David Petrou
President & COO, Eisner Petrou & Associates
Washington, DC
Education
B. A. University of Maryland
M.A. Georgetown University (Milton scholar)
First Job
On a family vacation, met Ron Busch, then-chairman of Pocket Books. "After two planter's punches on a Caribbean beach, he offered me a job in marketing at Random House."
Curious Credentials
Film fanatic. Went on to become assistant producer for literary development on the first two Superman movies, and authored two books, including The Making of Superman, an international best-seller.
Labors Of Love
Holds board and advisory positions with the Choral Arts Society of Washington, the University of Md. Center for Performing Arts, and the Washington Men's Camerata.
Secret Weapon
"I am living proof that there's life after majoring in English. If writing is your single greatest skill, it will give you a solid foundation for any career. It is the thread that ran through everything I did - whether books or film or whatever comes next."
Management Philosophy
"A pat on the back instead of a kick in the teeth. The maxim that you should treat people as you'd like to be treated is true. My assets are the people who work for me. Accounts come and go, but when there's continuity with your account service team, you're always going to attract good business."
Agency Scoop
Eisner Petrou & Associates boasts 20 employees with billings just under $3 million. Clients include Armstrong Tools, Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Sprint PCS, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and the Maryland Lottery.
Industry Observations
"Advertising is what you pay for...public relations is what you get for free. The power of earned media to alter perceptions and influence consumer behavior is enormous. Now, with the impact of the Internet, the mythology and scope of PR is evolving almost as quickly as the communications technologies themselves."
Petrou can be reached at 202-682-3100.