By Greg Hazley
Peter McCue, a 40-year PR veteran, mentor and crisis specialist whose notable assignments included handling Cargill’s grain sales to the Soviets in the 1970s and unveiling the B-2 Stealth Bomber, died Feb. 26 at his Rye, N.Y., home. He was 64 and an executive VP at Fleishman-Hillard, where he spent the last 24 years and played a key role in the firm’s history.
McCue |
McCue fought a “long and courageous battle with cancer,” the firm said.
“Peter quickly became a leader and pillar not only for our New York office but our entire firm during what was a period of tremendous growth and change,” said F-H chairman John Graham.
McCue was at Hill & Knowlton during the 1970s and early ‘80s, working Texaco’s court battles with Pennzoil over the Getty Oil acquisition, Northrop’s promotion of the F-20 fighter and the unveiling of its stealth bomber, along with efforts to fend off an advertising to children ban for General Mills, and Campbell Soup issues with threatened farm worker boycotts.
He moved to F-H in 1987 where, Graham said, he mentored countless staffers and exhibited a “substantive style” and “extraordinary quick wit.”
His F-H assignments included ABC’s showdown with the broadcasting technicians union in the late 1980s, as well as labor disputes at Caterpillar and Peabody Holding. He was a longtime counselor to client United Airlines, including in the wake of 9/11.
On the global front, he advised the governments of Turkey, Iceland and the Mexican Tourism board, among others. F-H said he was recently counseling Visa, General Motors and AT&T.
F-H president and EO called McCue “one of the most memorable figures in the history of our firm.” Senay recalled his “dagger-like” emails and said he’ll be remembered for messages dubbed “McCue-isms” around the firm. One read: “When you’re hemming and hawing (in a crisis situation) … all those ‘I don’t knows’ add up to ‘guilty as hell and trying to hide.’”
The Bronxville, N.Y., native was an avid fly-fisherman. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Susan Jane; two children, Lauren and Eric, and two grandchildren.
Funeral is private but F-H said it is planning a memorial service. |