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If you want to engage stakeholders in a thoughtful, well-informed debate about the scientific and moral implications of stem cell research and its potential pharmaceutical benefits, int/ext Communications is the public relations firm for you. Its team of eight includes individuals whose backgrounds range from life sciences to theology, and most of the firm’s clients are drawn from the chemicals and life sciences sectors—industries where managers are frequently faced with the kind of complex, multidimensional issues that int/ext specializes in addressing.
Managing partner Marcel Trachsel, who founded the firm in 1993, was previously scientific communications officer for Sandoz and head of marketing and communications at Sandoz Technology. Partner Peter Felber studied theology and was a minister in Schaffhausen as well as head of media relations for the Reformed Church of Basel before joining int/ext Communications in 1996. Partner Martin Huschke was project manager and head of marketing and sales in a scientific publishing house. New additions over the past 12 months included Mark Ehrsam, a biologist by education and former editor-in-chief of Pro Natura Magazin, the magazine of the largest conservation organization in Switzerland, and Andrea Richter, head of communications in Switzerland for chemical company Ciba.
The firm’s senior staff has experience in most of the industries with which int/ext consults, and bring expertise in technical and scientific communications, issues and crisis management (an area of particularly strong growth last year), with an emphasis on managing complex communication projects. Most clients are in the scientific sectors, but int/ext also works with professional services firms and non-profit organizations, often offering broad marketing and communications expertise, and offers specialist capabilities in annual reports, intercultural negotiation skills and consensus building around particularly complex issues. Wolfensberger enabled the firm to expand its services to the logistics sector, which provided significant new business opportunities over the past year.
That helped drive revenue growth of about 17 percent last year to around €1 million, and the firm is on track for a similarly strong performance in 2008. There was new business from healthcare clients such as CSL Behring, the Swiss association for persons with impaired hearing, logistics company Gondrand, Remondis (recycling), the Veterinary Faculty of Zurich University, and financial services and advisory firm Internationale Treuhand, while int/ext continues to work with Novartis, Rhenus Alpina Group, Huntsman, Galenica Group and bci Betriebs. In addition, from November 2007 to May 2008, Trachsel served as head of communications for and consultant to the Employers’ Association of the Basel-based Pharma, Chemical and Service Industry (comprising 11 companies such as Novartis, Roche, and Clariant) during their negotiations with the unions for a new collective bargaining agreement.
Other highlights included working with pharmaceutical company CSL Behring on an internal quality initiative that spanned its sites in Bern (Switzerland), Marburg (Germany) and Kankakee (USA); creating and supporting a campaign to raise awareness of and prevent hearing impairment, on behalf of a patients’ group; organized a pavilion to promote the Basel region during the European soccer championships; and provided strategic consultancy, communications planning and issues management for the remediation of a major landfill on behalf of bci Betriebs. Says bci Betriebs managing director Michael Fischer: “We appreciate int/ext Communications as a very reliable partner due to the industry-specific know-how, the professionalism and the commitment of its communications experts. The agency supports us with a comprehensive service, from consultancy to conception and realization.”
int/ext Communications is a member of Public Relations Organisation International, a network of independent public relations firms and handles numerous international assignments.
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