Wayne Hickey Joins Weber Shandwick as EVP, Senior Technology Strategist as Firm Expands Technology Expertise across North America Client Portfolio

NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Weber Shandwick, one of the world's leading global communications and engagement firms, announced today that Wayne Hickey has joined the agency as executive vice president and senior technology practice strategist based in San Francisco. Drawing on more than a decade advising consumer technology and entertainment brands on global integrated marketing programs, Hickey will advise clients across the firm's North America portfolio as technology becomes increasingly core to marketing and business strategy for companies across industry sectors.

Hickey joins Weber Shandwick from Edelman, where he led the firm's Bay Area operations across San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Sacramento. Previously, he led the firm's portfolio of work for Microsoft and Xbox. Prior to Edelman, Hickey spent six years with Weber Shandwick Seattle where he spearheaded the firm's Digital Entertainment practice, overseeing clients ranging from streaming media technologies and optical media to rights management systems and next generation TV experiences.

"Wayne is an accomplished practitioner and strategic thinker with a keen focus on driving sophisticated integrated programming for clients," said Sara Gavin, president of North America, Weber Shandwick. "Welcoming Wayne back to Weber Shandwick underscores our commitment to building a deep bench of technology and consumer technology talent and reflects our robust growth in consumer technology work on the West Coast and across North America. We know that virtually every client has a powerful technology story, regardless of industry, and Wayne will lead our efforts to drive consumer technology insights to support a range of clients in North America." 

Weber Shandwick's Northern California operations continue to expand under the leadership of Luca Penati in San Francisco/Silicon Valley and Patricia Cooper in Sacramento, who was recently appointed senior vice president in March 2016 to continue to expand the firm's public affairs practice in California and nationally. The San Francisco office recently combined its Technology and Corporate teams to reflect the integrated assignments they're driving for clients such as VMware. The firm also continues to grow its roster of top talent in the region, having recently brought on Helen Lee in San Francisco as senior vice president in the Employee Engagement & Change Management practice and Angela Mears, who has taken on the role of creative lead. 

"Companies across all sectors are wrestling with technology enablement – how it fits into their brand, how it solves customer challenges, and how to communicate their unique story," Hickey said. "In an ever-more integrated marketing arena, the best strategies come from bringing a diverse set of expertise to the table. I'm energized by the opportunity to return to Weber Shandwick and to partner with a network of leading talent around new engagement strategies for our clients."

About Weber Shandwick

Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications and engagement firm in 78 cities across 34 countries with a network extending to 126 cities in 81 countries. The firm's diverse team of strategists, analysts, producers, designers, developers and campaign activators has won the most prestigious awards in the world for innovative, creative approaches and impactful work, including being honored as PRWeek's Global Agency of the Year in 2015 and 2016, an Ad Age A-List Agency in 2014 and 2015, and The Holmes Report's Global Agency of the Year in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015. Weber Shandwick and its Prime unit have won a combined 31 Cannes Lions since 2009 and are credited as PR agency on an additional 25 Lions. Weber Shandwick was also named a Best Place to Work by Ad Age in 2014 and 2015 and PRWeek in 2013 and 2014. The firm deploys deep expertise across sectors and specialty areas, including consumer marketing, corporate reputation, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, corporate social responsibility, financial communications and crisis management, using proprietary social, digital and analytics methodologies. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com.

Contact: Michelle Giuda
Company: Weber Shandwick
Phone: 212.445.8088
Email: [email protected]

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