Weber Shandwick CEO Harris Diamond Inducted Into PR News People Hall of Fame

Friday, November 07, 2008 NEW YORK – November 7, 2008 – Harris Diamond, CEO of leading global public relations firm Weber Shandwick, was inducted into PR News’ Hall of Fame at its annual People Awards luncheon held yesterday in Washington, D.C. This lifetime achievement award recognizes pioneers in the PR field.

Under Diamond’s leadership, Weber Shandwick has firmly established itself as a thought leader for top companies and organizations worldwide with its full spectrum of communications services including corporate consulting, consumer marketing, healthcare and technology relations, investor/financial relations, marketing communications, public affairs and public relations, government relations, attitudinal research and advocacy advertising.

Measurement/Research Expert of the Year
Dr. Leslie Gaines-Ross, chief reputation strategist at Weber Shandwick, was recognized as one of the top measurement / research experts at the awards ceremony. Gaines-Ross, considered one of the world’s leading experts on corporate and CEO reputation, published her latest book “Corporate Reputation: 12 Steps to Safeguarding and Recovering Reputation,” earlier this year.

Media Relations Professional of the Year
Billee Howard, executive vice president/managing director of the firm’s Global Strategic Media Group, was named best media relations professional of the year. Howard is recognized for delivering business results that align with her philosophy that financial media is the number one driver of corporate reputation and should be treated as a top corporate priority.

About Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a leading global public relations agency with offices in over 79 markets around the world. The firm’s reputation is built on its deep commitment to client service, creativity, collaboration and harnessing the power of Advocates - engaging stakeholders in new and creative ways to build brands and reputation. Weber Shandwick provides strategy and execution across world-class practices such as consumer marketing, healthcare, technology, public affairs, corporate/financial and crisis management. Its specialized services include digital/social media, advertising, market research, and corporate responsibility. Weber Shandwick received the highest client-satisfaction honors in the 2007 Agency Excellence Survey by PRWeek U.S., in 2008 won Large PR Firm of the Year (PR News U.S.), and in 2006 was named European Consultancy of the Year (The Holmes Report) and Network of the Year (Asia Pacific PR Awards). The firm also won the United Nations Grand Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Relations for the past three years. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com/.