Global communications expertise – European team spirit, even virtually

“London calling” is a song The Clash once sang. At present, Kaltwasser Kommunikation is in constant contact via phone, Skype and Microsoft Teams with its network partners in Prague, Oslo and Milan. The communications agency, headquartered in Nuremberg, is currently managing its international client projects predominantly via Microsoft Teams and values the ability to work together on presentations and Excel spreadsheets and to easily share the results in real time via the screen.

When one of Britain’s former foreign secretaries sends video greetings to mark the agency’s 30th anniversary, it demonstrates a long tradition of international relations and intercultural cooperation. Together with the former PR agency of British politician Jeremy Hunt, Kaltwasser Kommunikation founded the “InterPR” network in the 1990s. During the information technology boom, the owner-managed member agencies served many international clients worldwide. These included the first global satellite-controlled telephone network, Iridium, and the spectacular merger of the companies Uunet and Compuserve in Las Vegas. 

Alliances with owner-managed partner agencies

Kaltwasser Kommunikation established an independent agency network as early as 1994 to serve its clients across national borders. Even back then, it was operational in 14 countries, enabling it to establish a broad international presence and implement global client projects across multiple nations. “Our owner-managed agency network offers our clients localised PR expertise in their core markets. This enables us to provide them with long-term advice on all aspects of public relations, which is becoming increasingly important in a globalised world. After all, every country places different demands on communications work due to its regional mindset and varying political environment,” says Brigitte Kaltwasser.

International client work with local expertise

The collaboration is characterised by a trusting and collegial approach, always with a focus on long-term partnerships. The aim of these agency alliances is to provide current and future clients with an international focus with experienced local partners, whilst continuing to offer the convenience of a central point of contact. The lead agency coordinates the countries, thereby ensuring uniform and consistent communication. This allows communication strategies to be tailored to individual countries, and clients to benefit from regional, close contacts with relevant local media and influencers through local expertise. Conversely, Kaltwasser Kommunikation also supports its network partners’ multinational companies in conducting high-profile and effective communication campaigns in Germany. Dian Wahlen, founder of the Antwerp-based PR agency Leads United, which she later sold to Lewis PR, fondly recalls the InterPR meetings and the joint management of international clients: “To this day, I am impressed by the friendly relationship between our PR agencies and Kaltwasser Kommunikation’s passion for PR.”

Cross-border exchange with network partners

Even though Kaltwasser Kommunikation can currently only exchange ideas virtually rather than in person, the communications agency is delighted, in the current coronavirus situation, to be able to engage in cross-border exchange via telephone and video conferences, as well as to work jointly with its current network partners in Europe:

• HL Com in Paris for the Benelux countries and France: Since its foundation in 1989, the PR agency has specialised in media relations and digital communication, with a focus on the IT and telecommunications sectors.
• Nelson Bostock Unlimited in London for the UK: The communications agency has been advising corporate and technology brands for over 30 years.
• in marketing GmbH in Zurich for Austria and Switzerland: The full-service agency primarily provides communications support to IT and high-tech companies.
• DoubleVi in Milan for Italy: In addition to traditional media relations, the management and communications consultancy specialises in advising companies undergoing change or transformation.
• PR.Konektor in Prague for the Czech Republic and Slovakia: Marketing communications and creative concepts for numerous sectors are the speciality of this Prague-based PR agency.
• Coxit in Oslo for Scandinavia: The PR agency applies its ten years of communications expertise to clients in the fields of technology and IT, as well as mobility, software and construction.

Depending on client needs, Kaltwasser Kommunikation also collaborates with other PR agencies on international projects, thereby continuously expanding its global agency network as required. 

Kaltwasser’s colleagues also place great emphasis on language skills and intercultural competence, enabling them to communicate effortlessly in Czech, Spanish, Italian and, of course, English. Not to mention Franconian, Bavarian and Berlin dialect, naturally.