Stepping into a "director of public relations" slot means you've reached a mid-level position, with a vice presidential slot on the horizon. Most PR people reach this level after about five years in the field. Sometimes it's less, if you've transferred from a high post in media, government or another corporate department. Or, if you used to be the well-publicized paramour of a famous rock star.
That's the case with Denise Smith, a.k.a. Vanity, a longtime squeeze of the rock star formerly known as Prince. Smith, recently hired as director of public relations for Reston, Va., computer software company Genesis Technology Group Inc. proved to be a big draw at the company's booth at a recent industry trade show in Washington, according to an Aug. 30 report in The Washington Post. The article quotes the company's president, P.F. Thomas III, characterizing her hire by saying, "We needed something to give us an edge, to get some notice."
The idea seemed to work, although Smith, well-known through video and movie appearances, may have spent more time signing autographs than passing along information on Genesis. "People don't ask me much about computers," she told the Post.
"Her primary role is to make appearances at various trade shows we do on a national basis," Thomas told PR NEWS, adding that she learned promotional skills through her entertainment experience. Hiring Smith has been "a successful venture for us," he said. (Genesis, 703/716-1200)