CAN the managing director of the real Edelman Public Relations please stand up? The recent trip to Hong Kong by the founder of the US-headquartered international group Edelman Public Relations - 74-year-old PR guru Daniel J. Edelman - highlighted what some regard as a patent absurdity that should be resolved for the good of many confused people.
One of the Edelman firms in question is Edelman Public Relations (Hong Kong) Limited, proprietor Peter Sherwood, located at Wyndham Street Central.
The other eponymous firm is Edelman Public Relations Worldwide (HK) Limited, located at Lockhart Road, Wan Chai. Ultimate proprietor of this concern is Mr Edelman.
The continued existence of the two firms with the same name has meant consternation for the telephone enquiries service and journalists, as well as the clients of both firms.
Mr Edelman was in town recently to discuss the restructuring of his firm - Edelman Public Relations Worldwide - which is currently undergoing an aggressive expansion phase in Hong Kong and within Asia.
Edelman Public Relations Worldwide claims to be the largest independent public relations company in the world. In Hong Kong, it claims to be fifth largest and expanding rapidly.
But the name confusion is not helping its progress. The story apparently goes back more than 10 years ago when Mr Edelman and Mr Sherwood had a joint venture company.