PR Overseas
United Kingdom public relations consultancies, along with PR contacts, are being featured by Hollis Directories' Web site (http://www.hollis-pr.co.uk). Hollis is a publisher for the PR, sponsorship and corporate hospitality markets.
The site launch last month coincided with the publication of the 28th edition of the Hollis UK Press & Public Relations Annual, which is the source for most of the data at the site. The site is searchable via key words, company name and geographical locations. (Hollis, 0-181/977-1133)
KCSA, a public relations firm founded in 1969 and based in New York City, has become the United States partner of IR Asia-Pacific Ltd. IR Asia-Pacific, which is headquartered in Hong Kong, is a worldwide network of independently owned and operated investor relations consultancies for public companies in North America, Europe and the Far East. (KCSA, 212/682-6300)
Honors/Awards
Hutchins/Young & Rubicam, a Rochester, N.Y.-based integrated marcom company, earned kudos from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Eastern Division Public Relations and Advertising Group, which presented the company with two excellence awards.
The awards were for the company's Finger Lakes Blue Cross Blue Shield World Wide Web site, which was honored for excellence for providing news on product information, health care and nutrition and health club discounts as well as answers to questions; and the Finger Lakes Blue Cross Blue Shield 1995 Annual Report, which earned an honorable mention. More than 200 entries were submitted in the competition. (Hutchins, 716/546-6480)
Acquisitions/New Companies
The MacManus Group, which posted 1995 worldwide billings of more than $6.3 million and is headquartered in New York, recently acquired N.W. Ayer & Partners, an advertising network, as part of its long-term strategy to improve its competitive position in the industry by bringing in the separate general agency. The acquisition brings MacManus' employee base to 6,800. (The MacManus Group, 212/468-3083)
A full-service communications company, Ovations International Inc., has been formed by Matthew Cossolotto, former director of communications at GTE Corp. Previously, Cossolotto was an aide to Congressman Leon Panetta (who now works in the Clinton administration) as well as to former House Speaker Jim Wright. Ovations will be based in Westchester, N.Y., and will provide public-sector, non-profit and private-sector clients overseas and in the United States. (Ovations, 914/245-9721)
Grove Public Relations --which will be headed by Teri Grove, a 14-year PR veteran who's worked in Colorado and Texas -- opened its doors last month in Denver to provide consultation on tourism, health care and consumer products. Most recently, Grove was vice president of Schenkein/Sherman Public Relations in Denver. (Grove, 303/757-4079)
Promotion/New Hires
- Mary Ann Josh has joined Kemper Lesnik Communications as executive vice president of event-based marketing and manager of its Miami operations. Kemper Lisnik, which is based in Chicago, is a marketing communications company, offering a range of corporate public relations, events and sports marketing services. (Kemper, 312/755-3545)
- Bruce Bock has joined Core Creative Inc., Milwaukee, as a public relations specialist. Previously, he was an accont executive at Milwaukee agencies Andrews/Mautner and Laughlin/Constable. (Core, 414/291-0912)
- Hill and Knowlton has brought Paul Graves on board as managing director in the agency's New York health group. Graves came to Hill and Knowlton from GTFH Public Relations, where he managed several major accounts and worked extensively in the HIV/AIDS arena.
Hill and Knowlton also has hired Patty Bifulco as account supervisor in the health group. (Hill and Knowlton, 213/966-5700)
- Cramer-Krasselt, Chicago, named Greg Bell vice president, account supervisor for public relations. The $210-million-billings agency said that Bell will be responsible for the Johnston Controls and business-to-business public relations accounts. (Cramer-Krasselt, 312/616-2426)
- Pamela Thomas was promoted to account supervisor at Hunter & Associations Inc., New York, and four account executives have been added to its staff. They are: Jonathan Lyon, Jason Winocour, Christian Borges and Patricia Sullivan. (Hunter & Associates, 212/679-6600)
- Amy Fennegan was promoted to management supervisor in the public relations group of MBRK Advertising and Public Relations, Dallas. (MBRK, 214/520-1200)
- Bailey/Gardiner Creative Communications named Jennie Van Meter account coordinator at its San Diego office as part of the company's public relations, advertising, special events and media efforts serving clients such as Tiffany & Co., Pacific Honda and the Cobbleston Golf Group. (Bailey/Gardiner Creative Communiation, 619/298-9300)
- Dan Buchanan joined DeLaunay/Phillips Inc., Seattle, as an account manager in the company's media relations practice group; and Jennifer Esterly was hired as an account coordinator. (DeLaunay/Phillips, 206/340-6138)
- Six new employees have come on board at Hutchins/Young & Rubicam, a marcom company in Rochester, N.Y. Named to new positions were: Molly Agey, assistant account executive; Kasey Albright, assistant account executive; Mary Annunziata, assistant account executive; Cheryl Galyean, account executive; Laura Grunert, account executive; Janet Roy, assistant media assistant. (Hutchins/Y&R, 716/546-6480)