You know you're good when the president of the United States starts borrowing your employees. Michael Holtzman, VP of public affairs at Shandwick International, was recently selected to coordinate media coverage, message development and public affairs for the Clinton Administration in support of the World Trade Organization's third ministerial conference.
The five-day event kicks off November 30 in Seattle and constitutes the largest trade event ever held on U.S. soil.
The presidential appointment of Holtzman constitutes yet another power plug for Shandwick, which will finalize its acquisition of the DC-based Cassidy Companies, Inc. on November 1 (PR NEWS October 18). Cassidy subsidiaries include PR firm Powell Tate; Frederick Schneiders Research, an opinion research and polling firm; litigation communications specialists Bork & Associates; and the government relations firms Cassidy & Associates and Boland & Madigan.
The agency also has acquired the crisis communications firm Rowan & Blewitt, located in the nation's capital.
Of course, Holtzman's own professional prowess may have had something to do with the presidential gig. He's a former press secretary to the Council on Foreign Relations, and previously handled public affairs for the 1999 International Trade and Economic Policy Forum.
Meanwhile, Shandwick also is exploring ways to leverage its assets beyond human capital. Earlier this month, the firm engineered an agreement with Reuters Television to expand its range of client services.
The deal will give Shandwick customers access to outside broadcast facilities and crews for media training, B-roll production, satellite feeds, video distribution and outside broadcasts.
Shandwick and Reuters also plan to collaborate on media services such as webcasts, online press conferencing and Web distribution of audio and video clips. Contact: James Korenchen, Shandwick New York, 212/591-9869; or Candida Sampson, Shandwick DC, 202/383-9723.