NEW YORK, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Ketchum today named eight new partners to the firm's management team. These individuals are responsible for furthering the agency's mission through providing innovative and strategic work to clients and maintaining high standards of quality employee satisfaction and teamwork. Partners are chosen because they have demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of Ketchum's business via the successful development of a practice, office, or worldwide client relations, leadership in an area of strategic importance, or inventive approaches through thought leadership.
The eight new partners, who span Ketchum's global offices, practices and initiatives, include the following:
* Dave Chapman, senior vice president/director of Ketchum West
* Noam Gelfond, senior vice president, business development, Washington,
D.C.
* Al Jackson, senior vice president/director, public affairs
* Chris Liu, senior vice president/general manager, Hong Kong
* Esty Pujadas, senior vice president/director, Global Technology Practice
* Jean-Martial Ribes, president, Paris
* Andy Roach, senior vice president, chief information officer and B2B
Technology Practice lead
* John Weckenmann, senior vice president/director, North American
Corporate Practice
"These individuals bring a tremendous amount of passion to their work and consistently reflect the agency's aim through their dedication and leadership," said Raymond L. Kotcher, Ketchum senior partner and chief executive officer. "They are committed to promoting teamwork among their colleagues and building lasting relationships with their clients."
Attached is a brief look at the recent accomplishments and background of the new partners.
About Ketchum
A communications innovator, Ketchum ranks among the largest global public relations agencies, operating in more than 50 countries. With five global practices -- Brand Marketing, Corporate, Healthcare, Food and Nutrition, and Technology -- and specialty areas that include Concentric Communications (experiential marketing, events and meetings), Ketchum Entertainment Marketing, Ketchum Global Research Network, Ketchum Sports Network, Stromberg Consulting (change management and workplace communications), and The Washington Group (lobbying and government relations), Ketchum leverages its marketing and corporate communications expertise to build brands and reputations for clients. For more information on Ketchum, a unit of Omnicom Group Inc. , visit http://www.ketchum.com/.
Brief Biographies of Ketchum's Eight New Partners
Dave Chapman was named director of Ketchum West when he joined the agency in June 2004. Under his leadership, the Los Angeles and San Francisco offices have been combined into one operation, now known as Ketchum West. With 27 years of experience in public relations -- including strategic planning, client counsel, creativity, and programming expertise -- Chapman provides senior counsel to a range of the agency's clients, including the California Strawberry Commission, ConAgra Foods, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Fireman's Fund Heritage program.
In taking on the lead global management role for Ketchum's assignment for the Russian Federation's G8 group, Washington D.C.-based Noam Gelfond led a team from multiple agencies worldwide. The project has since been recognized with an award from the U.S. edition of PRWeek and is currently a finalist in both the U.S. SABRE and PRSA Silver Anvil award competitions.
Al Jackson has helped expand the Washington, D.C., public affairs practice through key accounts such as the Louisiana Recovery Authority, Russia's presidency of the G8, and Delta Air Lines. As the senior vice president and director of the D.C.-based public affairs team, Jackson works hand in hand with The Washington Group in bridging public affairs with lobbying and government relations. He has 25 years of experience in managing public affairs campaigns for healthcare associations from across the country.
Since joining Ketchum in 1993, Chris Liu has played a key role in Ketchum's Global Corporate Practice and today he is among a select group of global corporate strategists. As the general manager of Ketchum's Hong Kong office and senior vice president for Greater China, Liu has over two decades of hands-on experience across mainland China and Hong Kong. He was the key driver in creating the financial communications group in Hong Kong and has played an integral role in adding blue chip companies to the agency's roster.
Esty Pujadas was appointed as Ketchum's Global Technology Practice leader last year. In taking on this role, she created the Tech 360 initiative to demonstrate how technology is integrated into all areas of business. She plays a critical role in the agency's work for IBM, Nokia and Kodak. Pujadas was recognized with the prestigious Ketchum David Drobis Client Excellence Award in 2005. She joined Ketchum 10 years ago, when the agency acquired Crescent Communications. Prior to her work at Ketchum, Pujadas directed several communications efforts at WGBH Boston, a flagship station for public broadcasting.
Since establishing Ketchum Paris in 1994, Jean-Martial Ribes has grown the agency into one of France's leading public relations firms. He has expanded the reach and capabilities of the Paris office through the addition of talent and a new celebrity-focused public relations agency. Under Ribes' leadership, Ketchum Paris has been one of the first French agencies to focus on new media and has guided clients in applying and leveraging these tools.
As both Ketchum's chief information officer and group lead for the B2B segment of Ketchum's Global Technology Practice, Andy Roach aids account teams and clients in implementing programs that utilize technology to meet their goals. Since joining the agency in 1997, Roach has developed Web-based tools and interactive solutions for clients and co-founded eKetchum in Atlanta. In recognition of his contributions to the technology community, Roach was recently named CIO of the Year (for enterprises with 250 to 1,000 employees) by the Pittsburgh Technology Council.
John Weckenmann has more than 25 years of experience in corporate communications, integrated marketing and international account management. Since joining Ketchum in 2002, he has worked on a wide range of corporate reputation assignments for clients such as Federated Department Stores, Nokia and Wyeth.
