HILL & KNOWLTON BEIJING NAMED CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR AT THE

Chief Executive of Hill & Knowlton China, Esmond Quek said, “This award affirms Hill & Knowlton’s status as the industry leader in China.”

 “We have achieved phenomenal results in these few years and in an environment where it’s becoming increasingly more challenging to develop programs that drive impact for the client and the industry. I congratulate and thank our talented team of professionals who work hard with our clients – existing and new -- to deliver PR programs driven by business objectives."

 James Heimowitz, President and CEO of Hill & Knowlton North Asia, said, "H&K was the first international agency to enter China in 1984 and it was a very different place from today. At the time, we were helping foreign companies navigate through an unfamiliar market. Now, we are not only working with foreign companies but we are helping Chinese enterprises break into the global marketplace and become more effective internationally.”During Hill & Knowlton’s 20+ year history in China communication requirements have become increasingly sophisticated. H&K has attracted talent from a diverse range of industries and backgrounds to boost its “best teams” capability, as well as recently establishing a Brand Management team to protect brand reputation in the local market.

 As the firm looks to 2010, addressing the regional talent crunch will be important. Already H&K China is ahead of the curve having created a PR Associate Program (PRA) whereby batches of fresh graduates from top universities are selected and admitted into the company. PRAs undergo intensive training and rotation across various practice areas. In the last two years, Hill & Knowlton Beijing more than doubled revenues and profits in a market that is withstanding commoditisation. To cope with this growth, H&K nearly tripled its staff of 35 professionals in 2004 to over 100 in 2006 and maintained a staff turnover rate well below the industry average. While half of the firm’s business growth has been generated from major new international and domestic clients, around 50% growth was generated from existing accounts - strong evidence of client satisfaction

About Hill & Knowlton China

Hill & Knowlton was the first international public relations firm to open in China. Since 1984, the company has pioneered public relations throughout a vast and diverse nation. It currently has over 120 professionals serving three wholly owned offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Hill & Knowlton China offers a full range of client services, from brand management to government relations to issues and crisis management. Current clients include Hewlett Packard, PetroChina, Procter and Gamble, TNT, EADS, and Pernod Ricard.

Hill & Knowlton, Inc. is a leading international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational and global clients. The firm is based in New York, with 71 offices in 40 countries, as well as an extensive associate network. The agency is part of WPP, one of the world's largest communications services groups.