Edelman acquires Headline Group, one of Atlanta's oldest public relations firms. Edelman will merge the company into its local Atlanta office. Claudia Gaines Patton,
founder of Headline Group, will serve as GM for the Atlanta office, and Bob Kornecki, current GM, will become managing director of Edelman's corporate practice. The combined
entity will have billings of $5.2 million.
M.B. Oglesby Jr., former chief of staff for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, joins BKSH & Associates/Burson Marsteller as vice chairman. Oglesby brings
extensive government relations experience and knowledge of trade, anti-trust and tax issues.
Hats Off Communications, the marcom consulting firm formed by Lisa Sullivan, former VP of marketing for Red Hat, and Melissa London, former director of public relations for
the software firm, snags two more ex-Red Hatters. Stacy Doster, former trade show and events manager, and Hilary Stokes, former product manager for Red Hat Linux, will both begin
working with Hats Off.
Credit Suisse Group launches a makeover from the top down. The struggling financial company's chairman and CEO, Lukas Muehlmann, will step down in response to questions about
his leadership. Company communicators have positioned the change in statements and on the Web site as a positive move for a company that is on solid footing for the future.
