News from Sard Verbinnen, Ogilvy PR, 5WPR, Finn Partners & APCO Worldwide
Strategic Governance Advisors to be Launched in 2017 by Sard Verbinnen & Co.
An independent Strategic Governance Advisors (SGA) board will be launched by Sard Verbinnen & Co. in January. The group is intended to advise corporate leaders and boards of directors regarding institutional investors’ important governance issues. Verbinnen’s founding partners and Chris Cernich, Amy Bilbija, and Mark Harnett will make up the new group with offices in both New York City and San Francisco.
Ogilvy PR Gains New Managing Director in Melbourne Office
Adam Vincenzini will join Ogilvy PR Australia in their Melbourne office, becoming their new managing director beginning in January 2017. Vincenzini has over 15 years of communications and marketing experience, especially in creative, digital, and leadership positions. He will oversee clients such as NAB, Target, and UNIQLO. He’s worked most recently at Kamber, a social and content agency. Vincenzini has also worked at agencies in the U.K. and Australia, such as Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Mango Australia, Cricket Australia, and Lexis PR (London).
Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5WPR Discusses The Future of PR In Forbes Magazine
If you haven’t read it yet, you should check out the Forbes article by Ronn Torossian discussing the future of PR. By the way, paraphrasing that famous Mark Twain quote, the reports of PR’s death have been greatly exaggerated. The article talks about transformations happening in the industry, social media, the changes in clients’ needs and expectations, and how good storytelling will always be central to the art of PR. It further discusses the power of influencers in this internet age and in developing global brands. The article concludes that building a global brand, like PR itself, is about reputation over and over again. It includes research, learning about the target market, building trust and name recognition – all to bring a message to the people. That’s the true nature of PR; the rest is about using the tools currently available. That hasn’t changed since PR began with Edward Bernays.
ART IN A CORNER Has Received Pro Bono Efforts from Finn Partners
‘Images of a Woman,’ a collaborative painting by The Beatles done 50 years ago, got the ART IN A CORNER project started and additional bands and solo musical artists with painting talent have added to the show over the years. Some of those artists adding their famous artwork include John Illsley (Dire Straits), Imagine Dragons, Elvis Costello, Brian Wilson, Blondie Chaplin, Al Jardine, The Libertines, and Florence Welch. The various pieces were on display throughout the U.K. in preparation for an online auction. All proceeds gained from the sale of the art goes to two U.K. charities – Children & the Arts and Youth Music. Between the two charities, they bring art and music to more than 85K young people and children every year. The auction continues, but coverage of the project has been found in The Mail, in Sunday’s EVENT magazine, the Manchester Evening News, London Evening Standard, and soon in The Sun – a combined readership of nearly 3 million.
Sr. VP at APCO Worldwide, Neal Cohen, Joins NEI
Neal Cohen has won awards for his leadership role with APCO, and he has a goal to build the future of nuclear energy, so it makes perfect sense that he’ll soon join the Nuclear Energy Institute where he’ll be in charge of developing and executing the strategic government affairs, advocacy programs, and communications for NEI, helping them hit their nuclear energy industry objectives through critical policy use. He’ll be leading the External Affairs Division for the NEI.
