MWW President and CEO Michael Kempner Named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2012 Finalist

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MWW Group (www.mww.com), one of the top-ten global independent public relations firms, announced today that its President and CEO Michael W. Kempner has been named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year^® 2012 finalist in the New Jersey region. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and community. Awards will be presented at a special gala on June 27, 2012, at the Hyatt New Brunswick.

Now in its 26th year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 140 cities and 50 countries around the world. Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur Of The Year Program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur Of The Year Overall Award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, Calif., on November 17, 2012. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation's most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

Kempner founded MWW Group, a full-service public relations, marketing and communications agency, in 1986. Under his leadership, MWW Group has grown from a one-person shop in New Jersey to a firm of more than 200 employees in nine offices across the nation. After leading a buy-back from Interpublic Group in 2010, Kempner led MWW to 11 percent growth last year alone. He is recognized as one of the top public relations and crisis communications experts in the industry. He sits on the board of a number of philanthropic and community organizations, including the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship and the North Jersey Community Bank.

About MWW Group

MWW Group is one of the nation's top mid-sized public relations firms and one of the ten largest independent global agencies. The company is industry-recognized for its work in consumer lifestyle marketing, digital marketing and social media, corporate communications, public affairs and government relations, consumer technology, healthcare and visual branding.

Through its "Network PR" approach, MWW Group helps its clients re-architect the conversation surrounding their brands to increase trust and relevance and drive action among key stakeholders.  Among its numerous awards for client work, the agency has been recognized as 2011 "Midsize Agency of the Year" and 2010 "Strategic PR Agency of the Year" by the Holmes Report and has received accolades from PR News for "Team of the Year," "Digital Firm of the Year" and "Top Places to Work in PR."

To learn more about MWW Group, visit www.mww.com, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year^®
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 140 cities in more than 50 countries.

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the United States by SAP America and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

In New Jersey,  sponsors include PNC, Merrill Corporation, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, DLA Piper, Scherzer International, Empire Valuation Consultants, WithumSmith +Brown, Murray Devine, Gibbons, P.C., New Jersey Technology Council, SolomonEdwards Group, New Jersey Business Journal.

About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 152,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit www.ey.com.

SOURCE MWW Group