WPP has take a 30 per cent stake in Richard Attias & Associates, a strategic consultancy that also organises high profile events like the World Economic Forum and the Clinton Global Initiative.
Communications giant WPP says RAA “has built an unrivalled reputation for helping governments and corporations articulate their global objectives”, and for developing conferences and summits.
Events run by RAA also include the the Middle East Peace Summit in Jordan, the Monaco Media Forum and the Nobel Laureates Conference.
In 2010, Richard Attias founded The New York Forum, an annual meeting to promote economic leadership and in 2012, The New York Forum AFRICA, a pan-African business and investment platform, which next year will bring together over 1,500 participants from over 60 countries.
Next year will also see RAA produce 14 high-profile symposiums looking into pressing issues such as the global challenges of food security, global education, healthcare in Africa, the global energy crisis, women’s rights and sport as a tool for economic and social progress.
WPP has invested in RAA primarily because of its founder’s wealth of cross-cultural experience and understanding of doing business in different regions. Richard Attias will work across WPP on public policy issues, events and conferences, helping WPP build its businesses in Africa.
“By building this partnership with global influencer Richard Attias, WPP confirms its strategy to support countries to brand their nations and corporations to have access to faster growing markets,” said WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell .
“Our ambition is to create together with Richard a world champion in the field of strategic communication, international conferences and global action oriented events.”
Meanwhile, for RAA the partnership will fast-track its existing plans to strengthen its presence in Europe and Asia.