Weber Shandwick to Partner with Big Ten Conference

CHICAGO, April 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Weber Shandwick today announced it will begin working with the Big Ten Conference, an association of world-class institutions with shared values and goals dating back to 1896. Weber Shandwick will provide guidance and counsel to the Big Ten on a number of communications initiatives, including the recent expansion of the conference to include the University of Maryland and Rutgers University.

Since the Big Ten's inception, academic excellence has been the priority of every member institution, while also maintaining the conference's status as one of the preeminent athletic organizations in the country.

"The Big Ten looks forward to welcoming Maryland and Rutgers to the conference and is focused on a smooth integration process," said Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany "As part of this process, we were impressed with the strategy, creativity and overall approach that Weber Shandwick brought to the table and we look forward to working with them."

"We're thrilled to be selected as the Big Ten's partner," said Jerry Gleason, Weber Shandwick's senior vice president and director of sports marketing in North America. "Our team's deep expertise in sports marketing and reputation management will help build upon the Big Ten's traditions of academic and athletic excellence." 

About the Big Ten 
The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in student-athletes' lives and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The broad-based athletic programs of the 12 Big Ten institutions sponsor more than 300 teams competing for championships in 25 official conference sports, 12 for men and 13 for women. Big Ten universities provide in excess of $136 million in athletic scholarship aid to more than 8,200 men and women student-athletes, the most of any conference. For more information, visit www.bigten.org.

About Weber Shandwick 
Weber Shandwick is a leading global public relations firm with offices in 81 countries around the world. The firm has won numerous awards for innovative approaches and creative campaigns including being named both The Holmes Report's 2012 Global Agency of the Year and the "Most Creative PR Firm in the World," based on the agency's first-place finish in its "Creative Index," as well as PR News' 2012 Digital PR Firm of the Year. Major practice areas include consumer marketing, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, corporate and crisis management. The firm has deep, award-winning expertise in social media and digital marketing that helps drive engagement. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com.

Contact: Jennifer Norton

Company: Weber Shandwick

Phone: 212.445.8314

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Weber Shandwick