ST. LOUIS, Dec. 2, 2024 – FleishmanHillard today announced the hiring of Jennifer Little as general manager of its Texas business, including its offices in Austin and Dallas.

“Jen is a respected agency leader who will bring invaluable experience to our Texas operations,” said Della Sweetman, president, Americas and chief strategy officer. “She has a record of driving growth, strengthening client partnerships across industries, championing talent and creating a thriving workplace culture. I look forward to the impact she will have on our continued success in Texas and alongside other market leaders in our overall transformation.”

Little will be responsible for the strategic plan and vision for FleishmanHillard Texas that will serve as a blueprint for its areas of growth and management, including client experience, business development, talent development and staffing. She will be part of FleishmanHillard’s Americas leadership team supporting the agency’s vision and growth strategy.

“FleishmanHillard has a strong reputation for best-in-class work in our industry, and I am delighted to return to the Omnicom family to continue to strengthen the business in Texas,” said Little. “This is an exciting time at the agency, and I am encouraged by the new leadership and the opportunity to focus on developing our teams and elevating client service and solutions.”

Before joining FleishmanHillard, Little was an executive vice president and Texas market leader at Burson and part of the leadership team in the Corporate Affairs practice. She started her agency career at Ketchum in Dallas and held leadership positions in Texas at Edelman and MikeWorldWide. Little also led external communications as the director of public relations for Pizza Hut, Inc.

Little is an award-winning educator and mentor of future PR leaders with teaching roles at Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas at Arlington. A lifelong reader and early childhood literacy advocate, she founded Little Hands Book Bank, a nonprofit focused on improving pre-kindergarten reading readiness in underserved communities in North Texas.

Little will be replacing Kristy Wilson, who is shifting her focus to lead one of the firm’s largest global clients. Wilson was appointed to general manager of FleishmanHillard in Austin in 2015 before becoming general manager of the agency’s Chicago operations in 2019. She returned to Texas in 2021 to lead Texas operations as general manager.

FleishmanHillard Texas has been recognized as a leader in health and life sciences; retail, sports and lifestyle; food and beverage; government and public sectors; and tech. It is a key player in the agency’s global network and provides deep expertise to our practices including Media, Platforms and Storytelling; Creative, Strategy and Planning; Consumer and Brand Marketing; Reputation Management; and Cybersecurity.

About FleishmanHillard 
FleishmanHillard specializes in public relations, reputation management, public affairs, brand marketing, digital strategy, social engagement and content strategy. FleishmanHillard was named 2020, 2021 and 2022 Campaign Global PR Agency of the Year; 2023 ICCO Large Agency of the Year – The Americas; 2022 and 2023 PRWeek U.S. Agency of the Year; 2022 and 2023 PRWeek U.S. Outstanding Extra-Large Agency of the Year; 2023 Campaign US PR Agency of the Year; 2021 PRovoke APAC Consultancy of the Year; and 2021 PRWeek UK Large Consultancy of the Year. FleishmanHillard is part of Omnicom PR Group and has nearly 80 offices in more than 30 countries, plus affiliates in 45 countries. 

About Omnicom PR Group (OPRG)
Omnicom PR Group (OPRG) is the largest global network of communications and consulting agencies in the world. It is home to three of the top global PR agencies FleishmanHillard, Ketchum, Porter Novelli and more than a dozen specialist agencies in corporate and public affairs, political consulting and advertising, language strategy, global health strategy and organizational transformation. OPRG is part of Omnicom (NYSE: OMC). www.TeamOPRG.com.

FleishmanHillard today announced several key roles as a part of its global leadership team under recently appointed President and CEO J.J. Carter. These individuals will be responsible for defining critical growth areas and operational priorities as the firm continues its evolution.

 “As we accelerate the modernization of our firm, these appointments are vital to our future,” said Carter. “By fortifying our operations with proven agency leaders and elevating new voices, we will fuel our growth and the transformation of our work. This first phase of appointments strengthens accountability for client operations, business development, industry expertise, data and digital, and preparing our workforce for change. On this foundation we will expand our use of intelligence and technology, while becoming a more dynamic, modern consultancy.”

