Ketchum Transforms Its Senior Leadership Team

NEW YORK, June 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ketchum, one of the world leaders in communications and public relations, today announced the appointment of a new Global Leadership Council (GLC), transforming the agency's senior leadership team to bring new voices and perspectives to best service clients, drive business performance worldwide and set the agency's strategic agenda.  The GLC is comprised of Ketchum senior leaders responsible for the agency's largest geographies, business units and key client relationships, as well as other areas of high strategic importance to the agency, including its practices and corporate functions. The GLC replaces and significantly expands Ketchum's existing Executive Committee.

Reporting to Ketchum CEO and President Rob Flaherty, the GLC will work closely with Ketchum's partner group, who continue to focus on client service and talent development and who embody Ketchum's culture and values. As part of this transformation, Ketchum will eliminate the designation of senior partner, and all members of the GLC will be partners.

Ketchum also announced today a new group focused on innovation and transformation, the Break Through Advisory Board, which is tasked with bringing new and disruptive ideas forward to benefit clients and the agency as a whole.

"Ketchum's Global Leadership Council will enhance our value to clients by broadening our leadership group to include leaders who have tremendous experience spearheading our biggest and most successful client engagements, building entrepreneurial ventures, innovating new products and services for clients, and fostering a deeply rooted culture of collaboration that has long distinguished us," said Flaherty. "The GLC will propel the agency forward with a focus on what our clients need to be successful in their businesses, what our people need to build fulfilling careers, and which innovations we should initiate as together we reimagine the future of communications." 

The 20-member GLC consists of 10 women and 10 men, with 10 individuals in global roles, four in North American roles, four in European roles, and two in APAC/LatAm roles:

• Serena De Morgan, Global Client Director
• Mike Doyle, Director, New York
• Peter Fleischer, Senior Counselor, Global Growth and Development
• Debra Forman, President, Ketchum Digital
• David Gallagher, CEO, Europe
• Jon Higgins, CEO, International
• Mark Hume, CFO, Europe
• Denise Kaufmann, CEO, London
• Hilary McKean, Managing Director, Global Practices
• Craig Mersky, Chief Human Resources Officer and General Counsel
• Michael O'Brien, Client Development Director, North America
• Jerry Olszewski, Chief Client Officer
• Esty Pujadas, Global Development Officer
• Barri Rafferty, CEO, North America
• Mindy Rubinstein, Chief Communications Officer
• Karen Strauss, Chief Strategy and Creativity Officer
• Bill Visone, Chief Financial Officer
• Stephen Waddington, Chief Engagement Officer
• Vicky Wagner, CEO, Brandzeichen
• Ann Wool, President, Ketchum Sports & Entertainment

Accountable to the Global Leadership Council, the eight-person Break Through Advisory Board (BTAB) will be tasked with providing fresh perspectives and disruptive thinking that challenges, provokes and inspires new ways of doing business for the agency and its clients. Members of this board will be selected from all levels and areas of the agency through an open application process. 

"This is an incredibly exciting time at Ketchum," said Flaherty. "We are shattering norms in favor of fast-tracked transformation that brings with it quicker information flow and swift decision-making in a flattened organization. Tapping a broader set of Ketchum leaders for the Global Leadership Council, connecting the council to our global partners, and opening up the opportunity for employees from any level of the organization to contribute thinking through the Break Through Advisory Board are bold steps that I am certain will deliver exceptional results for our clients and for our agency."

The Ketchum Global Leadership Council appointments are effective immediately, with members of the Break Through Advisory Board to be announced in August. Ketchum recently expanded its Partner Group adding 13 new partners, bringing the total to 90. 

About Ketchum
Ketchum is a leading global communications firm with operations in more than 70 countries across six continents. The winner of 17 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 the DAS Group of Companies, visit www.ketchum.com.

About the DAS Group of Companies
The DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), is a global group of marketing services companies. DAS includes over 200 companies in the following marketing disciplines: specialty, PR, healthcare, CRM, events, promotional marketing, branding and research. Operating through a combination of networks and regional organizations, DAS serves international, regional, national and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.

SOURCE Ketchum

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