 2008 has been a year of tremendous growth, with significant new business, some of the best talent in our industry coming to work for us and helping our clients on a wide range of campaigns that integrate our digital expertise and span different practices. The momentum we have built with our One EMEA strategy means that we are in a strong position for 2009.” The announcement of the award came as part of the Holmes Report's fifth annual EMEA Report Card. The firms honored will be presented with their trophies at the annual SABRE (Superior Achievement in Branding and Reputation) Awards dinner in Stockholm next May. - SG Agility DGS wins $932 million deal ALEXANDRIA - Agility Defense & Government Services (DGS) announced that it has won a contract to supply and deliver repair parts for communications and electronics equipment at the Tobyhanna Army Depot in Pennsylvania. The agreement, known as an Industrial Product-Support Vendor (IPV) contract, was awarded by the Defense Supply Center Columbus, one of three inventory control points in the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). The contract covers four years with two additional two-year options for a potential span of eight years. The contract base is $223 million with a maximum contract value of $932 million over the eight years. Agility DGS is the prime contractor and will work with subcontractors IBM, W.W. Williams, Herndon Products and Blue Chip Manufacturing. The agreement is one in a series of DLA initiatives designed to capitalize on the strengths of commercial logistics specialists to improve the availability and reliability of parts at Army depots. Agility DGS is a leader in specialized logistics and supply chain management for military and government customers. Under the contract, the Alexandria-based company will procure, monitor and track parts, industrial hardware and other items, delivering repairs directly to maintenance facilities. “With our cutting-edge transportation and supply chain solutions, we can monitor product flow to identify even the smallest deviations and ensure that the Army's repair parts are delivered in an effective and timely manner,” said Dan Mongeon, president and CEO of Agility DGS. The IPV contract award follows other significant wins by Agility DGS. The Defense Energy Support Center recently awarded Agility DGS contracts to manage bulk fuel facilities at US Air Force installations in Europe and Asia. Agility DGS also was selected by the Joint Contracting Command-Iraq for a Theater Wide Trucking contract to handle the transportation of reconstruction material and equipment throughout Iraq.
