Advertising Age has named PR veteran Harris Diamond its "executive of the year" for his leadership of Interpublic's McCann Worldgroup operation, which has 23,000 staffers.

diamondDiamond, who was running IPG's CMG division and PR flagship Weber Shandwick, took the McCann helm in 2012.

Ad Age said Diamond "infused the network with new blood and fostered a spirit so collaborative that it scooped up the massive global Microsoft business."

The magazine also said Diamond broadened McCann's advertising mindset "to leverage its diverse capabilities."

McCann has longstanding ties with General Motors, Coca-Cola, Nestle, MasterCard and American Airlines.

Diamond ran Weber Shandwick for 15 years. Previously, he chaired the management committee of RLLM/BSMG and served as partner of the legendary Sawyer Miller Group.

Meanwhile, Ad Age included Weber Shandwick to its Agency A-List roster for the second year in a run. Andy Polansky's firm is the only PR firm on the roster.

Citing Weber Shandwick's big drive into digital and creative services, Ad Age notes the Interpublic unit "isn't just any PR agency."