Weber Shandwick Names Gail Heimann President, Chief Strategy Officer; Frank Okunak, Chief Operating Officer

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Jan 30, 2013, 09:30 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Weber Shandwick, one of the world's leading global public relations agencies, today announced that Gail Heimann has been named president and chief strategy officer of the firm. An 18-year Weber Shandwick veteran, Heimann's global remit will include overarching responsibility for working with practice leaders and their teams to continue to transform and drive innovation throughout the firm's specialties, products and services.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130130/NY50504-a )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130130/NY50504-b )

Weber Shandwick Names Gail Heimann President and Chief Strategy Officer. (PRNewsFoto/Weber Shandwick) (PRNewsFoto/WEBER SHANDWICK)

Weber Shandwick's Frank Okunak has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. (PRNewsFoto/Weber Shandwick) (PRNewsFoto/WEBER SHANDWICK)

Heimann, chief judge of the PR Jury at the Cannes Lions last year, is recognized in the industry – and by her teams and clients – as one of the leading creative and strategic thinkers in the marketing services industry.

"Weber Shandwick's leadership position in our industry reflects a focus on delivering extraordinary, impactful work for our clients every day, around the world. Gail's creative and strategic contributions are at the center of many of these efforts, for key multinational clients," said Andy Polansky, CEO, Weber Shandwick. "With so much changing in our industry and beyond, her leadership has been and will be an important driver of the firm's ongoing success."

Okunak Promoted to Chief Operating Officer
Frank Okunak, Weber Shandwick's Chief Financial Officer, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO). Okunak, who also has spent 18 years at the firm, will have global oversight managing the agency's financial and administrative operations.

"Operating excellence is a Weber Shandwick hallmark, and Frank has played an instrumental role in Weber Shandwick's strong business performance over the past several years," Polansky said.

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 including being named both The Holmes Report's 2012 Global Agency of the Year and the "Most Creative PR Firm in the World," based on the agency's first-place finish in its "Creative Index," as well as PR News' 2012 Digital PR Firm of the Year. Major practice areas include consumer marketing, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, corporate and crisis management. The firm has deep, award-winning expertise in social media and digital marketing that helps drive engagement. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com.