pr inprogress

The first six months of 2010 are over. It has been a busy time, with many new cli-ents and enjoyable events. There has been some commotion about the PR profes-sion: following an investigation by the University of Amsterdam we shall present our view of the ‘eternal struggle between the journalist and the PR consultant’. We would also like to present our ‘new’ Belgian partner InstiCOM. Finally, we will be lifting the veil on our autumn workshop entitled ‘Crisis Communication in Care’. In short, enjoy the newsletter and we wish you a pleasant summer.

0210

Volu

me

15 Ju

ly 2

010

the

digi

tal n

ewsl

ette

r of

wis

seko

mm

unik

atie

co r p o rat e co m m u n i c at i o n & p u b l i c re l at i o n s

The eternal struggle between the journalist and the PR consultantA discussion erupted at the beginning of June as a result of an investigation carried out by the Journalism department of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) into the relationship between journalism and communication. It showed that the communication sector is much greater than was previously thought. There are some 150,000 press officers, commu-nication staff and PR consultants active in the Netherlands at the moment, compared with 55,000 in 2004. Knowing that there are 15,000 journalists in the Netherlands, various media reported: ‘The PR army is ten times as big as the number of journalists’ and ‘Ten PR profes-sionals for every reporter’. These conclusions seem somewhat premature, however, consider-ing that of course not every communication professional is involved in media relations on a daily basis. Furthermore, these headlines imply that journalists are being overwhelmed by communication people and that there is therefore an unfair struggle between the two occupational groups. Chairman Rijk van Ark of the Logeion professional association responds: “People are now being misled. This could cause a situation in which communication profes-sionals are depicted as opponents of journal-ism’. This does not do justice to the actual circumstances, in which communication profes-sionals actually contribute to transparency and

the availability of information. It is indeed true that communication professionals and journal-ists complement and even need each other. Journalists, on the one hand, are always looking for relevant and reliable information for their readers. On the other hand, organisations have a message that is of interest to their target group. It is the communication professional’s task to bring this message to the attention of the media, among others.

>

The investigation further states that “as long as journalism is understaffed, for example by cutbacks, an increasingly professionalised com-munication sector will gain more power”. The researchers of the UvA will therefore be taking time in the next few months to inventarise strategies that journalism will be able to use to strengthen its position. But why do journal-ists need strategies to fight back against the alleged army of PR consultants and press offic-ers?

Organisations bring in a PR agency to help them set up and/or professionalise their media policy. In this way they try to have their com-pany appear in the media in a structured way, or in some cases ensure that that in fact does not happen. PR agencies can help here by play-ing the part of a spin doctor, based on their knowledge and experience of the media. They share ideas about ways and means of increas-ing media attention and have the resources for achieving that in practice. The approach to the media is always based on newsworthy content.

Journalists are therefore not consciously per-suaded in a cunning way to publish everything organisations write or proclaim. The journalist’s task is also to pick and choose from what is presented. No matter how large the army of PR consultants, press officers and communication staff might become, the journalist concerned always has the last word. It is a good sign that the communication sector is becoming more professional, and to use the words of the Logeion association: “the added value of pro-fessional communication is being recognised everywhere”. Our view is that journalists there-fore do not need a well-thought-out strategy in order to strengthen their position with respect to communication professionals. Journalistic activities and the work of press officers, com-munication staff and PR consultants go hand in hand. Journalists have nothing to fear from “our” communication professionals. At the end of the day, we have to work together.

Autodesk asks Wisse Kommunikatie to do Media & Entertainment as wellSince 2008, Wisse Kommunikatie has been working for Autodesk, the supplier of 2D and 3D design software, which is regarded world-wide as one of the founders of Computer Aided Design. Up to now we have carried out a large number of PR activities for the multination-al’s construction portfolio, for the mechanical engineering branch, for products for utility companies and telecommunications and for geo-related industries. Wisse Kommunikatie was given a new task a while ago: Media and Entertainment.

As the name suggests, this is about software packages that are used in creating content for films, TV programmes and games. The portfolio of advanced solutions for 3D model-ling, animation, visual effects and rendering includes, among other things, the well-estab-lished Autodesk MotionBuilder 2011, Autodesk Softimage 2011, Autodesk Mudbox 2011, Autodesk Smoke 2011 and Autodesk Maya 2011 packages.

