- The Wall Street Journal hires its first-ever outside PR agency. Fleishman-Hillard snags the account for both the Journal and WSJ.com (the e-business side was
previously held by Miller Shandwick in Boston).
- British communications firm Cordiant Communications is buying Lighthouse Global Network for stock initially valued at $421 million. Lighthouse, which acquired Morgen-Walke
Associates earlier this year, has annual fees around $150 million. The acquisition will make Cordiant the world's tenth largest communications conglomerate.
- Another PR exec jumps ship in the wake of the merger of Ludgate Communications and Golin Harris. Following the exodus of Ludgate CEO Kay Breakstone (PRN, July 3),
Marina Echavarria leaves her post as SVP of Ludgate's Latin American Group to form Double E Communications with Weber PR veteran Eric Eddy, specializing in branding and financial
communication.
- Staples Inc. appoints Tom Nutile VP of PR. He was director of corporate communications for Cahners Business Information... Financial services firm BB&T Corp. promotes
Dick Ward to EVP/marketing and PR manager...Global Crossing Ltd. names Thomas J. Goff SVP - Corporate Communications... The Kaiser Family Foundation names Porter/Novelli and
Ogilvy & Mather alum Steve Rabin SVP of media, public education.