Ogilvy Group Belgium Selected by European Parliament as Strategic and Creative Agency in Preparation for 2014 European Elections

BRUSSELS, Sept. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The European Parliament's Directorate-General for Communication has selected a consortium led by Ogilvy Group Belgium, part of Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) to promote awareness and understanding of the lawmaking institution through campaigns and events leading up to the 2014 European Elections.

Earlier this year, the Ogilvy consortium was selected for the four-year framework contract by the European Parliament's Directorate-General for Communication, which includes a wide range of communication, event and media services.

Under the framework contract, the Ogilvy-VO communication Consortium has been awarded two specific contracts, competing against the other framework contractors, Saatchi & Saatchi and M&C Saatchi. Ogilvy Brussels will define a strategic framework, using tools including O&M's Big IdeaL approach, for the European Parliament in preparation to the 8th European Parliament elections. Under the second contract, the consortium will develop a European-wide awareness campaign communicating on the European Parliament's values. 

"Being selected for these strategic contracts reflects the value that an integrated communications agency with a European footprint like Ogilvy & Mather can bring to institutions and corporate clients alike," said Ogilvy Group Belgium CEO Koen Van Impe. "We look forward to this expansion of our work with the European institutions."

"Working alongside the European Parliament presents a great opportunity and challenge – to educate and engage European citizens during one of the most trying times in recent European history," said Jeff Chertack, Consortium Leader and Managing Director, Ogilvy Public Relations Brussels. "We will apply our knowledge of how to engage citizen-consumers to build on the European Parliament's existing communications efforts, resulting in greater understanding and shared vision."

"Our Big IdeaL approach will provide strong insights and clear direction to the planning process for the European Parliament," said Kristel Vanderlinden, Group Strategy Director for Ogilvy Belgium.

Jeff Chertack will lead a multidisciplinary team from Ogilvy's Advertising, Ogilvy PR, Social@Ogilvy and Digital units and heads the Consortium.  Kristel Vanderlinden will lead a European team of strategy experts and Sam De Win, creative director Ogilvy Brussels, will be the head of creative, overseeing all the creative work.

The contract builds on Ogilvy Group Belgium's 2010 win of the European Commission DG Environment communication framework contract and more than a decade of European institution work. Work under this contract has included development and implementation of the ongoing Generation Awake campaign on resource efficiency launched in Autumn 2011.

Ogilvy Group Belgium creates award-winning public policy and corporate sector communications for a mix of institutional and major brand clients. The integrated nature of the agency allows seamless planning and implementation of advertising, public relations, social media and digital communications. Using its European footprint and resources throughout the region, Ogilvy Group Belgium will gather insights and tap specialism.

About Ogilvy & Mather:
Ogilvy & Mather is one of the largest marketing communications companies in the world. In 2012, O&M was named Cannes Lions Network of the Year and Most Effective Agency Network by the Effies Global Effectiveness Index. The company is comprised of industry leading units in all of the following disciplines: advertising; public relations and public affairs; branding and identity; shopper and retail marketing; healthcare communications; direct, digital, promotion and relationship marketing; consulting, research and analytics capabilities; branded content and entertainment; and specialist communications. O&M services Fortune Global 500 companies as well as local businesses through its network of more than 450 offices in 120 countries. It is a WPP company (NASDAQ: WPPGY). For more information, visit www.ogilvy.com, or follow us on Twitter at @OgilvyWW and on Facebook.com/Ogilvy.

About Ogilvy Public Relations:
­­­­­­­­­­­Ogilvy Public Relations (Ogilvy PR) is a global, multi-disciplinary communications leader operating in more than 80 offices across six continents. In 2011, Ogilvy won more Cannes PR Lions than any other agency worldwide, was named Global Digital/Social Consultancy of the Year by the Holmes Report, won Specialist Agency of the Year in Asia Pacific (Campaign Asia), and won the WPP global, top award (WPPed Cream, Crème de la Crème) for the fourth time in five years. Ogilvy PR integrates deeply with all Ogilvy & Mather disciplines (advertising, direct marketing, activation, promotional, digital and entertainment) through the proprietary Ogilvy Fusion™ approach to delivering comprehensive, business solutions through content creation, community building, and communications with measurable results. Ogilvy PR is a unit of Ogilvy & Mather, a WPP company (NASDAQ: WPPGY), one of the world's largest communications services groups.  For more information, visit our Web site at www.ogilvypr.com or follow us on Twitter at @ogilvypr.

SOURCE Ogilvy Public Relations