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II Acknowledgements
My appreciation goes to my many partners within the Worldcom Group for their suggestions, examples and ideas used throughout this book. It has been a privilege to be part of the Worldcom international partnership; I was fortunate enough to be able to playa part in the formation and development of this remarkable organisation - and, in recent years, to have found associates who have become colleagues and then friends as we have built the organisation from nothing in 1988 into the world's largest partnership of independent consultancies, with 120 offices across the business capitals of the world.
I would also like to thank the many public relations and marketing professionals who have given their time in supplying many of the case studies in this book and who, in many cases, have helped check and constructively amend my copy. I cannot mention each here - but everyone is acknowledged in the index. Without their expertise and generosity, this book would not have been possible. Particular appreciation must go to the many members of the Institute of Public Relations, the Chartered Institute of Marketing and The Marketing Society who gave me such support and assistance in the creation of this guide.
I would also like to thank my business partner John Dresser for his unfailing good humour through the trials of preparing this book at a time that we were also developing and building our own business.
But above all, my deepest appreciation must go to my personal partner (as the PC terminology suggests is appropriate these days), my wife Sandra, for tolerating an intolerable other half.
Towards the meritocracy
Whilst making acknowledgements, let me say that one of the joys of the media, public relations and marketing industries is the impressive capabilities of so many of the people at all levels in the business. Our sectors must be amongst the most egalitarian, where achievement relates most closely to performance. We are not yet a true meritocracy for the ethnic minorities have not yet fully achieved senior representation - but all the opportunities are open. Women are not a minority, but in some businesses it is taking a long time for them to get the recognition they deserve. Probably more of the best professionals at the top of our business are women than in any other industry. So when I use 'he' ill this book, it is because it becomes tedious to say 'he or she' every time. Equally, I am resistant to the fudge of putting everything into the plural to disguise the gender. If this approach irritates anyone, I am sorry. I doubt that any of the 11I~I1Y talented women I have worked with and for will take offence.