Porter Novelli announced that its current CEO, Gary Stockman, will step down July 31, being replaced by Michael Ramah global director of strategy and a 25-year Porter Novelli veteran. Ramah will work with Stockman during the transition and assume the duties of acting CEO on Stockman’s departure.
“Gary has played a critical role in the development of Porter Novelli’s future. His commitment to the value of public relations in a modern world of communications is unparalleled. We wish him all the best,” said Dale A. Adams, CEO of Diversified Agency Services (DAS), a division of Omnicom Group. “The Porter Novelli history and its future make it a valued member of the Omnicom family and we will fully support the leadership transition and appointment of a new chief executive officer.”
Stockman has served as Porter Novelli CEO since January 2008. He joined the company in January 2000, when technology communications firm Copithorne and Bellows, where he served as executive, merged with Porter Novelli. He co-led the integration of the two companies, and then he served as chief operating officer and chief executive officer of the Americas.
Before joining Porter Novelli, he spent nine years at Saphar & Associates, as vice president and director of account management.