Weber Shandwick Bolsters Mediaco Content Unit Through a Series of New Hires

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Weber Shandwick announced today a series of new hires within the firm's Digital practice, expanding the diverse team of talent to meet growing client demand for Mediaco services. Mediaco is the firm's content offer that helps companies fully adopt a brand publishing model.

"Companies now operate in an environment where attention can no longer simply be bought. A new bar for quality storytelling, both in creativity of approach and delivery, is required to break through," said Jason Wellcome, general manager of Mediaco. "To develop a content operation that sustains presence requires a new mix of specialized resources, exemplified in part by the latest additions to our group."

The new series of hires includes a roster of editorial, production and platform experts with deep experience creating content and online engagement. Included in this group are technology experts versed in driving innovation and content experiences, as well as specialists with critical expertise for clients navigating complex and regulated industries like healthcare. The new additions to the Mediaco team include:

Jason Kaufman, Senior Vice President and Managing Editor, Digital
With more than 15 years of media experience, Jason Kaufman joins Weber Shandwick in New York as senior vice president of Digital and managing editor where he will lead editorial strategy, innovation and oversight duties across a growing portfolio of consumer clients. Prior to Weber Shandwick, Kaufman led MTV's online news division and served nearly a decade at AOL, developing editorial capabilities across its news, entertainment and lifestyle properties, including creating PopEater.com and growing the website into a top-three entertainment news destination.

Eric Weitner, Senior Vice President, Technology Platforms
Eric Weitner is a seasoned digital platforms specialist crafting content management systems for the fast-evolving needs of today's digital newsrooms. He joins Weber Shandwick's Mediaco team as senior vice president, Technology Platforms in New York to oversee production of content publishing systems and guiding technical innovation around platform experiences. Weitner previously served as senior manager of editorial development at Forbes where he architected the multi-contributor publishing platform.

Michael Presson, Senior Vice President, Digital Health
Michael Presson joins as senior vice president, Digital Health in New York overseeing the creation of effective strategies that establish, grow and enhance the connection between audiences and healthcare clients. Presson previously served at MSLGROUP where he led day-to-day operations for the New York Digital practice and specialized in orchestrating digital and content efforts for healthcare and consumer clients, including Eli Lilly, Ferrero USA, Procter & Gamble and United Technologies.

Chris Kooluris, Senior Vice President, Digital/Consumer
Chris Kooluris joins Weber Shandwick with over 13 years' experience utilizing disruptive tactics in order to connect brands with consumers, pioneering some of the most innovative and buzzworthy campaigns. As senior vice president, Digital/Consumer, Kooluris will help brands find the intersection between the stories they want to tell and what their audiences want to talk about. Prior to Weber Shandwick, Kooluris was Micro Content Director at VaynerMedia.

Henry Breimhurst, Vice President, Content Strategy
As vice president of Content Strategy in Minneapolis, Henry Breimhurst will help clients identify, develop and deploy brand-right content to motivate and incite audiences. He is a former creative director at Hanley Wood Marketing and associate creative director at Mithun/MRM Worldwide, bringing nearly 15 years of experience developing and planning content for brands such as FedEx, General Mills and Nestle USA.

Josh Jenisch, Senior Digital Editor
Josh Jenisch joins as senior digital editor in the Weber Shandwick Los Angeles office where he will manage content operations for clients. He joins Weber Shandwick from The Los Angeles Times, previously serving as the editor in charge of Special Sections and Brand Publishing departments, as well as lead on the paper's native advertising program.

Erin Scottberg, Director, Digital
As director of Digital at Weber Shandwick in New York, Erin Scottberg will bring her start-up background and editorial expertise to help advance the Mediaco offering within the unit's more advanced client opportunities as well as contribute to the agency's innovation agenda around deployment of new products and services. Most recently, she served as Director of Media and Content at HowAboutWe.com. As one of the first hires of HowAboutWe.com, an NYC-based online dating company, Scottberg developed the company's media and editorial strategies, focusing on using content to grow the business. Prior to HowAboutWe.com, she spent time as an editor of AOL's Lemondrop.com and as research editor at Popular Mechanics magazine. 

Jaime Cunningham, Digital Manager
As digital manager based in New York, Jaime Cunningham will drive editorial content for client newsrooms, specializing in healthcare. Prior to Weber Shandwick, she spent 12 years as a journalist at Newsweek with a focus in health and science reporting, luxury and travel writing, and international affairs and foreign news.

Jackie McBrien, Senior Digital Associate
Jackie McBrien joins Weber Shandwick as senior digital associate in New York to support editorial and production for a variety of consumer clients. She previously served at MTV Networks, producing shows, films, and shorts for the website, in addition to working in the editorial department and managing several website launches and re-designs.

About Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a leading global public relations firm with offices in 81 countries. The firm's diverse team of thinkers, strategists, analysts, producers, designers, developers and campaign activators has won the most prestigious awards in the world for innovative, creative approaches and impactful work, including four 2013 Cannes Lions. Weber Shandwick was also named PRWeek's International Consultancy of the Year and The Holmes Report's Best Healthcare Consultancy in the World in 2013, in addition to earning numerous best place to work accolades. The firm deploys deep expertise across sectors and specialty areas, including consumer marketing, corporate reputation, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, corporate social responsibility, financial communications and crisis management, using proprietary social, digital and analytics methodologies. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com.

Contact: Michelle Selesky
Company: Weber Shandwick
Phone: 212-445-8088
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Weber Shandwick