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Public relations agencies Ludgate Asia and Shandwick International will merge their operations in Hong Kong as part of a global restructuring of the companies owned by The Interpublic Group.

The merger will not result in any job losses, according to Ludgate Asia chief executive Martin Spurrier, as both companies are expanding.

'Most of our businesses are growing and we are both looking for people,' Mr Spurrier said.

Ludgate Asia has 30 employees in Hong Kong and Shandwick 34.

Ludgate Asia comes under Weber Public Relations Worldwide which is in turn owned by Interpublic.

In Hong Kong the merged firm will have the same name as the global entity of Weber Shandwick Worldwide and comes into effect on January 1.

Mr Spurrier will become chairman of Weber Shandwick Worldwide's Asian arm and Alison Clarke of Shandwick will be chief executive. Weber Shandwick will have 17 offices in the Asia-Pacific region, with three on the mainland and two in Hong Kong.

The merger comes as local public relation agencies are being acquired by overseas firms seeking to enter the SAR.

Earlier this year local firm Scotchbrook Communications was acquired by international firm BSMG Worldwide and Forrest International was bought by Golin/Harris International, which is also part of the Interpublic group. The local arms

of the merged companies are Scotchbrook-BSMG Worldwide and Golin/Harris International.

As Asian firms have expanded overseas local public relations firms have become more willing to team up with international PR firms.

'Eighty-five per cent of our clients are Asian publicly listed companies and they are becoming global . . . and were looking to us to provide services in London and New York,' said Golin/Harris Forrest managing director Anne Forrest.



Ludgate, Shandwick merge HK operations in restructuring