Award-winning Hispanic Marketer and Journalist Hugo Perez Joins Zocalo Group

CHICAGO, March 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Zocalo Group, Omnicom Group’s and Ketchum’s premier word-of-mouth and social media marketing agency, today announce that Hugo Perez has joined the organization as vice president and account director of Hispanic marketing. In this role, Perez leads Zocalo Group’s efforts to create and execute word-of-mouth and social media programs specifically focused on engaging the United States’ rapidly growing Hispanic market.  

“Hugo’s brand, healthcare and Hispanic marketing experience is an exciting addition to our team,” said Paul M. Rand, president and CEO of Zocalo Group. “We know that word-of-mouth plays a significant role with Hispanic consumers in how they experience, share and recommend brands. And with Hugo’s leadership, we can now more effectively help our clients reach the evolving Hispanic market.”

Perez’s background includes work in various private (Mars), public (NBC Network News), corporate (AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals), nonprofit (American Heart Association) and startup environments. He has diverse experience, having worked extensively in the areas of social media marketing, integrated marketing communications, strategic business planning, B2B and B2C marketing, and product branding.

Throughout his career, Perez has created and executed programs in fast-moving consumer goods, health and beauty, pharmaceuticals, education and entertainment, and he has a wide range of experience across print, broadcast and online marketing. Perez has been part of communication initiatives with the National Council of La Raza ALMA Awards, the Hispanic Heritage Awards and the Latin Grammys.

As a former journalist, Perez has work that has been featured on NBC News, CBS News, MSNBC, and MSNBC.com, and across a variety of niche entertainment and news websites. His efforts have earned him a national news Emmy and a TV feature first place award from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. His communications initiatives have also been awarded Peabody and Beacon awards. Most recently, as an independent film producer, he has had a short film, “Grande Drip,” that has been a selection in more than a dozen film festivals, won five audience awards, and been named among the best shorts of 2009.

“As the makeup of our country continues to change, I am looking forward to helping clients influence how the Hispanic voice is heard in today’s diverse marketplace,” Perez said. “I’m excited to uncover new and innovative ways to tell stories about brands as part of Zocalo Group’s team of social media marketing trendsetters.”

Perez has been a part of Hispanic marketing efforts throughout his career and has served on a variety of multicultural teams, committees, boards and panels. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Chicago, Perez earned his master’s degree at Northwestern University, where he focused on managerial communications. He also has served as an adjunct professor at West Virginia University and Columbia College in Chicago for more than a decade, teaching blogging and social media marketing.

About Zocalo Group

Zocalo Group is a full-service word-of-mouth and social media marketing agency, helping a number of leading consumer and business to business brands become the most talked about and recommended in their category. Based in Chicago, Zocalo Group has received numerous industry awards for brand programs and measurement initiatives.  The agency was also a co-author of the 2010 Hispanic Social Media Guide and is an active sponsor of the 2011 Hispanicize conference. Zocalo Group is a unit of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) and Ketchum Inc. For more information, please visit www.zocalogroup.com.

SOURCE Zocalo Group