The European PR account for M&E was previ-ously run by an agency in England, but from the point of view of efficiency and as a result of the successful activities for other sectors, Autodesk decided to transfer M&E to the local PR agencies that were looking after the remainder of the portfolio. “This is a great addition to our account”, according to account manager Serge Beckers, “because we are now

closely involved in products that have been used in blockbusters such as Titanic, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Spider-Man films and Transformers, in games such as Assassin’s Creed II and in TV programmes such as Star Trek. Furthermore, the Netherlands is not known as a major user of software packages from Autodesk where film technology is con-cerned, and especially in post-production, so we can give our client good service here”.

Groundbreaking ceremony for new hydrogen plant with Minister Van der HoevenWisse Kommunikatie was involved in organis-ing the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Air Products hydrogen plant in the Botlek area of Rotterdam on 22 June. The plant, which is scheduled to become operational in the middle of next year, will be one of the larg-est and most modern in the world, producing 300 tonnes of hydrogen a day. It will supply a large proportion of its output to the adjacent ExxonMobil refinery. Hydrogen is an essential raw material in the production of clean fuels.

A marquee in which the guests were received was erected on the site. After speeches by Jeff Byrne from Air Products, Joost van Roost from ExxonMobil, Hans Smits from the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Maria van der Hoeven, Minister of Economic Affairs, thirteen VIPs shovelled sand away to unveil a special plaque. The guests were then able to see a

number of large panels in the marquee that explained the working of the hydrogen plant and the way its processes will be integrated with the refinery. After the guests had depart-ed, the morning was concluded with a lunch attended by the teams from Air Products and ExxonMobil who are involved in the project.

Wisse Kommunikatie collaborated closely for the event with an external event manager, who organised all the on-site logistics and catering. The communication departments of ExxonMobil Benelux and Air Products in England were also involved in the project. Our tasks were the overall planning and co-ordina-tion, practical support and, of course, the media contacts.

Minister of Economic Affairs Maria van der Hoevenphoto: Willem Blauw

PR activities for Veeam SoftwareIn April this year, Wisse Kommunikatie start-ed PR activities in the Benelux for Veeam Software, founded in 2006 by CEO Ratmir Timashev and CTO Andre Baranov. Veeam is a fast-growing software company that develops innovative software for managing virtual infra-structures. It has approximately 7,500 clients worldwide, a total that grows by some 700 every month. A number of large financial insti-tutions, teaching hospitals and large telecoms companies in the Benelux have implemented solutions from Veeam, and dozens of small and

medium-sized organisations have also selected packages from this software supplier. Those organisations are served in the Benelux by a network of 200 resellers.

World No Tobacco Day: EU HELP campaign organ-ised a graffiti workshopTo celebrate World No Tobacco Day on 31 May last, Wisse Kommunikatie organised a graffiti workshop for the European HELP campaign entitled ‘For a life without tobacco’, in col-laboration with the Remixx Youth Centre and ’t Mozaïek primary school in Arnhem. This was connected to the campaign’s theme this year, called ‘Street Art’. The purpose of the workshop was to help the youngsters to get to know the campaign in a creative way and to inform them about the risks of smoking and passive smok-ing.

The participants in the two-hour event were first given an explanation of the various techniques of spraying graffiti, so that they could then try them out for themselves on wooden panels. The graffiti teachers from the Kunstbedrijf Arnhem had prepared a sketch in advance with the slogan ‘Rookvrij leven’ [A life without tobacco] and a number of animation dolls from the campaign. The attractively-col-oured panels are being exhibited in Remixx and ’t Mozaïek.

Internet via satellite launchedInhabitants and businesses in remote areas, including agrarian companies, have recently been able to use a fast Internet connection via satellite. Eutelsat, the European leader in satel-lite communications, launched a new product for broadband Internet in the Netherlands in May this year: Tooway™. Thanks to broadband access via satellite, users in several outlying regions no longer depend on slow dial-up con-nections or expensive WiFi Internet. Tooway™ also provides a solution for people in the Netherlands who already receive TV via satel-lite and for consumers who want Internet con-nections in their second homes.

Wisse Kommunikatie looked after the PR activi-ties in connection with introducing Tooway™ to the market. A media audit was performed

in advance of the launch, with the fifteen most important media being approached in order to assess their interest in the new product. Three press releases, each tailored to a specific target group, were then sent to carefully-selected national, regional and local media. Shortly after the launch, a mailing was sent to various rural municipalities, sector organisations and pres-sure groups so as to bring Tooway™ to their attention. These PR efforts have so far resulted in 22 articles in various printed and digital media. As a result of the launch, there have also been discussions in forums and on Twitter about the usability and quality of Tooway™.

