This follows the announcement in February 2014 of 27 branded operations, and the subsequent launch of Brainchild Burson-Marsteller in Uganda in November 2014. The full Burson-Marsteller Africa network covers 53 of the 55 countries on the continent.

In addition, after building a very strong partnership on a non-exclusive basis over a number of years, Burson-Marsteller has announced the signature of an exclusive affiliate agreement with Blast Communications covering the Indian Ocean Islands including Mauritius, where the company has its hub office, Madagascar, the Seychelles, the Comoros Islands and Reunion. The announcement of Back Communications in Angola joining the Burson-Marsteller Africa network on an exclusive affiliate basis rounded off the announcement.

“For 26 years our commitment to growing partnerships has underpinned Burson-Marsteller’s activities across Africa,” said Burson-Marsteller chairperson and CEO, Africa, Robyn de Villiers. “With these new relationships, we are very strongly positioned with a pan-African, Burson-Marsteller branded network of communications consultancies, individually respected in their own countries and collectively recognised as the pre-eminent African communications network. We are delighted to launch CMC Connect Burson-Marsteller and to bring Blast Communications and Back Communications even closer into our fold.”

“We are thrilled to be responsible for flying the Burson-Marsteller flag in the Nigerian market,” added Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, CEO of CMC Connect Burson-Marsteller. “This is a significant honour and we will ensure that, in addition to enhancing the service offering we are able to bring to clients in Nigeria through closer alignment with the global organisation, we will grow the brand and strengthen its position in our market. The launch could not have come at a better time for us and for Burson-Marsteller given Nigeria’s position as one of the strongest economies on the African continent.”

Jeremy Galbraith, CEO Burson-Marsteller Europe, Middle East & Africa and Global Chief Strategy Officer concluded: “Many of our clients want to grow their businesses across the rapidly emerging continent of Africa. Today’s announcements are testament to our commitment to being where our clients need us to be – notably in 53 of the 55 markets on the continent, offering world-class strategic communications services that will contribute to their overall business success.”

About Burson-Masteller

Burson-Marsteller, established in 1953, is a leading global public relations and communications firm. It provides clients with strategic thinking and program execution across a full range of public relations, public affairs, reputation and crisis management, advertising and digital strategies. The firm’s seamless worldwide network consists of 73 offices and 85 affiliate offices, together operating in 110 countries across six continents. Burson-Marsteller is a part of Young & Rubicam Group, a subsidiary of WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY), the world’s leading communications services network.

For more information on Burson-Masteller, visit www.bm.com.