Ketchum Bolsters Financial Communications Offering With Transfer of Seasoned Veteran Marc Drechsler to New York

NEW YORK, April 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ketchum, a leading global public relations consultancy, today announced the relocation of Marc Drechsler, the co-founder of the company's Ketchum Pleon Financial unit, from Dusseldorf, Germany, to New York, where he will drive the firm's financial communications offering. The move further strengthens Ketchum's overall financial communications capabilities, particularly for clients working across multiple regions. Drechsler, senior vice president, financial communications, will partner with the firm's financial communications experts in the world's major financial markets. He joins Ketchum's international group, headed by Paul Cohen.  

Prior to founding Pleon Financial, Drechsler helped establish international financial communications agency Citigate Dewe Rogerson as a market leader in Germany and, earlier, worked as foreign currency trader with Commerzbank AG in New York. He holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

The increase in IPOs, M&As and transactions, particularly those happening across borders, make it a particularly auspicious time to go to market with an integrated and truly global financial communications offering," said Nick Ragone, Ketchum partner and associate director, New York. "Marc's experience and knowledge greatly enhance Ketchum's offering."

With more than 14 years of experience on both sides of the Atlantic, Drechsler established Pleon Financial in 2004 along with co-founder Juergen Herres. During his tenure, he advised on some of Germany's most prominent transactions, including the initial public offering of Deutsche Postbank in 2004 and Bayer AG's acquisition of Schering AG in 2006. Drechsler and Herres will continue to work closely together to provide clients with sophisticated counsel and to codify the firm's offering.  

"As a full-service communications firm with a significant global presence, it is critical that we be able to provide expert counsel on capital market communications in the financial centers of the world," said Paul Cohen, partner and head of Ketchum's international group. "A key benefit of the Ketchum-Pleon merger is the critical mass of talented people in financial communications we now have across the world's key financial markets, and we are delighted that Marc has agreed to relocate from Dusseldorf to New York."

Supporting the financial communications initiative in New York will be David Allan, a 10-year veteran of Ketchum with both agency and in-house investor relations experience. Leaders in other markets include Juergen Herres in Dusseldorf; Chris Liu in Hong Kong; Judy Brennan in Chicago; and Paddy Blewer in London.  

About Ketchum

Ketchum is a leading global communications firm with operations in more than 70 countries across six continents. Named 2010 Large PR Firm of the Year (Holmes Report and PR News) and the winner of an unprecedented three consecutive PRWeek Campaign of the Year Awards, Ketchum has colleagues that partner with clients to deliver strategic programming, breakthrough creative and measurable results that build brands and reputations. For more information on Ketchum, a unit of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC), visit www.ketchum.com.

SOURCE Ketchum