Preview of ‘Crisis Communication in Care’ work-shop

Wisse Kommunikatie will organise a work-shop in the autumn of 2010 that has ‘Crisis Communication in Care’ as its theme. We chose this theme because we are increasingly becom-ing involved with clients in the care sector who unfortunately are regularly faced with widely differing crisis situations. It turns out more and more often that care institutions only start to think about the consequences of a crisis after the damage has already been done. Many prob-lems can be alleviated or even avoided, how-ever, if a proper communication plan has been drawn up beforehand or if thought has been given to the possible consequences of a crisis.

The exact format of the workshop is being worked out at the moment, but in any case Wisse has found that Douwe de Joode is pre-pared to contribute to the event. He is the managing director of communication consul-tancy bureau De Joode Communicatie and an authority in the field of crisis communication in the care sector. One of the organisations he set up was the PR and Information depart-ment of the VU Medical Centre, which he led for eight years. One of the things Douwe de Joode did to support his consultancy practice was to complete his doctoral studies in Health Law and Hospital Science at the University of Amsterdam. He also gives guest lectures at uni-versities and within HBO education.

“In Douwe, who we have been working with closely for some considerable time, we have brought in a speaker who is much in demand”, says Hubert Wisse. “He will doubtless supple-ment his theoretical views on the discipline of crisis communication with countless relevant practical examples, and bring home to the par-ticipants in a very enjoyable way the benefits of a proper crisis communication plan”.

More information about the workshop will be published in PRogress and on the Wisse Kommunikatie website as soon as it becomes available.

A career in ICT?In an initiative by the European Commission, activities were organised throughout Europe in March this year with the intention of making a career in ICT more attractive to students aged from 14 to 18 who were in advanced education. ICT~Office, the sector organisation for more than 500 IT, Telecom, Internet and Office com-panies in the Netherlands, organised various activities from 2 to 5 March 2010 in the context of Dutch e-Skills Week.

Approximately 500 young people in the Netherlands were given the opportunity to visit companies that use ICT in an innovative way, enabling them to find out about the vari-ety of a career in ICT. ICT companies as well as large multinationals that invest a great deal in ICT registered for these company visits. By focusing attention during e-Skills Week on the many opportunities for a good career in ICT, the intention is for young people to prefer working in this sector in the future.

Wisse Kommunikatie has been supporting ICT~Office in carrying out the PR activities in connection with this European week. Its assign-

ments included issuing the press invitations for the official opening of e-Skills Week during the CeBIT conference in Hanover, and the vari-ous company visits. Wisse Kommunikatie also took care of handling cutting overviews and support during the company visits, resulting in a number of articles, including some online, in publications related to ICT and education and in the regional media.

DOOR BAS VAN OORT

UTRECHT - Om scholierenenthousiast te maken voorde IT-sector, organiseerdede Europese Commissie van2 tot 5 maart de eSkills Week.Scholieren van het IchtusCollege uit Veenendaal gin-gen op bedrijfsbezoek bijCapgemini. Daar hadden zeeen videoconferentie metmedewerkers uit India.

Lucas Stassen moet namensICT-Office de Nederlandse eSk-ills Week in goede banen leiden."Er willen maar weinig scholie-ren de IT-sector in", verklaarthij het project. "Die denken na-tuurlijk allemaal van: daar wer-ken alleen maar nerds. Maar datis niet zo. Kijk maar eens om jeheen hier."De bijeenkomst wordt ingeleiddoor Jacques, die al vijftien jaarmet plezier bij Capgeminiwerkt. Het grootste voordeel: jeziet wat van de wereld. Hij is alin België geweest en ook inDuitsland en Amerika, want deklanten zitten niet alleen in Ne-derland.Maar ook in India, want daargebeurt het nu in de IT-sector.Daar werken veel meer mensenin de IT, en ook nog eens voorveel minder geld. Jacques vraagtaan Kevin, een van de scholie-ren, of hij ook in de IT-sector wilwerken. Dat wil Kevin (17) niet.Hij wil het leger in. Voor de vi-

deoconferentie begint, waar-schuwt Jacques nog even voorde cultuurverschillen. "Er zijnwat dingen waar je voor opmoet passen straks. Ga bijvoor-beeld niet met je benen over el-kaar zitten. Als je een Indiër jeschoenzool laat zien, zeg je ei-genlijk: ik heb schijt aan jou. Datis niet de bedoeling."De scholieren mogen ook niet

hun neus snuiten tijdens de ver-gadering. Dat is onbeleefd.Wat wel mag: op de grond spu-gen en boeren laten. Maar datraadt Jacques vanuit Neder-lands oogpunt af.

