Ketchum Realigns Executive Roles to Propel Agency Into the Future

 

 

Robyn Massey

+1-646-935-3911

 

 

New York, N.Y., July 15, 2008 – Raymond L. Kotcher, Senior Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Ketchum, one of the world’s leading public relations agencies, named Senior Partner Rob Flaherty as President of Ketchum today during the firm’s worldwide partner meeting held at the NASDAQ building in Times Square. Flaherty, who will continue to report to Kotcher, currently serves as Senior Partner, Global Practices, and Managing Director of Ketchum’s New York office. The appointment, which fills a position vacated in 2000 when Kotcher was named CEO, is one of several moves involving Ketchum’s Executive Committee members – all effective Aug. 1 – aimed at helping clients navigate the complexities and opportunities being created by the digital revolution, globalization, heightened demand for transparency, and other major changes impacting the marketing and media environment. 

 

Ketchum also announced that Jon Higgins, currently Senior Partner and CEO, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), has been named Senior Partner, International, responsible for all offices outside North America; Senior Partner Jerry Olszewski, who leads a number of the agency’s key client relationships, has been named Senior Partner and Chief Client Officer, responsible for overall client service and satisfaction; and Rob Lorfink will be adding the title of Chief Operating Officer to his current role as Senior Partner and Chief Financial Officer with responsibility for all operational functions, including human resources, finance, information technology and legal.

 

“Rob Flaherty has a reputation throughout the industry as a respected counselor and strategist and is recognized for his keen insights,” said Kotcher. “Inside of Ketchum, Rob is known for his love of the business and personification of our values. It is fitting for him to take on this important role. He is the linchpin of a truly great management team – dependable, smart and devoted to the clients and brands we serve and to our colleagues.”

 

In other important management changes, three individuals were named senior partners: Dale Bornstein, Partner and Director of Global Practices, has been named Senior Partner; David Gallagher, currently Partner and CEO, London, has been named Senior Partner and will assume EMEA responsibilities while retaining his role as CEO of London; and Barri Rafferty, currently Partner and Director, New York, has been named Senior Partner and Director, New York. 

 

In addition, Dan Madia, Senior Partner, assumes responsibility for integrating new businesses and acquisitions into the agency and continues as Senior Partner responsible for human resources and Stromberg Consulting, the agency’s change-management consultancy.

 

“As we look to the future, and from whatever height and timeline we view the horizon, Ketchum and the public relations industry face exciting challenges and enormous opportunities – rapid globalization and the digital revolution are just two,” said Kotcher. “With these forces, along with the ongoing economic ambiguity, our clients expect an innovative mix of business-relevant counsel and service. These senior management moves deploy our executive leadership team in a way that enables our agency to meet and exceed the needs of our clients in this complex environment.”

 

Kotcher noted that the firm’s business results through the first six months of 2008 have been strong, putting the agency’s performance in the upper echelon of the industry. He said that these new management roles and responsibilities will serve to perpetuate that performance.

 

"We're very fortunate at Ketchum to have many passionate, experienced people who are leading a transformation in the breadth and depth of our services," said Flaherty. "We are well-positioned to serve clients who want to build relationships and achieve differentiation by engaging in the uncontrolled conversation about brands and companies."

 

Flaherty, who was a finalist for PRWeek's 2007 PR Professional of the Year and was named one of 15 "Leading Lights" in the industry by the magazine in 2003, has been with the firm since 1989.  

 

A communications innovator, Ketchum ranks among the largest global public relations agencies, operating in more than 50 countries. With five global practices – Brand Marketing, Corporate, Healthcare, Food and Nutrition, and Technology – and specialty areas that include Concentric Communications (experiential marketing, events and meetings), Ketchum Entertainment Marketing, Ketchum Global Research Network, Ketchum Sports Network, MMG (clinical trial recruitment), Stromberg Consulting (change management and workplace communications) and The Washington Group (lobbying and government relations), Ketchum leverages its marketing and corporate communications expertise to build brands and reputations for clients. For more information on Ketchum, a unit of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC), visit www.ketchum.com.