Cohn & Wolfe appoints Drake Head of Asia Pacific

Cohn & Wolfe, a leading global public relations agency, has announced the appointment of Jake Drake as president of Asia Pacific. Prior to the recently announced merger of Cohn & Wolfe and GCI Group, Drake served as president of GCI West in Los Angeles. In his new role, he will be based in Shanghai with responsibilities for building the combined firm’s business in China and strengthening its presence across Asia.

"Growth in China and across the Asia Pacific region is one of the top priorities of our newly expanded firm,” said Donna Imperato, Cohn & Wolfe Chief Executive Officer. “Our China operation is already a real star in our global network, having received numerous awards for creativity and integrated marketing. We are now tasking Jake with the responsibility to take it the next level. We are confident he will ensure that any Cohn & Wolfe client with business needs in the region has immediate access to the marketing and communications resources and expertise they need regardless of market sector."

Cohn & Wolfe, which employs more than 1,000 professionals in 50 offices around the world, will house its Asia Pacific headquarters in Shanghai. The company’s China operation has deep experience in b-to-b marketing, brand consulting, lifestyle marketing, media relations and special events for a wide range of companies in the auto, apparel, travel, technology and health care sectors, including work for clients such as Ford, Kellogg’s, Rolex, Hilton Hotels Corp., Hampton Inns, JWT and others.

Drake has worked within WPP companies for more than 15 years, helping lead initiatives on behalf of a wide range of global brands, including Dell, Pioneer Electronics, Starbucks and Shell, among many others. He said the focus in China will be on bringing out the best of the new Cohn & Wolfe offerings on behalf of clients in this new agency. That includes market sectors, such as healthcare, consumer and b-to-b marketing, luxury goods, digital entertainment and food and beverage, as well as service, such as integrated marketing communications, social responsibility and sustainable practices, and digital and social media.

"The strategy behind the new Cohn & Wolfe is very well-suited to what we believe companies need to be successful in this region,” said Drake. “The China market is so big and crowded that it demands big ideas. Cohn & Wolfe has a long history of brand-building and creative programming that has given the firm a well-deserved reputation as one of the most creative in the industry. And with digital starting to dominate the communications landscape here, we have the unique advantage of a global practice that has invested heavily in developing digital and social media strategies that focus on ideas that connect clients to the people who matter to them."

About Cohn & Wolfe
Cohn & Wolfe is a strategic public relations agency dedicated to creating, building and protecting the world’s most prolific brands. With offices around the world, the agency is committed to breaking new ground in the delivery of cross-channel media strategies, creative programming, and practice area excellence.
Cohn & Wolfe is recognized year after year by clients and the industry for excellence in creativity, client service, digital communications, media strategy, senior management and strategic counsel. Cohn & Wolfe also consistently ranks among the top “Best Agencies to Work For” in an annual, industry-wide employee survey. For more information, visit: www.cohnwolfe.com. Cohn & Wolfe is part of WPP plc (Nasdaq: WPPGY), one of the world’s largest communications services group.