JWT takes over local partner to expand into Pakistan

<p>KARACHI: J. Walter Thompson has bought out Asiatic, its affiliate </p><p>partner in Pakistan. The move makes the agency, which will be known as </p><p>J. Walter Thompson Asiatic, the first in Pakistan to be wholly owned by </p><p>a major multinational network. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Asiatic is the third largest agency in Pakistan, with billings of </p><p>USdollars 9.8 million for 2000. Before the buy-out, the company had been </p><p>a JWT affiliate for 12 years. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>JWT Asia-Pacific chief operating officer Kevin Ramsey said that the bulk </p><p>of the local agency's work would initially come from the network's </p><p>international clients, with servicing the Unilever business in Pakistan </p><p>a particular priority. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>J. Walter Thompson Asiatic's initial client list will number 70 </p><p>companies. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>In addition to Unilever, the agency's clients include Shell, Novartis </p><p>Hyundai, ABN AMRO, Toshiba and LG Electronics. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Ramsey added that the move had been prompted by client demand, and by </p><p>the agency network's faith in the potential of the Pakistani market. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"We're moving into places that are important to our clients," he </p><p>commented. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"We see our network as the key strategic advantage. We believe in </p><p>Pakistan as a big growth opportunity, and we also recognise that if we </p><p>are going to establish a truly international agency with a truly </p><p>international product there, we should be controlling that </p><p>ourselves." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The agency will continue to be run by incumbent chief executive/managing </p><p>director Karim Rammal, son of Anwar Rammal, who founded the company in </p><p>1963. He will report to JWT's Mumbai-based Central Asia boss Mike </p><p>Khanna. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>JWT Asiatic currently employs 179 people and also has an office in </p><p>Lahore, which it opened in 1996. The network is not planning to make any </p><p>significant personnel changes. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>JWT International group president Miles Colebrook said: "We will make </p><p>significant investments in manpower traning which will help JWT Asiatic </p><p>to further upgrade its creative standards and approach to planning </p><p>advertising. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"The economy of Pakistan has tremendous potential and the prospect of </p><p>more foreign investment is bright, which will ultimately generate more </p><p>business revenue and more advertising opportunity." </p><p><BR><BR> </p>