SpannendDe scholieren vinden het video-bellen leuk, maar vooral span-nend. Frank (17): Het is lastig

dat je geen Nederlands kuntspreken. Ik ben nog niet zo goedin Engels en vind het ook moei-lijk om de Indiërs te verstaan. Zehebben zo'n gek accent.Ali (18) was erg positief: "Het isecht vet om zomaar even metIndia te bellen, en al helemaalop deze manier. Zo heb je echthet gevoel dat je bij elkaar aantafel zit." Het project is in ieder

geval geslaagd. De scholierenreageerden enthousiast, en datblijkt ook wel uit de rapportcij-fers die ze aan het eind van demiddag mogen geven: niemandgeeft lager dan een 7.Wel was er bij de scholieren nogeen kritische noot over India:het tijdverschil. "Het is natuur-lijk niet de bedoeling dat wij la-ter ook 's nachts gaan werken."

De scholieren ontdekten bij Capgemini dat in de IT-wereld niet alleen techniek van belang is, maar ook communicatie, ook metmensen uit andere culturen. FOTO: BAS VAN OORT.

Videobellen met IndiaScholieren maken kennis met IT-wereld

UTRECHT - De eerste hoc-keytrainingen bij ZwaluwenUtrecht 1911 zijn vorigeweek begonnen op de nieu-we hockeyvelden. De hoc-keyclub gaat op een uniekelocatie in de stad (NieuwWelgelegen) van start.De hockeyvereniging wordteen afdeling van omni-ver-eniging Zwaluwen Utrecht1911.Begin dit jaar benoemde hetomni-bestuur een interimbestuur voor de hockeyafde-ling, die streeft naar een ge-leidelijke groei van de ver-eniging.De aanmeldingsprocedureheeft eind januari plaatsge-vonden. Dat heeft ertoe ge-leid dat er 86 nieuwe ledenzijn, met name in de leeftijdvan 6 tot 10 jaar. Op 17 aprilworden de nieuwe hockey-velden officieel worden geo-pend.Vanaf komend seizoen gaatde hockeyafdeling van startmet competitiehockey. Te-vens zijn er plannen om metsenioren- en trimhockey tebeginnen.Zie verder www.zwaluwenutrecht1911.nl

Beurs kinderkledingen speelgoed UTRECHT - De oudercom-missie van PeuterspeelzaalPinokkio houdt op zaterdag20 maart weer een kinder-kleding- en speelgoedbeursin Centrum Voordorp, A. Ro-merostraat 330 van 10.00 tot12.00 uur. Verkoopplaats: 7 euro per ta-fel. Voor een plaats, mail: Pinokkio.Kledingbeurs@hotmail.com

Nieuwe velden Zwaluwen Utrecht

Woensdag 10 maart 2010 - Pagina 56dé Weekkrant A L T I J D A C T U E E L : D E W E E K K R A N T . N LStadsblad Noord

DOOR COBY VAN GEFFEN

UTRECHT - Morgen start deverkoop van alweer de 64stekinder- en tienerkleding-beurs in Hoograven. Ditkeer voor het laatst met dedrijvende krachten van deafgelopen twintig jaar: Ni-colien Vink en Tjitske deJong.

Het is tijd het stokje over te ge-ven aan een nieuwe lichting,met nieuwe ideeën, vinden bei-de dames. Twintig jaar langhebben ze hart en ziel gestokenin de organisatie van drie grotetweedehandsbeurzen per jaar:een kinderkledingbeurs in hetvoor- en najaar en een grotespeelgoedbeurs voor de Sinter-klaasperiode.De beurzen zijn uniek voorUtrecht, want nergens draaiteen tweedehands kleding/speelgoedbeurs al zo lang en ishij zo groot. “Bij de kleding-beurzen wordt de ingekomenkleding aan zeventien(!) tafelsgelabeld en geprijsd, altijd inoverleg met de inbrenger van dekleding.” De kleding hangt opsoort en maat bij elkaar, samenmet het enorme aanbod het ge-heim van hun succes, vermoe-den ze. Overgebleven kledingdie mensen niet terug willen,doorgaans zo’n zeventig tottachtig vuilniszakken, wordt ge-schonken aan de acute pleeg-opvang en een kindertehuis inRoemenië.