The following leadership roles will join previously appointed leaders Patti Portnoy (chief financial officer), Della Sweetman (president, Americas and chief strategy officer) and Adrianne Smith (chief diversity and inclusion officer), forming the senior functional and operational leaders in the agency:

Lisa Moehlenkamp to chief operating officer. In this role she will drive operational excellence, urgency and impact worldwide, working closely with Carter and Omnicom partners. Previously chief of staff and chief talent officer for the agency, Moehlenkamp has been with FleishmanHillard for more than 25 years following her time at SBC (now AT&T).

Emily Frager to chief client officer. In this role she will lead commercial excellence for the firm’s largest clients, supporting top client leaders committed to delivering the highest standards of modern communications. Currently general manager of the agency’s Southern California operations, Frager began her career at FleishmanHillard Chicago before joining Lennar Ventures as their chief marketing officer, boomeranging back to the agency in 2016.

Mitch Germann to chief business development and brand officer. In this role, he will lead the agency’s business development operation and will oversee FleishmanHillard’s brand and marketing efforts. Formerly the agency’s global managing director of Retail, Sports and Lifestyle sector. Germann served in senior leadership roles at Nike and Jordan Brand, previously was general manager of FleishmanHillard Southern California, a global client leader and veteran of three FleishmanHillard offices (Kansas City, Los Angeles and San Francisco).

Ephraim Cohen to global head of data and digital. In this role, he will drive enterprise-adoption of intelligence, media and digital solutions, including generative AI and other new platforms. Cohen is currently global managing director of Media & Platforms (media relations, influencer and social and paid), and was previously general manager of FleishmanHillard New York. Cohen also held positions with Edelman and MikeWorldWide.

Faith Howe to chief of staff. In this role, she will lead the evolution of global talent, focusing on leadership development and organizational excellence, while preparing the agency’s talent and systems for the future. Formerly the agency’s UK managing director of talent development and one of our leading consultants in the Talent and Transformation practice, Howe has worked for FleishmanHillard for 11 years. She began her career at Taylor Bennett Ltd.

Mark Mortell to global head of practices and sectors. Previously the chief global client leadership officer, he will focus on elevating the firm’s specialist expertise across industry sectors working closely with leaders of Health, Technology, Retail, Sports & Lifestyle, Financial and Professional Services, Manufacturing and Energy, Government and Public Sector, Food, Agriculture and Beverage and key capabilities. Mortell joined the agency in 2002, following executive leadership roles at Aer Lingus, the Irish Tourist Board and the Bank of Ireland.

In due course, Carter intends to make additional appointments that will strengthen the agency’s vertical expertise, capabilities and key geographies that serve the agency’s largest clients.  

From top left: Moehlenkamp, Frager, Cohen, Howe, Germann and Mortell.

FleishmanHillard today announced the appointment of Della Sweetman to the role of president, Americas and chief strategy officer, effective immediately. In this position Sweetman will be responsible for the performance of the agency’s largest region and for driving enterprise-wide business transformation. She will report to J.J. Carter, who was promoted to FleishmanHillard president and chief executive officer on October 1.

“Della is the right person to step into this critical role leading our largest region, from which she will help drive our transformation,” said Carter. “She understands our agency’s unique strengths and brings operational rigor and growth experience. Della has proven effective in executing change within our organization, which has elevated our work and improved our competitiveness. We have the personal trust that comes from many years working together and will challenge each other to push the agency forward.”

The position is part of the firm’s core leadership team charged with the strategic direction and operational management of the agency. Sweetman will work closely with market leaders in the Americas to align strategies, investments and resourcing to support the needs of its clients and the transformative changes for the agency.  

“We have a foundation of excellent talent and expertise from which to grow and we have an enviable roster of clients,” Sweetman said. “I’m very much looking forward to partnering with our leadership and teams across the Americas to together strengthen our position in the region, while fostering a culture of agility, high performance and constant innovation across the globe.”

Sweetman added, “We’ve entered a time of great disruption for our clients and industry, and we aspire to evolve our solutions, service delivery model, the impact of our work and the experiences of our people. This is an energizing time to be at FleishmanHillard and to take on this role.”

Sweetman has been in the role of chief business development officer for the agency since 2016, when she helped shape a vision for a dedicated growth unit. She has also led the agency’s global Creative, Strategy and Planning practice. Prior to that, she was head of business development for the Americas, served as global client leader for one of the agency’s largest accounts, and was also the former general manager for FleishmanHillard in Southern California.

