AGENCY MATTERS WHAT’S


A ROUND UP OF THE LATEST AGENCY NEWS


■ EMPERORBECOMESAN EMPLOYEE-OWNEDBUSINESS Creative design agency Emperor is transitioning to an employee-owned business in a move that will benefit around 200 employees across six locations in the UK and Middle East. All employees with 12 or more months


of continuous service will indirectly own 67 per cent of the business through an employee ownership trust. The remaining 33 per cent is held by chief executive Steve Kemp, director Noel O’Connor and executive chairman Kingsley James, who together founded Emperor in 1996. Emperor is one of around 350


companies in the UK to have adopted an employee-ownership model since legislation was passed in 2014 permitting the transition. Kemp said that the co-founders had


opted for the model after realising that ‘a transaction that potentially compromises what we have built has become more unappealing… ownership passing to another corporation, a big media group, private equity investors, venture capitalists or into public stocks is not an option.’ He said the move would protect ‘our


work community, ethos and culture’ and keep Emperor’s ‘destiny in its own hands’. As part of the transition, a new six


person employee board has been formed. Led by an independent chairperson who will also sit on the management board, the employee board will be responsible for coordinating local ‘Voice Groups’ to ensure that everybody has input into company decisions. The new board will represent the views and opinions of Emperor’s


6


partners and ‘share responsibility for the health of the business’ by taking part in decision-making as well as making recommendations to the main board.


■ MAITLANDLAUNCHES SUSTAINABILITYPRACTICE Consultancy Maitland/AMO has launched an integrated sustainability arm, Maitland/AMO Sustain. The new practice, which replaces Maitland/AMO Green, will help organisations tackle environmental, social and governance issues, including mitigating climate change and addressing social inequalities. It has been formed in recognition of the evolving sustainability landscape and will cover five core pillars: strategy development, corporate communications, governance and investor relations, public affairs and digital design. It will be led by associate partner Zara de Belder. Neil Bennett, chief executive of Maitland/AMO, said: ‘Companies need to ensure sustainability is embedded within their strategy, culture and values. Launching Maitland/AMO Sustain is an important milestone for Maitland/AMO as we look to help businesses communicate their corporate purpose authentically.’


■ CICERO JOINSAMO Cicero Group has joined strategic advisory network AMO, which has consultancies across 11 countries, and will rebrand itself as Cicero/AMO. Cicero/AMO will work closely with Maitland/AMO, one of AMO’s founder members, to provide strategic advice, covering public affairs, corporate


communications, research and campaigns, and both investor and media relations in the UK and Europe. Iain Anderson, executive chairman,


Cicero/AMO, said: ‘This agreement ensures we will stay ahead of the curve. We will combine our world-class services to create the leading strategic communications offer and access the specialisms, expertise and creativity of both the AMO and the Havas networks.’


■ EDELMANLAUNCHESINKENYA Communications firm Edelman has opened a new office in Nairobi after acquiring Kenyan agency Gina Din Corporate Communications, its local partner for the past three years. It comes four years after Edelman launched in South Africa under the leadership of Jordan Rittenberry, chief executive of Edelman Africa, who will continue to oversee operations under this umbrella.


■ PRCAANNOUNCESNEW PURPOSEGROUP The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) has launched The Purpose Group, a new initiative that will help public relations professionals instil purposeful philosophies and strategies within brands and provide the resources to effectively communicate them. The group will be co-chaired by


specialist social purpose agency Purpose Union co-founder Daniela Flores and Chloe Franses, chief executive of eponymous consultancy Franses.


CorpComms | February/March 2020


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