Tina-Marie Adams Named Director of Ketchum's Midwest Operations; John Weckenmann Assumes New Role in the Global Corporate Practice CHICAGO and NEW YORK, July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Ketchum, a leading public relations firm, today announced an important progression in its talent lineup, designed to strengthen its corporate expertise globally and regionally while continuing to build its leadership presence in the Chicago market. Ron Culp, partner and managing director, Ketchum Midwest, will assume leadership for Ketchum's North America Corporate Practice while serving as managing director of the Ketchum Midwest operation. Tina-Marie Adams, formerly Midwest general manager for the MWW Group, joins Ketchum to succeed Culp as director of the Midwest operation, comprising offices in Chicago and Pittsburgh. Following Ketchum's recently announced merger with Pleon in Europe, Partner John Weckenmann, formerly director of the North America Corporate Practice, has been named to a new senior counselor role focused on helping clients tap the newly expanded depth of international resources and talent in the Global Corporate Practice. Based in Chicago, Culp will focus on further developing and integrating expertise and capabilities throughout the North America Corporate Practice to bring measurable value to Ketchum clients, which include many of the world's leading corporations and brands. A well-known figure within the Chicago business community and one of Crain's Chicago Business's "Who's Who in Chicago Business," Culp joined Ketchum in 2006 from financial communications firm Sard Verbinnen and was previously senior vice president of public relations and government affairs for Sears, Roebuck and Co. He is active in several nonprofit organizations, including the Economic Club of Chicago, where he is a board member and former vice chair. "We set out to create a corporate practice that is one of the strongest, most creative in the industry, with strongholds in all the world's capital markets," said Dale Bornstein, senior partner and director of Ketchum's global practices. "We're fortunate to have someone with Ron's experience to bring a high level of client service and great counseling to an already accomplished North America practice." Additionally, John Weckenmann will provide strategic counsel to the practice's key multinational clients while also ensuring that clients on both sides of the Atlantic are benefiting from the combined strengths of corporate offerings now available in North America and Europe as part of the recently announced merger of Ketchum and Pleon. With more than 30 years of experience in international marketing and corporate public relations, Weckenmann adds a wealth of knowledge and strategic expertise to client engagements. "John brings a terrific blend of international account experience, network leadership and corporate counseling skills to our clients and our account teams," Bornstein said. "This new position marks an important moment in the evolution of Ketchum and our ability to bring added value to our clients' critical business challenges. We're thrilled to have John take on this exciting new role." Rounding out the series of new appointments, Tina-Marie Adams joins Ketchum as director of the agency's Midwest operations, effective immediately. Formerly senior vice president and Midwest general manager for MWW Group, Adams has more than a decade of communication experience, during which she has counseled a variety of corporate communications, public affairs and consumer marketing clients at several leading PR agencies. Previously, Adams was a journalist with Gannett newspapers in Pittsburgh and at the Chicago Tribune. "We're excited to have Tina-Marie joining us because she brings a rich background of complementary experiences and strengths to our strong Midwest operation," said Lorraine Thelian, senior partner with responsibility for Ketchum's North American offices. "Her track record of success includes building client brands across many industries as well as functional expertise in public affairs, corporate communications, healthcare and marketing communications - a career background custom-fit for serving the complex strategic and real-time needs facing our clients today." About Ketchum A communications innovator, Ketchum ranks among the largest global communications consultancies and leads the industry in the U.K. and continental Europe as Ketchum Pleon. With five global practices - Brand Marketing, Corporate, Healthcare, Food and Nutrition, and Technology - and specialty capabilities that include Access Communications (high- and consumer-tech PR), Concentric Communications (experiential marketing, events and meetings), MMG (clinical trial recruitment), Ketchum Global Research Network, Ketchum Sports and Entertainment Marketing, and Stromberg Consulting (change management and workplace communications), Ketchum leverages its marketing and corporate communication expertise to build brands and reputations for clients. In 2009, Advertising Age named Ketchum to its annual "Ones to Watch" Agency A-List, noting the agency's long-standing client partnerships, digital and disruptive media expertise, and CSR and sustainability programming. For more information on Ketchum, a unit of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC), visit http://www.ketchum.com/. DATASOURCE: Ketchum CONTACT: Mike Banas, +1-312-730-7329, , or Alicia Stetzer, +1-646-935-3910, , both of Ketchum Web Site: http://www.ketchum.com/

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