The strategic partnership will leverage 1MILLION’s brand and artist IP in initiating collaborations on a global scale

Leadership Transition Will Take Effect on Oct. 1, 2024

FleishmanHillard Inc., an Omnicom PR Group (OPRG) agency, today announced that its current Global Chief Operating Officer and President, Americas J.J. Carter will become President and Chief Executive Officer, effective Oct. 1, 2024. He succeeds John Saunders, who will take on the role of Chairman of FleishmanHillard.

Carter, 49, was named the agency’s global chief operating officer and Americas president in 2016. Saunders, 66, was named president and CEO in 2015 after leading FleishmanHillard’s Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

“J.J. has the experience, skills and vision to rapidly expand on the legacy of FleishmanHillard. I am confident in his ability to drive innovation, teamwork and growth that will accelerate FleishmanHillard’s excellence and expand relationships with clients around the world,” stated Chris Foster, CEO of OPRG. “We are grateful for John’s decades of commitment and leadership and look forward to his ongoing guidance as chairman of FleishmanHillard.”

Saunders’ relationship with FleishmanHillard began more than 37 years ago, when the agency he founded in Ireland became an affiliate. Later, John joined with FleishmanHillard to form what was then known as FleishmanHillard Saunders in Ireland. In 2023, he became the first individual in the communications industry to be conferred with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree from Dublin City University.

“I look back on more than three decades at FleishmanHillard with pride and gratitude for the support of so many colleagues around the world and the trust that some of the world’s leading companies have placed in us. However, it’s now time for me to step back and spend more time with my family both in Dublin and in London and with my six young grandchildren whom I miss being so far away from.

“I have full confidence in J.J. as president and CEO. I have seen him in action over many years and respect his strengths, and his ability to lead no matter the pace and complexity of change. J.J. is a person of outstanding personal integrity and I wholeheartedly endorse his selection,” Saunders said.

Carter has been with FleishmanHillard since 2005 and has held a variety of key leadership roles. He previously oversaw the agency’s East and West regions in the United States along with Canada and Mexico, was general manager of one of the firm’s largest offices in San Francisco, was global client relationship manager for one of the agency’s biggest multinational accounts, and he built on the firm’s existing experience to launch the agency’s global sports marketing practice. During his time at FleishmanHillard, he has also recruited transformative leaders across key markets, global accounts and practice areas. 

“It’s an enormous privilege to follow John and lead the organization into the future during one of the most complex and consequential moments in our history,” Carter said. “To accelerate our growth, deliver transformative work for clients and create a best-in-class experience for our people, we will embrace our strengths as a trusted client partner, while also expanding our capabilities and exploring new tools and ways of working together. We will always deliver intelligent, creative, audience-first solutions that drive impact for our clients.”

Regarded as a trusted advisor to iconic brands in their biggest moments and on the largest global stages, Carter has counseled clients through IPOs, CEO transitions, groundbreaking product launches, complex mergers and global sponsorship activations. He excels at connecting brand, business strategy, technology and leadership into cohesive narratives that resonate with employees, customers, investors, business partners and media alike.

Carter will report to Foster and will be a member of OPRG’s global leadership team.

ST. LOUIS, MO – The Better World Campaign (BWC), a sister organization to the United Nations Foundation, has appointed FleishmanHillard as the communications agency to provide strategic communications and public affairs support, reinforcing the importance of the U.N. goals, work and impact in the United States.

The BWC works to foster a strong, effective relationship between the United States and the United Nations that promotes core American interests and builds a more secure, prosperous and healthy world. BWC engages policymakers, media and the American public to increase awareness of the critical role played by the U.N. in world affairs and the value of constructive U.S.-U.N. relations.

The work is being led by FleishmanHillard’s International Affairs and Public Affairs teams, and will also include members of DDC Public Affairs in Washington, D.C.

“We are thrilled to support the Better World Campaign in its effort to promote a stronger relationship between the United States and the United Nations,” said Colin Hart, FleishmanHillard partner and International Affairs lead for the United States. “The U.N. is a critical forum for the U.S. – and the American people – to safeguard our interests and navigate global uncertainty at a time when the world is rife with challenges.”

“The world needs strong partnership between the United Nations and the United States more than ever,” said Peter Yeo, president of the Better World Campaign. “We are excited to have FleishmanHillard’s support as we continue the mission started by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner as part of his historic $1 billion gift to advance global peace, security and health.”