Hill+Knowlton Strategies today marked its 30th anniversary of operating in China.

“This is a very proud moment for H+K China and for all of our teams around the world,” said Jack Martin, global chairman and CEO, at a reception in Beijing. “In 1984, we were the first international public relations agency to set up in China. This fact reflects the bold pioneering spirit that embodies our firm. In the three decades since, we’ve established ourselves as a market leader, partnering with some of the world’s largest companies looking to grow their brands in China, and we’ve also helped Chinese companies build their brands at home and overseas. I congratulate our China team on these achievements and I anticipate even greater success to come.”

Hill+Knowlton Strategies opened its first office in China in Beijing in 1984 and has led many notable campaigns that exemplify the pace of economic development in China over the last 30 years. In the early days, Hill+Knowlton helped KFC and Pizza Hut open their first outlets in China, and held the first launch event by the Forbidden City for Cadillac. Hill+Knowlton spearheaded the concept of corporate and social responsibility in China, and from the beginning has worked with many of the world’s largest multinationals to incorporate socially responsible and sustainable business practices into their strategies for market entry. More recently, Hill+Knowlton has been involved in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the Shanghai World Expo 2010. From its origins as a pioneering team of three staff, one of whom is still employed by Hill+Knowlton in Beijing, Hill+Knowlton now employs 200+ of China’s brightest, bi-lingual PR professionals across offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

“I am immensely proud of what has been achieved in China by our teams over the years,” said Vivian Lines, global vice chairman and chairman Asia Pacific. “With a strong thirty-year heritage, our clients trust us for our unrivalled experience and expertise in the China market. Our senior team, led by Ye Yu, has helped build Hill+Knowlton Strategies China into the industry leader it is today. Looking to the future, China remains a key driver for our success in APAC and it is this sound foundation of seasoned talent and expertise, combined with an ability to remain agile and responsive to the needs of this rapidly evolving market, that will keep us on a strong growth trajectory here and across the APAC region as a whole for many years to come.”

“We have an enormous history in China,” said Ye Yu, EVP Asia Pacific and chairman China. “As the first agency to establish a presence here, our clients know innovation is in our blood. Our teams are creative, insightful, strategic and unique. In addition to our achievements in our mainstay public relations services we have also launched new offerings specific to the Chinese market such as our Mother and Child practice, led by some of our most experienced consultants who are also mothers to young children and so have first-hand insight into this significant demographic; and ACCESS, Hill+Knowlton’s dedicated Africa-China Business Service. Going forward we will continue to explore, invest in and develop services that matter most to our clients.”

Hill+Knowlton Strategies China is an industry leader and trusted partner to our clients in government and public affairs, corporate communications, integrated marketing communications, B2B, B2C, media relations, crisis communications and training, corporate advisory and risk management, sustainability and corporate social responsibility, technology and digital communications. The Hill+Knowlton China team has a client roster that includes many Fortune 500 companies, and its services cross all sectors, including automotive, government, technology, fashion and luxury, tourism and leisure, manufacturing, consumer goods and services and energy, power and utilities.

About Hill+Knowlton Strategies

Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Inc. is a leading international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational and global clients. The firm is headquartered in New York, with 87 offices in 49 countries, as well as an extensive associate network. The agency is part of WPP, the world leader in communications services. For more information, please visit www.hkstrategies.com