Public relations people are never short of words.
We recently heard from a number of Orange County’s PR firms for our annual special report that ran Oct. 3. Some of what we heard wasn’t shared because of space constraints and deadlines. But a number of executives offered insight worth a mention. Here’s a look at some.
Bonnie Goodman, executive vice president and general manager of Hill & Knowlton in Irvine, said the company continues to grow its automotive and sports accounts, including from Goodrich Corp. and adidas-Salomon AG.
“Our sports group played an important role in Hill & Knowlton’s recent adidas win, working with our youth marketing team to secure a new relationship with adidas for a major World Cup campaign that begins this year,” Goodman said.
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Mazda car launch with Pussycat Dolls: auto work up at Hill & Knowlton |
Hill & Knowlton has made several hires this year, Goodman said.
“As our clients’ needs evolve, our core teams have the ability to offer clients additional re-sources,” she said.
The shop recently introduced youth and promotional marketing and diversity communications, according to Goodman.
Morgan Marketing & Public Relations LLC in Irvine recently hired a senior level worker and plans to add another person soon, President Melinda Morgan said.
The shop recently opened an office in Arizona to help with client Peter Piper Pizza of Phoenix, which has about 140 restaurants in six states and Mexico, she said.
Morgan Marketing is helping the chain spread the word about a restaurant redesign and marketing plans.
Morgan Marketing, which turns 15 next year, also picked up work from Carlsbad-based HDOS Enterprises, otherwise known as Hot Dog On A Stick. It’s helping the hot dog stand chain promote its 60th anniversary in 2006 with events, media relations and marketing material, Morgan said.
Other new clients include Wildfish Seafood Grille, which is opening a restaurant in November in Newport Beach, Morgan said.
The shop lost one account last year: Vancouver, Wash.-based Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza, which hired a national advertising agency based in Minneapolis with a public relations arm, Morgan said.
Morgan Marketing plans to move to bigger space and is “in negotiations for a new building,” she said.
New York-based Euro RSCG Magnet, which has offices in Corona and Irvine, shifted its finance and administration departments to its headquarters, cutting four local workers, said Christopher Perez, executive vice president.
The OC office now has 14 workers and is looking to add one, he said.
The shop recently picked up some work, including the California International Auto Show, Orange-based Master Halco Inc., a fence maker that’s part of Japan’s Itochu Corp., and San Francisco’s Sega of America Inc., part of Japan’s Sega Corp.
Perez said the shop also expanded its Hispanic practice.
Zagoren Adds
The Zagoren Group in Newport Beach, which launched in June, has added workers.
Chief Executive Glenn Zagoren, who owned a marketing company in New York that he closed following the 2001 terrorist attacks, started out solo and has hired four workers in the past few months after getting some accounts.
The work includes promoting a Sept. 11, 2001, memorial in New York and a theme park in Tucson, he said.
TV Taco
Lake Forest-based Del Taco Inc. recently launched a TV commercial for its crispy fish tacos.
The commercial, produced by G & M; Plumbing in Los Angeles, is airing in several markets, including the Los Angeles area, San Diego, Sacramento and Palm Springs.
Del Taco also recently hired a new marketing director and research and development director.
Reunion at O’Neill
Surfwear maker O’Neill Clothing in Irvine recently hired a vice president of marketing.
Tim Garrett was tapped for the job and is set to work closely with Thom McElroy, who was marketing VP and will shift to brand consultant. Garrett and McElroy are cronies. The two worked together for eight years at McElroy:FCB, the former youth division at Foote, Cone & Belding Southern California in Irvine. McElroy had founded the youth marketing shop and sold it to FCB, which later closed it.
Bits and Pieces:
Chief Executive David Paine of Irvine-based PainePR Inc. said the shop has expanded its services, including the part of the practice focused on causing a buzz in non-traditional ways. One example: target “influencers,” or people who shape behaviors of others, to spread the word instead of relying on general publicity, Paine said Echo Media Group in Tustin recently upgraded its computer systems and renovated its offices.
