Hey Web, did you see the acquisition they announced 2day? I also see HP as one of their clients, Inkatomi too.
SAN FRANCISCO, February 1, 1999 – Copithorne & Bellows Public
Relations (C&B), one of the world's premier public relations agencies
dedicated to the global technology market, today announced it has
acquired InterActive Public Relations, Inc., a leading San-Francisco-based
public relations firm specialized in emerging and fast growth technology
companies.
"InterActive is the best at establishing leadership positions in extremely
competitive emerging markets," said David A. Copithorne, managing
partner and CEO of Copithorne & Bellows. "While C&B has successfully
launched many new technologies during its ten-year history, today's
acquisition solidifies our commitment to the technology entrepreneurs
driving the growth of the global economy."
InterActive, a five-year-old public relations firm highly regarded for
launching start-up companies developing new Internet and enterprise
technologies, will keep its name and become an independent business unit
of C&B. It will continue to operate out of its South-of-Market-district
headquarters in San Francisco with a unique charter, focusing on the public
relations and strategic market development needs of new, fast growth and
emerging technology companies.
With more than seven-billion dollars of venture capital funding devoted to
emerging technologies in 1998, and the rapid globalization of the Internet
medium, the InterActive / C&B team is uniquely poised to meet the special
needs of these nascent leaders.
"InterActive is one of the few firms I know who can help start ups define,
create and lead entirely new markets by building advocacy and developing
stories that hit the front pages of mainstream business press," said Jim
Breyer, managing general partner of Accel Partners, one of the world's
premier high-technology venture capital firms. "Extending those specialized
services worldwide with C&B, mirrors the evolving needs of Internet
start-ups and those invested in their success."
With 25 professionals and over $2 million in revenue in 1998, InterActive
is located in the heart of the world's most intensive concentration of
entrepreneurs, venture capital firms, and new technology companies.
InterActive has helped some of the most exciting start-up companies
pioneer new Internet and enterprise markets. It has developed and
executed high-profile category launches, fueled market debate and
fostered market evangelism for companies such as: Bright Light
Technologies, E-Stamp Corporation, Inktomi Corporation, Network
Appliance, Sendmail, Inc. and Tioga Systems. Additionally, InterActive
recently added Ask Jeeves to its client roster, a well-respected Internet
start up focused on humanizing the Internet through its natural language
question / answer service.
"Start ups have unique and urgent marketing requirements, and good
outside public relations counsel becomes a catalyst for their success," said
Marissa Verson Harrison, principal and co-founder of InterActive. "A
relentless focus on business objectives and motivating initial customers are
requirements for any company defining new markets and establishing
brands. InterActive has a proven track record in these areas domestically
and C&B will help us extend our talents worldwide."
InterActive provides comprehensive, integrated public relations services
customized for technology entrepreneurs including: strategic counsel in
defining, developing and entering new markets; product and market
positioning; establishing expert status; creating advocacy; crafting and
driving competitive depositioning strategies; naming and identity services;
and positioning for investor audiences before, during and after private
funding and initial public offerings.
InterActive is joining forces with C&B to accommodate anticipated
demand from existing and prospective clients for a broader range of
long-term marketing communications programs and capabilities to support
rapid growth following initial market introductions. C&B's comprehensive
public relations services and global infrastructure - with 275 employees
and 11 offices in Europe, North America and Asia/Pacific - will enable
InterActive to provide its clients with the global reach and range of
marketing services they increasingly require.
Marissa Verson Harrison, principal and co-founder, teams with Julia
Scarisbrick Ginna, principal of InterActive, to provide the agency's
creative and strategic direction, manage its growth and development, and
direct overall program strategies and client counsel. They will report to
Dave Copithorne and Mel Webster, partner and chief operating officer of
C&B. Ben F. Harrison, a principal and co-founder of InterActive who has
been responsible for building the agency's technology and business
infrastructure, will focus on integrating InterActive with C&B's business
operations.
As a Copithorne & Bellows company, InterActive joins one of the world's
most successful and fastest-growing public relations organizations.
Founded in San Francisco in 1988, C&B has grown into a global firm with
more than $26 million in fee income. C&B was acquired by Omnicom
Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC) in 1995, and today operates as an independent
member of the Omnicom CCW (Communications Consultants
Worldwide) group of public relations firms. C&B clients include some of
the world's leading high-technology companies, including
Hewlett-Packard, Iomega, Hughes Network Systems, Philips
Semiconductor, Network Associates, and others.
With co-headquarters in San Francisco and Boston, other domestic offices
in Seattle, San Jose, Irvine and Atlanta, and international offices in Paris,
Grenoble, London, Toronto and Singapore, C&B is one of a select few
high-technology firms capable of delivering coordinated and integrated
programs on a global basis to clients requiring service in Europe, the
Americas and Asia/Pacific.
For further information, contact:
Stephen Cooper
Copithorne & Bellows Public
Relations, Inc.
Ph: 781-639-1620
URL: www.cbpr.com
Michelle Mehl
InterActive Public Relations, Inc.
Ph: 901-737-7788
Email: michelle_mehl@ipr.com
URL: www.interactive-pr.com |
