News

Federalist Group Announces Name Change to Ogilvy Government Relations

Leading Government Affairs Firm to Co-locate with Foremost Communications Firm, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide

Washington, DC, February 15, 2007 - The Federalist Group, a premier government affairs firm in the nation’s capital, today announced that it is changing its name to Ogilvy Government Relations. The new name will more accurately represent the company’s expanding business and the natural evolution it has made into a large bipartisan firm since being acquired by Ogilvy PR in 2005. Ogilvy Government Relations will co-locate with Ogilvy PR at 1111 19th Street NW, beginning February 26th, reinforcing the importance of seamlessly integrated government relations and public affairs campaigns.

“Ogilvy PR has a deep heritage of strategic thinking, unsurpassed client service and important results,” said Marcia Silverman, chief executive officer of Ogilvy PR. “Ogilvy Government Relations shares this same philosophy and we are thrilled that they now share our name.”

"The nature and practice of lobbying has evolved significantly," added Stewart Hall, founder and managing director of Ogilvy Government Relations. "We must now build consensus in Congress through totally integrated campaigns that include broader communications mediums. The change to Ogilvy Government Relations and move across town to join our colleagues is an important step in continuing to strengthen our business both here in Washington and globally."

“We believe that an effective advocacy campaign must unite the disciplines of direct lobbying with earned and paid media, messaging, polling and digital influence into a single powerful team where each element supports and augments the effectiveness of the other,” said Robert Mathias, managing director of Ogilvy PR’s Washington office. “Our relationship with Ogilvy Government Relations has produced outstanding results for our clients and our co-location will only bring a new dynamism to our Washington presence.”

Ogilvy Government Relations has earned an unsurpassed reputation for successful legislative and regulatory advocacy as it has transitioned from a Republican focus to a large, bipartisan firm. Its roster, in addition to Hall includes, Wayne Berman, a former political appointee under President Bush (41); former U.S. Representative Chris John (D-LA) and his Chief of Staff Gordon Taylor; John Green, former executive director of the New Republican Majority Fund; Drew Maloney, former legislative director for the Majority Whip during the Republican control of the House; Andrew Rosenberg, who previously worked with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee with Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA); Moses Mercado, former deputy executive director at the Democratic National Committee; and Tom Hebert, former Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment at the USDA during the Clinton Administration.

Ogilvy PR is a global public relations firm with a full range of communications services housed within seven practices. Its global CEO is Marcia Silverman and the Washington office is headed by Robert Mathias, both of whom are long-time Washingtonians.

“We are proud of our history and what we have achieved, but are really focused on our future with Ogilvy,” added Hall.

###

About Ogilvy Government Relations
Ogilvy Government Relations, a Washington-based government relations firm, specializes in legislative advocacy, policy initiatives, securing federal appropriations, legislative and executive relationship building, regulatory advocacy and grassroots campaigns. Ogilvy Government Relations's professional staff has decades of experience in grassroots and advocacy groups, campaigns, House, Senate and Executive offices and prides itself on the ability to anticipate and mitigate actions by government that can adversely affect clients' profitability and stability. Ogilvy Government Relations is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide. For more information, visit our Web site at www.ogilvygr.com.

About Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide is a global marketing communications firm, with offices in more than 60 cities around the world. Entering its 25th year providing public relations solutions, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide has specialties in consumer marketing, corporate (B2B), healthcare, social marketing, technology, public affairs and entertainment. Through its subsidiary Feinstein Kean Healthcare, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide provides communication consulting to biotechnology companies. The Holmes Report has named Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide "2003 International Agency of the Year"; marking the fourth consecutive year the firm has been awarded "Agency of the Year." Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide is part of the WPP Group, one of the world's leading communications services groups (NASDAQ: WPPGY, www.wpp.com). For more information, visit our Web site at www.ogilvypr.com.