Adrenaline

Belangrijkste drijf-veer voor Nicolien enTjitske al die jarenwas de kick van hetorganiseren, de adre-naline die dan doorhet lijf pompt. Na aldie jaren zijn ze bo-vendien zo op elkaaringespeeld dat ze weleens tegen elkaar zeg-gen, ‘we zouden eigen-lijk alles kunnen orga-niseren’.Toch is het mooi ge-weest. “Het is tijd voor een frissewind. Zo deden wij de adminis-tratie nog voor een deel hand-matig. Die meiden printen numet een Excellprogramma ineen keer alle overzichten uit, su-per!” Wel blijven ze graag be-trokken bij de uitvoering. “Hetlijkt ons heerlijk om gewoon omhalfzeven ‘s avonds te kunnenbinnenkomen en te zeggen,hier ben ik, wat moet ik doen, in

plaats van je maanden vooraf albezig te houden met alle voor-bereidingen, compleet met sla-peloze nachten.”

WerkgroepenEen andere belangrijke succes-factor al die jaren is de vastekern van zestig goed ingewerkte

vrijwilligers. “De meesten zijn aljaren actief.” Een deel van henzal de taken van Nicolien enTjitske overnemen. “Een halfjaar geleden is een werkgroepopgericht die de doorstart vormgaat geven. Deze nieuwe clubheeft allerlei andere werkgroe-pen opgezet: voor de catering,

de administratie, de pr, de in-koop, de verkoop, de vrijwilli-gers et cetera.” En niet te verge-ten voor de Lief en Leedclub,hun initiatief om burenhulpaan vrijwilligers te coördineren.“Want ook de onderlinge be-trokkenheid van al die vrijwilli-gers moet blijven bestaan.”

Twintig jaar lang waren Nicolien Vink (staand) en Tjitske de Jong de drijvende krachten achter dekledingbeurs in Hoograven.

Kinder- en tienerkleding-beurs 10-11- 12 maart inBuurthuis Ravelijn, HooftGraaflandstraat 2A, Utrecht,buslijn 6 richting Hoogra-ven.Meer informatie: www.beurzenravelijn.nl ofwww.portes.nl

Afscheid van kledingbeursNog één keer de adrenaline door het lijf

Informatie

UTRECHT - DebatcentrumTumult heeft ook komendeweek genoeg debatten, metop woensdag 10 maart hetonderwerp 'Nanokaravaan,Nanodeeltjes in het milieu:zijn er echt risico’s?', en opdonderdag 11 maart deVrede van Utrecht Lezing,'Accident in history' doorProf. Peter Galison en opmaandag 15 maart CinemaTurkije in Utrecht, Pand-orás Box. Voor alle informa-tie, zie www.tumultdebat.nl

AdministratiefhuisbezoekUTRECHT - Het Rode KruisUtrecht Midden gaat haarproject AdministratiefHuisbezoek uitbreidennaar Leidsche Rijn en Vleu-ten-De Meern. Mensen diehulp nodig hebben kunnenzich rechtstreeks aanmel-den, maar ook kunnen zijvoor thuishulp wordendoorverwezen via de doorPortes gestartte ‘FinanciëleWinkel’ in dit gebied. Veel mensen komen er methun administratie nietmeer uit. Hun inkomenvermindert en de uitgavenworden hoger. Ze wetenniet waar ze financiële rege-lingen moeten aanvragen.Instanties zijn moeilijk tele-fonisch bereikbaar. Ook vrijwilligers kunnenzich aanmelden. Het RodeKruis verzorgt de trainin-gen en de begeleiding. Vooraanmelding of meer infor-matie, Anneke van derMeulen, Rode KruisUtrecht Midden, tel.: 030-2520134. E-mail: avander-meulen@rodekruisutrecht-midden.nl

Debatten Tumult

Start of the HyMove project and unveiling of the hydrogen busThe unveiling of the hydrogen bus in one of the workshops in Arnhem of the HTS Autotechniek (Higher Technical College Automotive) on 28 May was the official starting signal for the HyMove project. More than 60 guests from the Arnhem hydrogen network and members of the press were invited to the occasion. Several representatives of the regional and local authorities explained their reasons for par-ticipating in this ambitious project. Alexander Hablé, who spoke about the government’s point of view about running on hydrogen, represented the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management. After the offi-cial unveiling of the bus by the four speakers, the guests were able to take a test ride in the bus or have a look at the College’s workshop and hydrogen laboratory, where a number of hydrogen cars were on display. Some of the cars will probably be running on the streets of

Arnhem later this year as part of the HyMove project.

