(BEIJING, April 27) – The International Olive Council (IOC) announced the appointment of Hill & Knowlton (H&K) as its official public relations agency in China to develop and implement communication plans in China to the end of 2011.

"Chinese consumers are becoming more health-conscious and are incorporating new ingredients in their rich and varied cuisine.  We believe the time is ripe to share the benefits of olive oil and table olives with Chinese consumers. We are pleased to partner with Hill and Knowlton because of their deep understanding of the China market and past success in food industry marketing," said Mr. Mohammad Ouhmad Sbitri, IOC Executive Director. 

"H&K is pleased and honored to serve the communication needs in China for the International Olive Council. We believe that when Chinese chefs and consumers know more about olives' unique cultural history, range of flavors, and health qualities, consumption of olive oil and table olives in China will grow exponentially," said H&K (China) Managing Director John Holden.

Lisa Wilkinson, H&K (China) Senior Vice President, said: "Hill and Knowlton takes pride in introducing healthier trends in China and is excited to have the opportunity to work for the IOC. I believe that our cooperation will help olive oil and table olives become better understood and appreciated in Chinese cuisine."

The appointment was made following a formal tender process initiated by IOC in December, 2009. After a comprehensive review, IOC selected H&K as its communications agency partner in China.

About Hill & Knowlton (www.hillandknowlton.com)
Hill & Knowlton, Inc. is a leading international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational and global clients. The firm is headquartered in New York, with 79 offices in 44 countries, as well as an extensive associate network. The agency is part of WPP, one of the world's largest communications services groups.

About the International Olive Council (IOC)
The International Olive Council, established under United Nations auspices in 1959, is the only intergovernmental organization in the world to bring together olive oil and table olive producing and consuming stakeholders. The IOC is committed to the integrated, sustainable development of world olive growing. It attempts to translate this commitment into tangible advancement for its member countries and, most importantly, for the ordinary people who earn their livelihood from the produce of the olive tree. The membership of the Council is made up of countries which are producers or which have interests in olive growing: Albania Algeria, Argentina, Croatia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Montenegro, Syria, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey and the European Union with all its 27 Member States, among which include many olive-growing nations (Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain).