Weber Shandwick Adds Key Digital Talent, Innovative Depth to Senior Ranks

- New Hires Support Increased Client Demand and Further Bolster Emerging Areas -

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Jun 14, 2012, 09:30 ET

NEW YORK, June 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Weber Shandwick's Digital practice announced a series of leadership additions, which continue to add best-in-class innovation and practice expertise to the firm's digital and social media offerings.

These hires include Ozzy Farman (@ozfarman), senior vice president, Digital Innovation; Herb Sawyer (@Herb), senior vice president of strategic planning; and Kerry Lange (@kerrylange), senior vice president and digital director for the firm's Northern California operations.

These moves come during a period of unprecedented growth for the firm's digital business, which has increased by more than 30 percent annually over the past three years. Weber Shandwick handles a range of digital assignments, including content marketing, social business consulting programs, digitally-led campaigns and community management for 100+ major household brands.

"Today's engagement environment makes it imperative for digital innovation to be top-of-mind for all corporate and brand communications programs. Ozzy, Herb and Kerry will be instrumental in supporting our client's innovation needs and further deepening our expertise in rapidly growing digital practices. By continuing to invest in top-talent from a variety of corporate, technology and B2B marketing backgrounds, we are better able to provide the best multi-disciplinary and multi-faceted solutions," said Chris Perry (@cperry248), Weber Shandwick's Digital president.

As senior vice president, Digital Innovation, Farman will provide creative technology insight, counsel and development expertise on major client programs. This includes partnership development, strategic and creative ideation as well as client research and development. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, he was the co-founder of Lolz LLC, an award-winning digital production agency in New York City, and has more than a decade of experience in the industry.

Sawyer will bring his deep expertise in brand strategy, media planning, and content strategy for engagement-minded activations. With 12 years of experience in consumer research, consumer behaviors and target audience insight, Sawyer has helped teams develop multiple 360 degree programs that combine social media, mobile, digital media and digital event components into a single communications platform. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, he was senior vice president, strategic planning director at Fleishman-Hillard, and also has held the role of digital strategist at Carmichael Lynch.

At Weber Shandwick, Lange will be responsible for providing strategic insight on digital and multi-platform campaigns, and will bring her deep practice expertise in technology and B2B marketing. She will be instrumental in facilitating cross-team collaboration and providing guidance on key client activations. Lange has nearly two decades of experience in developing strategic, consumer-centric marketing programs for a wide range of clients. Most recently she was co-lead of the Social Marketing Center of Excellence at Yahoo!, focused on building an Influencer Marketing practice.

Weber Shandwick's Digital practice has received numerous industry awards and was named a "Top 4 Employer for Social Media Professionals" by Mashable. It remains at the forefront of innovation through its proprietary methodologies and applications. The firm launched its social crisis simulator, FireBell, an award-winning, proprietary application that allows clients to participate in real-time online crisis simulation drills in a secure, off the-internet environment. It also introduced Content Fusion, an approach that defines an organization's own unique storytelling ecosystem by identifying stories that can best be told in each respective format and driving the stories through an ecosystem of traditional, digital, social media and company-owned channels.

More on Weber Shandwick Digital can be found at www.webershandwickdigital.com.

About Weber Shandwick

Weber Shandwick is a leading global public relations firm with offices in 81 countries around the world. The firm has won numerous awards for innovative approaches and creative campaigns, and it has deep expertise in social media and digital marketing. Major practice areas include consumer marketing, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, corporate and crisis management. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com.