NEEP LOOKS TO POWER UP PR
The Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, the Lexington, Mass.-based non-profit group that seeks to create a “drumbeat of business support – publicly through the media and privately through influencers of the influential-to protect and expand clean energy programs and climate protection policies,” is looking for PR support.
The selected firm/contractor will work hand-in-hand with the New England Clean Energy Council and policy shop Cater Communications to engage mainstream business leaders to support efficiency and green initiatives and to develop blogs/op-eds/white papers, according to its RFP.
An aggressive social media component is part of the PR drive including “use/coordination with selected network listservs, and posting content in relevant newsletters/communications.” The ultimate goal is to make NEEP's program a national model.
NEEP sponsors include National Grid, Efficiency Vermont, Yankee Gas, New York State Energy and Development Authority, Connecticut Power & Light, D.C. Sustainable Energy Utility, Long Island Power Authority and Public Service of New Hampshire.
Carrie Nash, NEEP's strategic marketing manager, has information at [email protected]. Proposals are due Aug. 30. RFP: http://bit.ly/NTD2Ux.
FTI'S NEVILLE MOVES TO F-H
Betsy Neville, who was Americas corporate communications practice leader at FTI Consulting, has joined Fleishman-Hillard as co-chair of its corporate reputation team with Marjorie Benzkofer.
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Earlier, Neville was general manager of Ogilvy PR Worldwide's Chicago outpost and head of her own firm for 13 years.
Based in New York, Neville reports to Robert Dowling, president of the Omnicom unit's eastern region. He lauded Neville's ability to build and protect corporate brands.
Ketchum has picked up a $3.9M contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to continue previous PR efforts in support of electronic health records.
The unit of the Dept. of Health and Human Services said in May that it would put the work out for pitches among its pre-qualified group of agencies, including Fleishman-Hillard, Ogilvy PR, Porter Novelli, Ketchum and Weber Shandwick.
Ketchum picked up a $25M, two-year earned and paid media campaign started in March 2010.
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HUNTSWORTH PROFIT RISES 19%
Huntsworth CEO Peter Chadlington reports an 18.6 percent rise in first-half operating profit to $20.6M on flat revenues of $132M.
Though “cautious given the macro environment,” Chadlington is buoyed by progress made in Huntsworth's strategy to line up global and multi-office accounts.
Those accounts “have taken time to come on stream, but are now established and providing a firm revenue base across most markets, particularly Europe,” according to Chadlington.
Multi-office revenues account for a third of flagship Grayling's business.
Grayling, which generates nearly half of Huntsworth's revenues, scored big wins like Ryder Cup Europe and London City Airport, while expanding relationships with DHL, Hilton and British Airways.
Huntsworth Health, which contributes 30 percent of overall revenues, was powered by a sharp rise in digital business.
Since June, the unit has picked up new business wins worth $15M over the next 18 to 24 months.
Chadlington plans to keep a tight control over costs for the remainder of the year and anticipates improved profit margins over 2011.
RAFFERTY NAMED KETCHUM NA CEO
Barri Rafferty, director of Ketchum’s New York office, takes over the North America CEO slot from Lorraine Thelian on Sept. 1. Thelian is upped to the vice chairman post.
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Mike Doyle associate director of New York, assumes Rafferty's duties, while Rob Lorfink, who is COO and CFO, adds the president title.
Rob Flaherty became Ketchum's CEO on July 1, succeeding Ray Kotcher, who remains as chairman of the Omnicom unit.
He sees the promotions as a sign of “stability” at the PR firm. It's a move to provide Ketchum’s “proven leaders with an even greater opportunity to deliver impactful business and communications solutions to our clients,” said Flaherty.
Rafferty also headed Ketchum’s southern region (Atlanta and Dallas) and served as chief of its global brand marketing practice. Most recently, she led Ketchum's digital practice.
She will report to Lorfink, who joined Ketchum in 2003 as chief financial officer from Omnicom's diversified agency services network.
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