Wisse Kommunikatie was responsible for the logistics, the co-ordination during the event and for the press activities. The unveil-ing attracted a great deal of attention in the regional media and the trade press. A full range of communication media was developed with Diep Arnhem, demonstrating how strong and recognisable an attractive and consistently thought-out house style is. That house style can be found on the bus, the website, the ban-ners, the inflatables, the badges, the press pack and the labels on the bottles of water used for the toasts at the start of the project. The unveiling of the bus was also the prelude to an extensive promotion campaign for the project in the coming summer and autumn.

Wisse starts activities for CBOGThe Dutch College for the Professions and Education in Care (CBOG) has asked Wisse Kommunikatie to support its communication and PR activities. The Wisse team will collabo-rate closely on this new account with Douwe de Joode, managing director of De Joode Communciatie.

The CBOG is a foundation that, in consulta-tion with and at the request of the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport, was set up by V&VN [Nurses and Carers in the Netherlands], KNMG [Royal Dutch Society for the Promotion of Medicine], NFU [Dutch Federation of University Medical Centres], NVZ [Dutch Hospitals Association], and GGZ Nederland [Mental Health Care in the Netherlands].

As a network organisation, the CBOG is respon-sible for the cohesion and structure between the professions and training in the care sector

and concerns itself with both the quality and the quantity of professionals in health care. The organisation acts as a point of contact for par-ties in the field as well as the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport, and is active in the areas of innovation, grants and budgets.

The care sector has had to make major changes out of necessity and is a constant topic of discussion. It is very important for network organisations such as the CBOG that they conduct all communication along the right lines and approach all target groups in a clear manner. Wisse Kommunikatie and De Joode Communicatie will set up various activities for the optimal supervision of this process.

photo: Gerhard Witteveen

Wisse KommunikatieWisse Kommunikatie/Worldcom the Netherlands (1982) is a corporate communica-tions and public relations consultancy. We help our customers develop and implement their internal and external communications, thus making a positive contribution to their reputa-

tion and operating result. We are known for our professional and result-oriented approach.

Wisse Kommunikatie is specialised in strategy & communication advice, PR & media rela-tions, crisis management, training and tools & events. Our knowledge and experience are broad and varied. We are very familiar with the ICT, industry and building & installation sec-tors. We also regularly work for health & medi-cal organisations, business services and (semi) government bodies.

Wisse Kommunikatie is affiliated to the Worldcom Public Relations Group, the world’s largest network of independent PR consultan-cies totalling over a hundred partners through-out six continents. A substantial proportion of our work therefore involves international projects.

Over the past 28 years, we have had the privi-lege of serving numerous Dutch and interna-tional companies, organisations and institu-tions. For more information on our work, exper-tise and customers, please visit our website, www.wisse-worldcom.nl.

For more information, see:

www.wisse-worldcom.nl

Kroonpark 2a

Postbus 3037

6082 DA Arnhem

The Netherlands

T +31 (0) 26 443 1523

E communications@wisse-worldcom.nl

co r p o rat e co m m u n i c at i o n & p u b l i c re l at i o n s

0210Wisse is going further into the Belgian market with InstiCOMWisse Kommunikatie recently gained a new partner in Belgium: InstiCOM. We can immedi-ately reassure the clients for whom we regular-ly carry out assignments in the Benelux: Hans Karperien left WEB the first of January this year, but is still serving our Benelux clients.

The change to InstiCOM was necessary in order to have the company live up to the expecta-tions and ambitions of managing director Hans Karperien. ”The only essential change is in fact that InstiCOM has different sharehold-ers. It was decided in close consultation with Wisse Kommunikatie to distribute the existing shares differently and to attract a new party to the new company in Brussels. In the Dutch PR bureau of IvRM in Bussum we have managed to find a partner that fits in with us perfectly as far as content and ambition are concerned”, according to Karperien.

InstiCOM is collaborating with Wisse as before in carrying out assignments in the Benelux for its clients, as efficiently and as well as possible. ”It was good to see that Wisse was immediate-ly prepared to help me with starting up again and to support me in acquiring new clients in Belgium”, says Karperien. “And of course I was very happy that the clients from my former agency came with me. That shows they have a lot of faith in InstiCOM.”