STOCKHOLM—International corporate and public affairs firm APCO Worldwide has formed a regional partnership with Rud Pedersen, one of Scandinavia’s leading communication consultancies.

The agreement extends APCO’s reach to Scandinavia for the first time, providing affiliate offices in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Copenhagen and Oslo and supplementing APCO’s existing network of offices in more than 30 locations.

According to Ed Walsh (pictured), managing director of APCO’s European operations, the two firms “have a long history of collaboration” in sectors including publishing, pharmaceuticals and healthcare.

Established in 2002, Rud Pedersen provides expertise in public affairs, strategic communication, and issues and crisis management and has a staff of 25, including former civil servants as well as veterans of the private sector. Services include public affairs, strategic communication, crisis management, issues monitoring and stakeholder analysis, with a particular focus on the defense, infrastructure and medical sectors.

“This agreement opens the door for us to offer a truly global service,” said Morten Rud Pedersen, chief executive.