ST. LOUIS, Nov. 18, 2008 — Fleishman-Hillard International Communications today announced that six of its senior executives have been promoted to president, with specific geographic responsibilities:
- Martha Boudreau, president, U.S. Mid-Atlantic
- Li Hong, president, China
- Nancy Seliger, president, U.S. East
- Shin Tanaka, president, Japan
- Susan Veidt, president, U.S. Central
- Mia Wedgbury, president, Canada
“One key to Fleishman-Hillard’s leadership is our broad and deep senior management team,” said the firm’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Dave Senay. “These six individuals are outstanding examples of world-class leadership. They have proven themselves time and again – in their ability to build great client service operations and in the high levels of responsibility, commitment, and performance they bring to their jobs every day.”
Martha Boudreau joined Fleishman-Hillard Washington, D.C., in 1986 — one year after the firm began operations there — and has helped build FH into a major competitor in that market. For the past eight years she has served as the office’s general manager, overseeing revenue growth of more than 60 percent. With her promotion to president, Mid-Atlantic, Boudreau takes on additional responsibility for the FH offices in Atlanta, North Carolina, and Latin America.
When Li Hong joined Fleishman-Hillard in 2002 as senior vice president and managing director of China, the firm’s China business was small. Under his direction, FH’s revenue from its Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou operations has grown six-fold, and the firm ranks among the leading agencies in China. In the process of building the business and elevating the FH brand in China, Li Hong has proven to be a top senior client counselor and an outstanding developer of employees’ careers.
Nancy Seliger joined Fleishman-Hillard St. Louis in 1982 and transferred to the firm’s New York office in 1985, where she built one of the agency’s leading consumer marketing capabilities. She became general manager of Fleishman-Hillard New York in 2003, and last year took on additional responsibility as regional director for the firm’s Boston office and for partner agency CPR Worldwide. Under Seliger’s leadership, these operations have grown and continued to play a key role in winning and serving the firm’s major clients.
In 1997, Shin Tanaka became Fleishman-Hillard’s first employee in Tokyo. As managing director of Japan, he has built the firm into a leader in that market, and is credited with helping to define the practice of public relations in Japan. Under his leadership, FH’s Japanese operations have grown to become an anchor office in the Asia-Pacific network. Tanaka also has introduced new Fleishman-Hillard brands, such as BlueCurrent and CCW, into the Japanese market.
Susan Veidt joined Fleishman-Hillard St. Louis in 1986 and has been a key leader in the office’s growth ever since. For the past six years, she has served as general manager. An acknowledged leader in building teams and developing talent, Veidt has created a strong operation that comprises multiple communications practices, as well as creative, digital, and research teams. In 2007, she was named regional director of Fleishman-Hillard’s Central region, taking on additional responsibility for offices in Chicago, Kansas City, and Minneapolis/St. Paul.
In 1996, Mia Wedgbury co-founded Fleishman-Hillard’s partner agency, High Road Communications. In little more than a decade, High Road has become the largest technology agency in Canada and has expanded into the U.S.; the firm today has a team of 70 professionals across five offices. Earlier this year, Wedgbury also assumed leadership of Fleishman-Hillard Canada and iStudio.
About Fleishman-Hillard
Fleishman-Hillard Inc., one of the world’s leading public relations firms, has built its reputation by using strategic communications to deliver what its clients value most: meaningful, positive, and measurable impact on the performance of their organizations. The firm is widely recognized for excellent client service and a strong company culture founded on teamwork, integrity, and personal commitment. Based in St. Louis, the firm operates throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, South Africa, and Latin America through its 80 owned offices. For more information, visit the Fleishman-Hillard Web site at www.fleishman.com.
Fleishman-Hillard is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to more than 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.
