Robert Pickard, who helped build Edelman’s North Asia presence from scratch in 2005 to more than 100 staffers today, has left the firm.
Bob Pickard |
Thomas Zengage, a bilingual PR pro who has lived and worked in Japan since 1981, has been named executive chairman to run Edelman’s Japanese operations. Zengage built up and sold a $20M firm, IBI, to WPP’s Ogilvy PR Worldwide and ran Ogilvy’s Japan operations for three years before working as an independent counselor.
Alan Vamdermolen said in a memo last week that Pickard built Edelman’s Japan and Korea operations to make it the largest global firm in North Asia.
Pickard, who is Canadian, steps down after six years abroad for Edelman. He told O'Dwyer's his departure "could not be more amicable" and that he is taking several months off to re-connect with family and friends back home in North America.
Adds Crisis Pro Archer
Edelman said today it has acquired the boutique shop of crisis pro Nick Archer, who becomes executive VP and head of crisis and risk communications for the firm.
Archer, who ran crisis firm Pittacus, was previously with Ogilvy PR Worldwide and Edelman in the U.K.
Nick Archer |
In addition to the EVP role, he will also head Edelman’s New York public affairs unit.
Archer counseled the Egyptian government after the 1997 terrorist attack that killed 59 tourists in Luxor and has worked with Eli Lilly, BP and the governments of China, Chile and Malta. He set up Ogilvy’s public affairs division after seven years with Edelman, ending in 2000..
After co-founding a boutique firm, The Company Agency, he set up Pittacus in 2006 to focus on crisis work. Crispian Cuss, an officer and British Army spokesman during the Iraq invasion, and Patrick Roberts, a former Edelman managing director, round out Pittacus’ key staff.
Richard Edelman, CEO of the No. 1 independent firm, said he is “delighted” to have Archer back with the firm. Edelman said that in addition to putting out and preventing “fires,” Archer will develop the firm’s international public affairs capability.
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