Weber Public Relations Worldwide Establishes Taiwan Office; CETRA And Taipei 2000 World Congress Among First Clients.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 26, 1999--

Weber Public Relations Worldwide today announced the opening of its Taipei office. Weber will now be able to offer Taiwan-based integrated communication support for its current global clients, as well as those of its parent organization, McCann-Erickson WorldGroup. In addition, Weber Taipei will leverage its experience in helping Taiwan's information technology and other key industries, including biotechnology and aerospace, by providing strategic communication services and integrated global PR to Taiwan's leading companies.

The formal opening ceremony was held on April 20 on the top floor of the International Trade Building in downtown Taipei, and was attended by more than 100 top information technology industry executives, government representatives, foreign business leaders and trade officials, and the media.

Established Client Base

Weber Taipei is already working with two high-profile accounts, the China External Trade Development Council's (CETRA) Image Enhancement Plan for promoting Taiwan products and companies overseas, and the Taipei 2000 World Congress on Information Technology, a prestigious biannual IT industry conference to be held in Taipei in June, 2000. The agency also recently handled a public relations activity for Sino Swearingen Aircraft Company, the Taiwan-U.S. joint venture that is producing a new generation of business jet.

"More and more our clients are asking for integrated public relations capabilities on a global scale," explained Lane Bailey, senior vice president of Weber McGinn, Weber's public affairs practice based in Arlington, Virginia. "This is especially true in Asia and in Taiwan, where we can leverage our already strong support of and expertise in the global information technology industry." Mr. Bailey was instrumental in establishing Weber's presence in Taiwan, leveraging the close relations he developed with many senior business and government officials during his 20 years as a top aide to U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller.

Managing Director Margaret Dawson, a fifteen-year communications industry professional and a nine-year Taiwan veteran, will be responsible for managing the staff of seven and growing the business. Before spearheading the opening of the Weber Taipei branch, Ms. Dawson worked exclusively on the CETRA Image Enhancement Plan, as director for the Taiwan Product News Bureau, which operated under the umbrella of McCann-Erickson Taiwan. Her Taiwan-based career has included several years as Taiwan Correspondent for Business Week magazine and as the international and business news anchor for the morning news on ICRT, the island's only English-language radio station. Upon arriving in Taiwan, Ms. Dawson worked for the international marketing and promotion department of Acer, Inc.

Weber Taipei is a joint venture between two of Weber PR Worldwide's practices, namely its technology specialist, The Weber Group, and its public affairs and crisis communications arm, Weber McGinn. The Weber Group, one of the world's top-five global technology PR firms, specializes in helping companies succeed in every stage of development, from newly emerging to the established multi-billion dollar enterprises. Weber McGinn ranks among the top eight agencies in the Washington, D.C. area and is one of the most respected agencies in public affairs, litigation support, and crisis management.

Weber Public Relations Worldwide

Weber Public Relations Worldwide is a full-service, global public relations agency offering marketing public relations, investor relations, corporate communications, public affairs and new media services to a broad range of industries, including healthcare, consumer, entertainment, financial services and technology. As the premier public relations agency for the Information Economy, Weber Public Relations Worldwide delivers high value to clients through programs that are interactive, individualized, immediate and information-rich, based on an approach that blends new technology-based communications with traditional methodologies. Headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., Weber Public Relations Worldwide has offices in major markets globally and is a member of McCann-Erickson WorldGroup and The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:IPG).