Leadership Transition Will Take Effect on
Oct. 1, 2024
NEW
YORK, Aug. 20, 2024 /CNW/ -- FleishmanHillard
Inc., an Omnicom PR Group (OPRG) agency, today announced that its
current Global Chief Operating Officer and President, Americas J.J.
Carter will become President and Chief Executive Officer, effective
Oct. 1, 2024. He succeeds
John Saunders, who will take on the
role of Chairman of FleishmanHillard.
Carter, 49, was named the agency's global chief operating
officer and Americas president in 2016. Saunders, 66, was named
president and CEO in 2015 after leading FleishmanHillard's
Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
"J.J. has the experience, skills and vision to rapidly expand on
the legacy of FleishmanHillard. I am confident in his ability to
drive innovation, teamwork and growth that will accelerate
FleishmanHillard's excellence and expand relationships with clients
around the world," stated Chris
Foster, CEO of OPRG. "We are grateful for John's decades of
commitment and leadership and look forward to his ongoing guidance
as chairman of FleishmanHillard."
Saunders' relationship with FleishmanHillard began more than 37
years ago, when the agency he founded in Ireland became an affiliate. Later, John
joined with FleishmanHillard to form what was then known as
FleishmanHillard Saunders in Ireland. In 2023, he became the first
individual in the communications industry to be conferred with an
honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree from Dublin City University.
"I look back on more than three decades at FleishmanHillard with
pride and gratitude for the support of so many colleagues around
the world and the trust that some of the world's leading companies
have placed in us. However, it's now time for me to step back and
spend more time with my family both in Dublin and in London and with my six young grandchildren
whom I miss being so far away from.
"I have full confidence in J.J. as president and CEO. I have
seen him in action over many years and respect his strengths, and
his ability to lead no matter the pace and complexity of change.
J.J. is a person of outstanding personal integrity and I
wholeheartedly endorse his selection," Saunders said.
Carter has been with FleishmanHillard since 2005 and has held a
variety of key leadership roles. He previously oversaw the agency's
East and West regions in the United
States along with Canada
and Mexico, was general manager of
one of the firm's largest offices in San
Francisco, was global client relationship manager for one of
the agency's biggest multinational accounts, and he built on the
firm's existing experience to launch the agency's global sports
marketing practice. During his time at FleishmanHillard, he has
also recruited transformative leaders across key markets, global
accounts and practice areas.
"It's an enormous privilege to follow John and lead the
organization into the future during one of the most complex and
consequential moments in our history," Carter said. "To accelerate
our growth, deliver transformative work for clients and create a
best-in-class experience for our people, we will embrace our
strengths as a trusted client partner, while also expanding our
capabilities and exploring new tools and ways of working together.
We will always deliver intelligent, creative, audience-first
solutions that drive impact for our clients."
Regarded as a trusted advisor to iconic brands in their biggest
moments and on the largest global stages, Carter has counseled
clients through IPOs, CEO transitions, groundbreaking product
launches, complex mergers and global sponsorship activations.
He excels at connecting brand, business strategy, technology
and leadership into cohesive narratives that resonate with
employees, customers, investors, business partners and media
alike.
Carter will report to Foster and will be a member of OPRG's
global leadership team.
About FleishmanHillard
FleishmanHillard specializes in public relations, reputation
management, public affairs, brand marketing, digital strategy,
social engagement and content strategy. FleishmanHillard was named
2020, 2021 and 2022 Campaign Global PR Agency of the Year; 2023
ICCO Large Agency of the Year – The Americas; 2022 and 2023 PRWeek
U.S. Agency of the Year; 2022 and 2023 PRWeek U.S. Outstanding
Extra-Large Agency of the Year; 2023 Campaign US PR Agency of the
Year; 2021 PRovoke APAC Consultancy of the Year; and 2021
PRWeek UK Large Consultancy of the Year. FleishmanHillard is part
of Omnicom PR Group and has nearly 80 offices in more than 30
countries, plus affiliates in 45 countries.
About Omnicom PR Group (OPRG)
Omnicom PR Group (OPRG)
is the largest global network of communications and consulting
agencies in the world. It is home to three of the top global PR
agencies FleishmanHillard, Ketchum, Porter
Novelli and more than a dozen specialist agencies in
corporate and public affairs, political consulting and advertising,
language strategy, global health strategy and organizational
transformation. OPRG is part of Omnicom (NYSE: OMC).
www.TeamOPRG.com.
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SOURCE FleishmanHillard Inc.