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Winner: Heather Mitchell
Head of Global PR & Social Media, Unilever
Working with brands such as AXE and Suave, Mitchell has created a number of social media campaigns to build word of mouth, raise awareness and generate media coverage. She created the first-ever brand voice with the AXE Voice program, generating 1.8 million likes on Facebook.
Mitchell has also forged innovative partnerships, like Suave for Men’s team-up with Super Bowl champ Clay Matthews, and established the AXE Lounge at the Super Bowl and in the Hamptons—a nightclub that attracted celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Leonardo DiCaprio. —MZ
PR TD You’re Most Proud Of:
"Three-way tie: 1. Securing a section A1 front page, above the fold WSJ brand feature (2008); 2. Securing a glowingly positive five minute Nightline feature reinforcing brand’s relevancy (2010); 3. Creating a qualitative PR measurement system, allowing Unilever brands to strategically showcase how PR placements resonate with consumers (2009)"
In 2012, PR will:
“Be even more creative, more solution-oriented, more nimble and more digitally savvy to secure the hearts, hands and minds of consumers.”
Hometown: Troy, Ohio; "However 13 years in Chicago and 15 months in New York has me telling people in my current hometown of London, England (as of this month) that I am a Chicagoan and a New Yorker."
College Attended: Ohio University's EW Scripps School of Journalism
Number of Years in PR: 17+
Favorite Sports Team: Chicago Cubs
Athlete Who Most Inspires You: “I prefer fashion to sports so I would have to say Diane von Furstenberg, who with all of her professional accomplishments and charitable work, in addition to raising a family, is an athlete in her own right.”
Favorite Sport: Running
Favorite Movie: Love Actually
Favorite TV Show: Modern Family
Best Way to Unwind: Spa day
Favorite Business City: London
Best Business Book: The Tipping Point, by Malcom Gladwell
What’s Sexier: Page 1 placement in WSJ or a video that goes viral—1 million views? "WSJ placement...1 million views is small potatoes these days."
Honorable Mentions:
Debra Lynn Ross, Director, Corporate Communications, APP Pharmaceuticals: Debra Lynn Ross worked with APP’s CEO to create a monthly column for the company’s intranet, and launched a quarterly magazine, The Compass.
Matthew Samson, VP, Communications Manager, Huntington Bank: Samson’s well-crafted media campaigns secured placements in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and CNBC’s Squawk Box.
Kim Titus, Formerly Director of Public Relations, Samsung Mobile: Supporting the launch of more than 60 mobile products in 2010, Kim Titus worked closely with a division president on a keynote speech that was quoted in The Wall Street Journal and Forbes.