GCI Appoints New Leadership for The Americas
Bob Pearson Named President, GCI, The Americas;
Jeff Hunt and Ken Willis Take on Expanded Roles
May 23, 2001, 01:00 ET from GCI Group
NEW YORK, May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Bob Feldman, president and chief executive officer of GCI Group, today announced a leadership realignment for the firm's North America and Latin America operations, reflecting the company's continued growth and expansion of its global network. Bob Pearson, currently president of GCI North America, has been named president, GCI, The Americas and will add management oversight of GCI Latin America to his responsibilities. Jeff Hunt, a recent addition to GCI via the acquisition of Read-Poland in Texas, will take on the additional post of president, GCI Latin America, leveraging his experience in that same role for Burson-Marsteller during the '90s. Ken Willis, president of GCI Atlanta, will take on the additional responsibility of overseeing the firm's interactive business given the recent alignment of the Grey-owned firm Elemental into the GCI portfolio. Pearson joined GCI in 1998 to start up the firm's North American healthcare practice and was promoted two years later to his North American responsibilities. He has been a key part of the growth of GCI over the past three years -- a time when growth of the firm's revenues has doubled, the firm has added thirteen new offices to its worldwide network and GCI has become recognized as one of the world's leading global public relations firms. "We have reached a pivotal point in our corporate strategy that demands strong leadership in order to fully leverage the value of our expanded presence in North America and, at the same time, manage growth opportunities in Latin America," said Feldman. "Bob is ideally suited to provide the balance needed to move us forward and the depth of his executive management team ensures that we are well positioned for continued success." Hunt will lead GCI's expansion in Latin America, leveraging Texas as a gateway to this market as well as his broad international expertise. Before being named president of Read-Poland earlier this year, Hunt was chief operating officer of Burson-Marsteller Europe and is a top international player with experience in North and South America, Asia and Europe. "The strength of our leadership and the strategic acquisitions we've made over the past four years are providing us with the opportunities to leverage the talent of our network," added Pearson. "Jeff's previous experience in the region is a perfect example of how we unlock the value of intellectual capital in our network." Willis, who joined GCI in 1993 to start up its Atlanta operation, will continue to manage GCI Atlanta in addition to assuming management responsibility for GCI's Interactive practice. Elemental, based in Atlanta, will be branded GCI Interactive and become the headquarters for all interactive business. Willis will also serve on a newly created U.S. Executive Committee and Chair the U.S. operations committee. "Ken is a proven entrepreneur who has built Atlanta from a concept to the number two position in the market," said Bob Pearson. "When we looked at our twin goals of becoming number one in Atlanta and our desire to build a world- class interactive practice via our new partnership with Elemental, it's clear that we wanted one of our leading entrepreneurs in the firm to lead the effort." About GCI Group GCI Group offers clients a full range of public relations, public affairs and marketing communications services. Since 1984, GCI Group has grown to become one of the largest public relations firms in the world, servicing a broad client base of multinational companies, including Procter & Gamble, Intel, AltaVista, British Airways, Visa and Home Depot. GCI Group is a wholly owned partner company of Grey Global Group (Nasdaq: GREY), one of the world's top communications companies. Visit GCI Group's Web site at http://www.gcigroup.com. MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X77563284
SOURCE GCI Group
NEW YORK, May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Bob Feldman, president and chief executive officer of GCI Group, today announced a leadership realignment for the firm's North America and Latin America operations, reflecting the company's continued growth and expansion of its global network. Bob Pearson, currently president of GCI North America, has been named president, GCI, The Americas and will add management oversight of GCI Latin America to his responsibilities. Jeff Hunt, a recent addition to GCI via the acquisition of Read-Poland in Texas, will take on the additional post of president, GCI Latin America, leveraging his experience in that same role for Burson-Marsteller during the '90s. Ken Willis, president of GCI Atlanta, will take on the additional responsibility of overseeing the firm's interactive business given the recent alignment of the Grey-owned firm Elemental into the GCI portfolio. Pearson joined GCI in 1998 to start up the firm's North American healthcare practice and was promoted two years later to his North American responsibilities. He has been a key part of the growth of GCI over the past three years -- a time when growth of the firm's revenues has doubled, the firm has added thirteen new offices to its worldwide network and GCI has become recognized as one of the world's leading global public relations firms. "We have reached a pivotal point in our corporate strategy that demands strong leadership in order to fully leverage the value of our expanded presence in North America and, at the same time, manage growth opportunities in Latin America," said Feldman. "Bob is ideally suited to provide the balance needed to move us forward and the depth of his executive management team ensures that we are well positioned for continued success." Hunt will lead GCI's expansion in Latin America, leveraging Texas as a gateway to this market as well as his broad international expertise. Before being named president of Read-Poland earlier this year, Hunt was chief operating officer of Burson-Marsteller Europe and is a top international player with experience in North and South America, Asia and Europe. "The strength of our leadership and the strategic acquisitions we've made over the past four years are providing us with the opportunities to leverage the talent of our network," added Pearson. "Jeff's previous experience in the region is a perfect example of how we unlock the value of intellectual capital in our network." Willis, who joined GCI in 1993 to start up its Atlanta operation, will continue to manage GCI Atlanta in addition to assuming management responsibility for GCI's Interactive practice. Elemental, based in Atlanta, will be branded GCI Interactive and become the headquarters for all interactive business. Willis will also serve on a newly created U.S. Executive Committee and Chair the U.S. operations committee. "Ken is a proven entrepreneur who has built Atlanta from a concept to the number two position in the market," said Bob Pearson. "When we looked at our twin goals of becoming number one in Atlanta and our desire to build a world- class interactive practice via our new partnership with Elemental, it's clear that we wanted one of our leading entrepreneurs in the firm to lead the effort." About GCI Group GCI Group offers clients a full range of public relations, public affairs and marketing communications services. Since 1984, GCI Group has grown to become one of the largest public relations firms in the world, servicing a broad client base of multinational companies, including Procter & Gamble, Intel, AltaVista, British Airways, Visa and Home Depot. GCI Group is a wholly owned partner company of Grey Global Group (Nasdaq: GREY), one of the world's top communications companies. Visit GCI Group's Web site at http://www.gcigroup.com. MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X77563284 SOURCE GCI Group
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