Ketchum Names Sean Fitzgerald Director, North America Corporate & Public Affairs Practice
Ketchum Partner Relocates from Shanghai to Dallas for New Role
NEW YORK and DALLAS, March 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Global public relations firm Ketchum today named Sean Fitzgerald director of the North America Corporate & Public Affairs Practice, effective today. Fitzgerald, who has been with Ketchum for 15 years, most recently served as executive vice president of Ketchum Greater China, based in Shanghai. He recently relocated to Dallas to assume the new role.
In his new role with the North America Corporate & Public Affairs Practice, Fitzgerald will be responsible for growing, diversifying and promoting the practice's service offerings and tools, both internally and externally. His time will be split between building the practice and servicing key clients as a senior counselor. He will report to Barri Rafferty, senior partner and CEO of North America, and Hilary Hanson McKean, partner and managing director of Ketchum's Global Practices. He also will work closely with Rod Cartwright, partner and director of the Global Corporate & Public Affairs Practice, and Jamey Peters, partner and director of the Dallas office.
"We are fortunate to have someone of Sean's global corporate experience assume North American leadership of this vital practice," said Rafferty. "He's had a long, successful career at Ketchum, during which time he has excelled in a variety of roles. I am extremely confident that Sean's diverse expertise will allow the North American Corporate & Public Affairs Practice to grow and provide even more advanced client service."
For the past three years, Fitzgerald's work as EVP of Greater China included the integration of the Greater China operations into the global Ketchum network, as well as working with the Greater China leadership team to refocus the business to provide the types of service and capabilities being demanded by its clients, with a specific emphasis on digital and social media, enhanced crisis and issues management, corporate reputation and strategic consumer outreach.
Prior to his appointment in China, Fitzgerald spent 12 years in Ketchum's Los Angeles office, where he began as office director and was named managing director of Ketchum West in 2004. He led the region's senior leadership team in combining Los Angeles and San Francisco into a single, seamless profit center and helped build the West into one of the firm's strongest operations.
"My time in Shanghai was an incredible growing experience for me as a global communicator, and I am happy to have made an impact on our business in that critical market," said Fitzgerald. "At the same time, I'm thrilled to be returning to the U.S. with a new challenge ahead of me, and I'm eager to start working with a new group of clients and colleagues in the North America Corporate & Public Affairs Practice."
Before joining Ketchum, Fitzgerald served as vice president of global communications for Mattel, where he led the task force that established the company's renowned ethical manufacturing program. Previously, he served as director of global communications for Levi Strauss & Co.
About Ketchum
Ketchum is a leading global communications firm with operations in more than 70 countries across six continents. The winner of 14 Cannes Lions and an unprecedented four PRWeek Campaign of the Year Awards, Ketchum partners with clients to deliver strategic programming, game-changing creative and measurable results that build brands and reputations. For more information on Ketchum, a part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc., visit www.ketchum.com.
About the DAS Group of Companies
The DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), is a global group of marketing services companies. DAS includes over 200 companies in the following marketing disciplines: specialty, PR, healthcare, CRM, events, promotional marketing, branding and research. Operating through a combination of networks and regional organizations, DAS serves international, regional, national and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.
SOURCE Ketchum
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