Thursday, October 30, 2008
NEW YORK –
October 30, 2008 – Weber Shandwick, one of the world's leading global public relations firms, today announced the following promotions:
- Cathy Calhoun was named President, North America;
- Gail Heimann was named Vice Chair of the global company;
- Ken Luce was named president, global client management; and
- Susan Howe was named president, Weber Shandwick Chicago.
The promotions, effective immediately, follow last week’s appointment of Colin Byrne as Chief Executive Officer, Weber Shandwick Europe. In their new roles Calhoun, Heimann, Luce and Byrne continue to report to Andy Polansky, president of Weber Shandwick. Howe will report to Calhoun.
Harris Diamond, chief executive officer of Weber Shandwick, said, “Gail Heimann, Cathy Calhoun, Ken Luce and Susan Howe have all played vital roles in Weber Shandwick’s strong growth and commitment to client service over the past three years. Together, they bring a combined strength in client service, business innovation, branding, strategic counsel and team building that will take our company to the next level and support the continued growth of our firm.”
Heimann is widely regarded as one of the industry’s most creative and strategic practitioners. As Vice Chair, she takes on additional responsibility for the firm’s global brand marketing practice and will serve as chief architect of the company’s digital strategy. She will also focus on the firm’s overall positioning, products and services. Heimann will maintain oversight of the New York office.
Calhoun, who has had regional responsibility for Chicago, St. Louis and Canadian operations, will now have the lead role for Weber Shandwick North America. In addition to her operational responsibilities, Calhoun will have overarching responsibility for business and client development. She has been one of the industry’s foremost strategic client counselors and has created a “best place to work” environment in the firm’s Chicago office, where Cathy is based.
Luce, who will continue to manage Weber Shandwick’s Southwest and western regions and Detroit operations, as president, global client management, will expand his remit for the Client Relationship Leader (CRL) program to be global in scope. Weber Shandwick’s global client portfolio has grown by more than 20 percent over the past three years. Weber Shandwick’s CRL program was featured as a Harvard Business School case study in 2008.
Howe has been executive vice president and general manager of the Chicago office of Weber Shandwick.. She will continue to drive strategic campaigns for some of the agency's long-standing consumer clients. The Chicago office has been recognized by
Crain's Chicago Business and
ChicagoMagazine as a top workplace, the only public relations firm in Chicago to be featured on both lists.
About Weber ShandwickWeber 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/.