Mary Elizabeth Germaine to Lead Ketchum Global Research & Analytics as Communications Measurement Pioneer David Rockland Announces Retirement

NEW YORK, May 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading global communications firm Ketchum today announced Mary Elizabeth Germaine, EVP and global managing director of Ketchum Global Research & Analytics (KGRA), assumes leadership of KGRA, reporting to Ketchum partner, chairman and CEO Rob Flaherty. She succeeds partner and KGRA CEO David Rockland, who will retire on Aug. 1 after 17 years of leading the award-winning research and measurement practice. For the next two years, Rockland will continue to provide client counsel, thought leadership and business development support as a senior consultant and as chairman, KGRA.

Germaine joined Ketchum in 2001 from Roper Starch Worldwide as a project manager. Since that time, Rockland and Germaine worked together to grow a budding research offering into one of the PR industry's leading research and analytics firms. KGRA now employs staff in the Americas, Europe and Asia and services more than 400 clients.

"David and Mary Elizabeth have spent the last 16 years working together to grow KGRA into the highly respected and valued specialty group it is today," said Flaherty. "As David moves to the next phase of his career, we're fortunate to have the talent Mary Elizabeth brings. She is a consummate business professional and an astute client counselor, but more importantly, she is a tremendous mentor and the type of leader her teams want to work for."

Known for her expertise in the application of research strategies across the communications spectrum, Germaine has played an integral role in shaping agency thought leadership initiatives across a variety of categories, including food, healthcare, technology and automotive. She also played a central role in the development and rollout of the firm's strategic planning process.

Rockland said, "I have been so lucky to have a great partner in building KGRA into the business it is today. Mary Elizabeth and I have worked side-by-side for 16 years, and I know that under her leadership, the business will continue to thrive. I look forward to handing over the reins as I transition to the next chapter of my life."

Rockland joined Ketchum in 2000 to build the firm's research and measurement offering. While running KGRA, he also managed Ketchum Interactive (now Ketchum Digital) as well as Ketchum Change (now Daggerwing Group). He is credited with spearheading the creation of the Barcelona Principles, which established fundamental guidelines of PR measurement. In part for that work, Rockland has won a number of industry awards and has served as chairman of the International Association for the Measurement and Evaluation of Communications (AMEC) and the Institute for Public Relations' Measurement Commission.

"David is a pioneer in the field of communications measurement, and many of the key milestones in that field from the last 15 years have been developed under his direction," said Flaherty. "His accomplishments both within Ketchum and outside of the firm are tremendous, and we are fortunate to continue our relationship with him as he enters retirement."

KGRA is one of the largest business of its kind within a major communications agency. Its client work has won number of industry awards, including the Holmes Report's 2017 Diamond SABRE Award for Measurement and Evaluation with Cleveland Clinic, and the International Communications Consultancy Organization's 2017 Best Global Healthcare Program for an evaluation of the state of healthcare in 13 countries for Philips, as part of OneVoice.

About Ketchum
Ketchum is a leading global communications firm with operations in more than 70 countries across six continents. The winner of 19 Cannes Lions and an unprecedented five 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 Omnicom Public Relations Group, visit www.ketchum.com.

About Omnicom Public Relations Group
Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, marketing to women, fashion, global health strategy and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses more than 6,000 public relations professionals in more than 330 offices worldwide who provide their expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research.

SOURCE Ketchum