News of Firms: Interpublic Launches Motor City Fellowship

Interpublic Group launches its Motor City Marketing and Communications Fellowship, a jobs program that recruits students from the city’s Wayne State University and College for Creative Studies for jobs at IPG agencies that support General Motors. The two-year paid fellowship is designed to give recruits a chance to understand “the full spectrum of communications, marketing, creative, experiential and relationship marketing.” Those selected for the program will work at four different agencies over the course of the two years, spending six months at each position. The program is set to get underway later this year. “As we create campaigns and experiences that connect with GM’s diverse customer base, we also want to build inclusive agency teams that reflect these customers,” said McCann Worldgroup chairman and CEO Bill Kolb. “We’re fortunate to have these great universities in Detroit, and they will be a terrific sourc of talent.”

Kath Kerry

GCI Health is expanding into the Middle East by integrating with the healthcare team of fellow WPP firm ASDA’A BCW. The combined entity will now operate as GCI Health Middle East. GCI says that the move gives it access to the markets of UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and Qatar. GCI Health Middle East is being led by Kath Kerry, GCI president Europe & Middle East, who will manage the existing Dubai-based hub team and the regional network office. She will partner with Sunil John, president–Middle East of BCW and founder of ASDA’A BCW, to lead the existing regional team and drive the unit’s growth. “The launch of GCI Health Middle East enhances our capacity to deliver exceptional health focused communications in the region at a time when governments are investing significantly in healthcare infrastructure,” said GCI Health global CEO Kristin Cahill.

Milldam Public Relations, which focuses on communications for tech companies, establishes a West Coast office in Beverly Hills. The agency’s founding location is in Concord, MA. The new site will serve as Milldam’s primary presence for the Western United States. Milldam president and founder Adam Waitkunas will lead the new office. “As the tech space continues to grow in Los Angeles, Milldam will help fill the gap in specialized and cost-effective public relations. Companies in places like Silicon Beach are finding permanent homes in Southern California, and Milldam is well-positioned to meet their strategic communications needs,” said Waitkunas.

Israeli PR technology company Propel is expanding internationally, with recent adopters of the platform in Singapore, Ireland, the UK, Canada and the US. Propel was started up by Cutler PR founder Zach Cutler, who sold the firm to Kite Hill in 2018. Its public relations management software offers users a global media database, email integration for media outreach, a full-service monitoring suite, in-depth business outcomes tracking and advanced reporting capabilities. The company says it recently acquired its 100th customer, including such companies as Google, Real Chemistry (formerly W2O), the Daily Mail, Antenna and Ditto PR.