Charles Ryan Associates Names Patrick Gallagher President and CEO and Acquires Gallagher/Goodwin-Gregg Communications Group

October 5, 2007 | 10:29 am

CHARLESTON, W.Va., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Charles Ryan Associates (CRA), West Virginia's largest and oldest public relations/advertising firm, today announced that Patrick M. Gallagher has been named its new president and CEO. CRA was acquired earlier in the week from founder and CEO Charles Ryan by a group of West Virginia investors led by Henry Harmon, president and CEO of Triana Energy. Harmon also announced the acquisition of Gallagher/Goodwin- Gregg Communications Group (GGG).

"Securing Pat Gallagher as our chief executive officer is a major step in achieving our objective in acquiring CRA. Gallagher will manage the daily operation of the company and implement an aggressive strategy to build on the firm's outstanding reputation and market presence. We will leave the day-to-day management of the firm and interaction with clients entirely up to Gallagher and his team of communications professionals," explained Harmon.

Commenting on his appointment as CEO, Gallagher said, "CRA's reputation as an industry leader is unquestioned. Charlie Ryan set out to build the best and he has accomplished his goal many times over. He hired me into my first job following my graduation from the WVU School of Journalism and has been a mentor to me throughout my career. With the help of the strong group of communications professionals at CRA, I look forward to enhancing the firm's accomplishments and continuing the excellent services provided to clients."

Gallagher is a 30-year communications veteran who has worked nearly 20 years as a public relations/advertising firm executive. He has represented clients in high-profile situations in over 30 states and several foreign countries. Most recently, he was managing partner of Charleston-based Gallagher/Goodwin-Gregg Communications Group (GGG).

GGG, which has offices in both Charleston and Morgantown, has been acquired by CRA from Gallagher and his partner Aly Goodwin Gregg. Gregg will join CRA as a senior vice-president and manage CRA's new office in Morgantown.

"The addition of GGG is a perfect fit for our plan to strengthen and grow both the client base and level of experience at Charles Ryan Associates. Pat Gallagher and Aly Gregg have assembled an impressive list of regional and national client relationships and a staff of veteran communications experts," added Harmon.

"The opportunity to transfer our successes at GGG into one of the region's premiere communications firms is extremely exciting. As a senior manager at CRA, I look forward to tremendous growth in the Morgantown office and extending CRA's reach throughout the region. CRA is a great firm with an abundance of creative professionals," commented Gregg.

Charles Ryan Associates is an integrated marketing communications firm with specialties in advertising, public relations, interactive technology and government relations. The firm has built a presence throughout the Mid-Atlantic region with offices in Charleston and Morgantown, W.Va. and Richmond, Va.