PR News from M Booth PR, Edelman, Burson-Marsteller & The Hoffman Agency
M Booth Named AOR for Buick and GMC
According to an email sent by Kelly Cusinato, Buick and GMC’s communications director, M Booth will replace Weber Shandwick, John Doe, and MSLGroup as their PR reps. The change is part of General Motors move to consolidate their PR efforts instead of having local communications and PR firms in various regions handling the work. Earlier consolidations in the year include Chevrolet signing Weber Shandwick, and Cadillac bringing in Kovert Creative. They plan to continue this process with all of their automobile brands.
Edelman Signed as HP’s AOR for Product and Corporate Communications
Hewlett Packard has been with Porter Novelli for 28 years as well as with FleishmanHillard – both Omnicom PR firms. But HP recently signed a $14 million deal with Edelman and parted ways with PN and FH. Edelman will be representing HP in their product and corporate communications and PR. Edelman has already been doing social media work for the company under a separate contract worth $8 million. The newest agreement is the largest to hit the Bay area of Palo Alto in several years.
Burson-Marsteller Brings Mike Fernandez on Board as Global Corporate and Financial Chair
Mike Fernandez joins BM as their Chair of its Global Corporate and Financial Practice, and he will be working out of the New York office overseeing strategy, new offerings, and client development in that division worldwide. Fernandez has extensive expertise with corporations in many industries including technology, finance, health care, and consumer goods and services. Most recently he worked at Cargill, the world’s largest privately held company, for six years. Before that, he served as Chief Communications Officer for US West, Cigna, ConAgra Foods, and State Farm Insurance.
FindDoc Signs the Hoffman Agency for PR
FindDoc, a comprehensive medical professional platform based in Hong Kong, chose the Hoffman Agency from among many PR firms responding to their RFP. Their campaigns will focus on the role of FindDoc as a leader in the healthcare industry. FindDoc informs people in the area about providers and how to use the internet and mobile to book services with physicians and others in the healthcare services field.
New Chicago Office Opening for Spectrum
DC-based Spectrum, a specialist in healthcare and life sciences communications and PR, is opening a new office in October on Clark Street in Chicago. They are expected to have up to a dozen or more employees in the new digs, and they are looking for talent to fill the office as senior account reps, account supervisors and VP levels.
David Zitlow joins the firm to lead the new office, leaving Burson-Marsteller, a WPP agency, behind. Zitlow was the chair for the U.S. healthcare practice of the agency. Before BM he worked at CBR Systems, a biotech company, as their communications officer, and as GolinHarris’ executive VP and healthcare practice leader.
