APCO Worldwide is acquiring international business strategy consultancy TWC Associates. TWC Chairman Lord Stuart Polak and Greg Weingarten join forces with APCO, bringing their specialised expertise advising business in high-tech sectors and those entering complex international markets, Brad Staples, CEO of APCO, announced.
“I am delighted to welcome Stuart and Greg to APCO; they bring many years of strategic advisory expertise, extensive international market understanding and nuanced geopolitical insight. As Britain enters a new era, and with COVID-19 reshaping our relationship with technology, I believe that Stuart and Greg will provide tremendous value to our growth in London and beyond,” Staples said.
APCO Worldwide is a global strategic communications consultancy which partners with organisations to navigate today’s evolving business environment and solve complex reputational challenges in support of corporate and organisational goals. TWC is a boutique consultancy in London, specializing in the development of business strategy for a wide range of corporate and non-corporate clients. Polak will join APCO’s International Advisory Council (IAC) as senior counsellor and Weingarten will join as a senior director.
Polak brings his extensive policy background and knowledge of the global business landscape to APCO and will be supporting business development across a range of sectors. In his IAC role, he will be adding valuable guidance for APCO’s leadership and clients on various geopolitical matters as well as unique insight into opportunities in Israel and in emerging economies. He will also provide advice on strengthening corporate relations with the fast-growing areas in advanced technology, AI, telecommunications and aerospace, among others.
“Having known and admired APCO for many years, I truly respect the company’s global standing, founded on its deep heritage and expertise in addressing the most critical, leading issues around the world,” Polak said. “I am excited to have the opportunity to join the elite team of global advisors at APCO.”
Weingarten has more than 10 years of experience advising clients on UK public affairs, and has served as a Parliamentary affairs adviser at the Association of British Insurers. He also spent two years in Brussels as political counsellor to the UK Conservative Party in the European Parliament.
“As a global strategic communications consultancy, APCO operates at the cusp of business and society everywhere. The acquisition of TWC is an important development for APCO in London which further solidifies our position as a global business hub for the company and our clients,” Interim Managing Director of APCO’s London Office Roi Feder said. “Stuart and Greg have been guiding some of the most exciting technology companies in the world. I am excited to see them joining our talented and diverse team in London, and I look forward to working with them to further grow our operation in the market and beyond.”
APCO’s IAC and its four subgroups comprise more than 100 recognized global leaders, including policy experts, business and industry leaders, former elected politicians, academics, renowned journalists, diplomats and nonprofit pioneers. Polak joins an extraordinary group of strategic advisors at APCO, including Ambassador Ido Aharoni, Ambassador Claudia Fritsche, former UK Minister for Business and Industry Richard Harrington, Ambassador Lalit Mansingh, former Assistant to President George W. Bush Anita McBride, former United States Congresswoman Susan Molinari, former President of IKEA U.S. Lars Petersson, Ambassador Tim Roemer, former President of the European Investment Fund Georges Ugeux and former Member of the European Parliament Sir Graham Watson.
For more than 35 years, APCO has been a trusted advisor and partner to private, public and nonprofit clients as they try to identify and manage new and emerging issues, challenges and opportunities around the world. Established by Margery Kraus as a single-person operation in 1984, APCO has grown to a global advisory and advocacy communications consultancy with offices in more than 30 markets and experience working in more than 80 markets globally, providing in-depth advice, perceptive guidance and creative approaches for its clients.
