NEW YORK—M&C Saatchi PR has hired brand marketing veteran Laura Hall as the firm's first dedicated managing director in the US.

Hall, who has worked at numerous PR firms during her 25-year-career, takes on oversight of an operation that has previously been managed alongside sister firm M&C Saatchi Sports & Entertainment by SVP Sandra Carreon-John.

However, Hall reports directly to M&C Saatchi PR global CEO Molly Aldridge, signalling M&C Saatchi PR's shift into a standalone unit in the US. This replicates the firm's strategy in London, where Aldridge is based.

Hall has spent the past two years heading her own consultancy. Prior to that, she was a managing director at Burson-Marsteller and has also served in senior consumer PR roles at MSLGroup and Citizen Relations. Hall also spent seven years building the PR operation at Southwest agency Off Madison Ave.

“One of the key differentiators of our agency is not just our culture, but the people who create it," said Aldridge. "We knew we needed to find the absolute right person to run our US PR business – someone who understands integrated marketing and sees the value in a holistic approach; who has solid experience across our key business sectors, such as CPG; and who is a bonafide New Yorker who knows the US market – which is why we took our time with this search."

"We found in Laura what was needed, and her drive, passion and network will be a great value to our clients, our teams and our overall business."

Hall will focus on boosting M&C Saatchi PR's presence in the critical New York market and bringing bring a US communications perspective to the firm's global clients, which include Spotify, Peroni, Disney and Foot Locker.