Weber Shandwick Hires California Stakeholder Engagement Expert Patricia Cooper to Lead Sacramento Public Affairs Offering

SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 31, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Weber Shandwick, one of the world's leading global communications and engagement firms, has expanded its public affairs leadership in California with the appointment of Patricia Cooper as senior vice president in its Sacramento office.

For more than two decades, Cooper has worked closely with elected officials, state policymakers, association leaders and a diverse range of stakeholders to inform sound public policy around healthcare, biotechnology and environmental issues. Most recently as executive director of the California Biotechnology Foundation, Cooper spearheaded multiple education and outreach programs to support informed policymaking around the life sciences industry in California.

In her new role, Cooper will be responsible for expanding Weber Shandwick's public affairs practice in California and will draw upon the firm's extensive public affairs capabilities across a wide range of issues to provide counsel to new and existing clients. Additionally, she will partner with the Washington D.C., San Francisco/Silicon Valley and Los Angeles offices to promote Weber Shandwick's public affairs offerings on a national scale.

"Our clients are increasingly asking for multi-sector, multi-stakeholder approaches to effectively engage their key constituents on both a state and national scale," said Ranny Cooper, president, Public Affairs, Weber Shandwick. "Patricia's deep expertise in engaging constituencies around critical state and national issues, particularly in our increasingly complex political and communications environment, will prove invaluable to our clients and our growing team."

A seasoned coalition builder, Cooper has directed strategy, expanded membership, managed boards and cultivated sponsorship development for life science associations, the biotechnology industry and other healthcare organizations. Additionally, Cooper has worked extensively on education, economic development, energy and environmental issues.

"I'm delighted to join Weber Shandwick's formidable global network of creative and strategic experts and have an opportunity to partner with the firm's public affairs specialists across the country," Patricia Cooper said. "I look forward to being a part of an expert team putting these strategies into action across various industries for our clients in Sacramento and across the state."

Weber Shandwick's public affairs offering in Sacramento is bolstered by close partnerships with Powell Tate, Weber Shandwick's public affairs division based in Washington, D.C., and KRC Research, a market research specialist firm. Powell Tate is a leader in integrated advocacy campaigns, offering data-driven digital engagement and influencer strategies along with strong policy, opinion-leading media, and crisis communications expertise. Known for highly creative and results-driven campaigns, Powell Tate supports many of Weber Shandwick's largest corporate clients, as well as government agencies, non-profits, foundations and trade associations.

About Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications and engagement firm in 78 cities across 34 countries and operations 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 2016 PR Agency of the Year and 2015 Global Agency of the Year, an Ad Age A-List Agency in 2014 and 2015, and The Holmes Report's Global Agency of the Year in 2014 and 2015. Weber Shandwick and its Prime unit have won a combined 25 Cannes Lions since 2009. 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.

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