News & Press / February 22, 2007

Agencies in Malta and Vietnam selected for ICOM membership

ROLLINSVILLE, COLORADO (USA)--ICOM (www.icomagencies.com) has appointed Maltese agency Switch Brand Communications, based in Ta' Xbiex (www.switch.com.mt), and Vietnamese agency BiG Earth Consultancy Co., Ho Chi Minh City, to represent the independent agency network in Malta and Vietnam, respectively.

A leading global network of independent advertising and marketing communications agencies, ICOM continues to strengthen its geographic coverage in order to meet clients’ needs for advertising and marketing expertise everywhere in the world.

ICOM continues to add clients seeking multi-market advertising and marketing services, particularly across Europe. In Asia, Vietnam is an exciting market, rapidly growing as international companies enter the country.

“With appointments such as these, our clients are assured of the same level of expertise regardless of where in the world they are working with ICOM agencies,” said Gary Burandt, ICOM executive director.

For Switch Brand Communications, the appointment is important to gain international support without giving up its independence. “Within today’s global economy, marketing communications companies like ours are presented with a myriad of business opportunities,” noted David Gatt, director of strategy & planning. “However, without the support of a global and international network, such as ICOM, opportunities are lost. We will benefit from the strengths and advantages of ICOM’s global network while still being independent. We expect this to be a key advantage in retaining and winning new accounts, especially by sharing information with other members.”

In a short time span, Switch Brand Communications has gained a solid reputation as one of Malta’s leading integrated agencies that does design, packaging, advertising, PR and events for a variety of government, retail and package goods clients, both locally and outside the country.

ICOM’s new Asian member, BiG Earth, specializes in helping established international companies into the fast growing Vietnamese marketplace. For example, the consultancy has helped Siemens mobile phone, F&N Dairies, Novartis health care and Grand Icon body and hair care enter Vietnam. In addition to traditional marketing services, BiG Earth has provided help in finding and setting up distribution, marketing and sales training, trade launches and brand building.

“We want to join a network to learn a variety of skill sets, get business leads and have fun working together as a ‘family,’” said Ang Gee Beng, who heads the agency. “What we will bring to the network is in-depth knowledge of one of the world’s fastest growing countries.”

ICOM is the most balanced of the international independent advertising and marketing communications networks offering a full range of integrated marketing and media communications services. The network of 85+ member agencies in 50+ countries offers clients an alternative to the huge and increasingly similar agency groups. ICOM was founded in 1950 as the National Federation of Advertising Agencies. Today, the network has billings of US$2 billion and gross income of US$300 million.

 

Contacts:

Nancy Giges     nancy@icomagencies.com         1-914-683-5108

Gary Burandt     burandt@icomagencies.com       1-720-261-4829