Mike Fernandez Promoted to U.S. CEO for Burson-Marsteller
Mike Fernandez only joined Burson-Marsteller, a WPP agency, as the global corporate and financial practice chair four months previous to receiving this promotion. The jump to U.S. CEO happened immediately, and he takes over from Michael Law, who’s also moving up the ladder to become worldwide EVP. Both men will report to recently appointed worldwide president Kevin Bell. Fernandez’s previous position was created at the time he was hired in September, but the company doesn’t plan to replace that position at this time.
Fernandez said: “I can remember in the 1980s, Harold Burson saying that for those of us in the business of comms, that comms needs to be intentional. He meant that we need to be purposefully changing or sustaining perceptions and behaviors in driving business result – otherwise, it is just noise.”
DKC Becomes AOR for European Wax Center
DKC, one of the top 10 independent PR firms in the U.S. (by fee revenue) just signed an agreement with European Wax Center (EWC) to lead their brand’s PR strategy as well as the execution of events and consumer-facing activations.
According to DKC’s president, Sean Cassidy, “There was an immediate chemistry in the room when DKC and EWC teams met, we knew that our agencies’ expertise and creativity would allow us to tell this remarkable brand story successfully. EWC has a unique position in the marketplace which is second to none. We are thrilled to join their outstanding team of agencies as we all work together to help support its extraordinary growth.”
KCSA Gains AOR for Strategic Communications and Investor Relations Helping TimefireVR
TimefireVR, an Arizona-based tech and virtual reality company, just signed KCSA to represent them as the investor relations and strategic communications counsel. Timefire works on VR for social experiential, interactive, and immersive learning. KCSA will develop and execute an investor relations campaign to build awareness about the company using strategy, communications, and introductions to institutional investors.
Thea Rogers Leaves Havas PR to Become Deliveroo’s PR Chief
Deliveroo had been signed with Havas PR but chose to end the association with the agency while bringing their representative to their company. The association with Havas PR U.K. only lasted from February 2016. Deliveroo intends to announce their new agent of record, but are waiting a few weeks before doing so. Deliveroo is a U.K.-based food delivery business affiliated with tech efforts that delivers to areas of the U.K. and Europe. At Havas, Rogers was the VP and head of global comms and policy. She has also worked as chief of staff for Her Majesty’s Treasury and the chief of staff for former chancellor George Osborne. In the new position she’ll report to William Shu, Deliveroo’s CEO, as she leads a small team out of the London office to begin.
Saatchi & Saatchi’s Former Executive Chairman Now Hired by Beattie, a U.K. Communications Agency
Last year Kevin Roberts resigned from Saatchi & Saatchi (S&S) under a cloud after making controversial comments about the advertising industry and gender during a Business Insider interview. He’s now headed back to work at Beattie as their chairman. Roberts had also served as Publicis Groupe’s head coach – Publicis is the parent company of S&S. Beattie has eight office locations in the U.K. with their headquarters in London and claims to be the biggest marketing consultancy and B2B PR agency in the country. Their projections are that by 2020 they’ll be turning over globally over $60 million. They represent such brands as Huggies and Seven Seas. Beattie also has an affiliate company, Only.
Laurna Woods, Beattie Group’s CEO, said: “We are delighted to have recruited one of the world’s most inspirational business minds to help us expand in the U.K., North America, and Australasia.” Roberts shared his plan for 2017 – “recruit great people and open offices in line with client needs. We’re in for some exciting times as we build the Beattie and Only brands internationally.”