Fleishman-Hillard Announces New Senior Management Responsibilities Driven by Growing and Evolving Client Needs

ST. LOUIS, July 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Fleishman-Hillard today announced a series of senior management promotions to uphold the firm's unparalleled standard of client service in a period of accelerating growth and amid a continually evolving communications landscape.  

"We are experiencing growing demand from clients to tap Fleishman-Hillard's global reach and full spectrum of paid, earned, shared and owned media services," Dave Senay, president and chief executive officer, said. "We regularly review our management and operating structure to ensure we stay close to our clients and understand their changing needs. This led us to enact the leadership changes we are announcing today. These new assignments also create new opportunities for a number of talented senior leaders."

Senay announced these new responsibilities:

• Jack Modzelewski is named to the newly created position of president of the Americas.  In this role, he will work closely with the presidents of Fleishman-Hillard's regions throughout Canada, the United States and Latin America to ensure a unified approach to client solutions and new-business development and to continue the firm's growth in the Americas. Modzelewski, who joined Fleishman-Hillard in 1990 as founding general manager of Fleishman-Hillard Chicago, has also served as president and chief operating officer for Europe and South Africa. Since 2004, he was president of client relations, and in recent years, he also had responsibility for the firm's practice groups and strategic planning.    
• J.J. Carter, general manager of Fleishman-Hillard San Francisco, takes on additional responsibilities as president of the U.S. West Region, which also includes offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. Carter, who joined FleishmanHillard in 2005, has played a leadership role with key global clients, and in 2007 helped launch the firm's global sports marketing practice. In addition to his consumer and corporate experience, over the past two decades he has managed global programs on six continents with many of the world's prominent athletes and sports organizations.
• Nancy Seliger takes on overall responsibility for the firm's global client relations. In her new role, Seliger will work closely with the firm's global client relationship teams to provide leading-edge client focus and support. Seliger, an executive vice president, is a former president of the U.S. East Region and general manager of Fleishman-Hillard New York. Most recently she assisted Modzelewski in managing client relations. Seliger joined Fleishman-Hillard in St. Louis in 1982.
• David Wickenden, who for the past decade has been a leader in the strategic development and growth of Fleishman-Hillard's Internet-based and digital communications, takes on the newly created role of managing director of strategic planning and development. His new responsibilities include managing the firm's planning process as well as working with regional leadership to implement strategic global initiatives. Wickenden, who will continue to oversee digital integration, has more than 25 years' experience designing, managing and implementing large-scale integrated client communications programs. He joined Fleishman-Hillard in Washington, D.C., in 1986.
• Bob Winslow, who has served as managing director for global technology for the past five years, takes on three additional major areas of responsibility: management of Fleishman-Hillard's 31 global practice groups, global new-product development and innovation. Winslow's new position extends his focus from purely technology to the full range of Fleishman-Hillard clients, and to every communications specialization within the firm. His 30-year career ranges from sales and marketing at IBM to senior management with venture capital-backed start-ups to serving as North American president of Text 100. Based in San Francisco, Winslow joined Fleishman-Hillard in 2006.
• Stephanie Marchesi is promoted to chief marketing officer. In this role, Marchesi will be responsible for continuing to build the Fleishman-Hillard brand and for driving its positioning as the most complete communications firm in the world. In addition, she will lead new-business development firmwide, including new-business training. Prior to her promotion, Marchesi was managing director for global integrated marketing communications. Before joining Fleishman-Hillard in 2010, she was president of the New York headquarters office of Cohn & Wolfe.
• Olivier Beheydt becomes chief operating officer and finance director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). In this role, he will work closely with EMEA President John Saunders in managing operations and planning Fleishman-Hillard's growth in these regions. Prior to his promotion, Beheydt was finance director for EMEA. He joined GPC in Brussels as finance manager in 1999. GPC subsequently merged into FleishmanHillard, and in 2006 Beheydt moved to London as Fleishman-Hillard EMEA financial controller. He will continue to be based in London.  
• John Estafanous, who has worked for the past two years on the growth and operational development of the firm's digital offering, takes on expanded responsibility for global coordination of digital communications. He will work with the firm's leading digital practitioners to ensure that Fleishman-Hillard explores new technologies and practices and remains at the cutting edge of digital communications and social media. Estafanous, a senior vice president and partner, has developed and managed digital campaigns for a number of global brands. Before joining Fleishman-Hillard in Washington, D.C., in 2009, he built and sold a successful digital agency and software company, and served as CTO and president of Technology for a leading U.S. interactive agency.

"We have always been fortunate to have a deep bench when it comes to management talent," Senay said. "Each of these individuals is a leader who has proven her or his capabilities, client focus and commitment. Their experience, energy and enthusiasm are major assets as we continue to grow and explore new ways to support our clients."

About Fleishman-Hillard

Fleishman-Hillard Inc., one of the world's leading strategic communications firms, has built its reputation on creating integrated solutions that deliver what its clients value most:  meaningful, positive and measurable impact on the performance of their organizations.  The firm is widely recognized for excellent client service and a strong company culture founded on teamwork, integrity and personal commitment.  Based in St. Louis, the firm operates throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Latin America through its 80 owned offices.  For more information, visit the Fleishman-Hillard website at www.fleishmanhillard.com.

Fleishman-Hillard is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com).  Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company.  Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to more than 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

SOURCE Fleishman-Hillard Inc.