Holmes Report 13 Nov 2012 // 12:00AM GMT
NEW YORK--Andy Polansky has been promoted to global CEO of Weber Shandwick, as Harris Diamond steps up to lead McCann Worldgroup.
The reshuffle at Interpublic Group (IPG) sees the departure of McCann CEO Nick Brien.
Diamond has led both Weber Shandwick and the CMG unit that houses IPG's PR firms, event management and sports marketing agencies for over a decade, with considerable success.
Polansky, who has spent more than 25 years at Weber Shandwick, is elevated to the top job after serving as Diamond's second-in-command since 2004. His succession of Diamond has rarely been in question, with speculation of a promotion growing in recent weeks.
“Weber Shandwick is one of the leading brands in marketing services and public relations, with a strong reputation for superior client service, creativity and social media and digital expertise,” said Interpublic chairman and CEO Michael Roth. “Andy has been a key driver in the company’s success for many years, and he is recognized as a valued strategic counselor for clients and as someone who creates a great work environment for the firm’s people.”
For the past two years, Polansky has served as chairman of the Council of PR Firms. He also sits on the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Public Relations (IPR) and is a member of the Arthur W. Page Society.
A popular figure at Weber Shandwick, Polansky joined the firm when it was known as Bozell Public Relations. Prior to this, he worked as a municipal reporter for the Bucks County Courier Times in Levittown, PA, as a business and feature writer for the Princeton Packet in Princeton, NJ, and as a sportswriter at The Trentonian in Trenton, NJ.
“I look forward to continuing to partner with Weber Shandwick chairman Jack Leslie and our firm’s global management team,” Polansky said. “This is an exciting time in our business, as we transform our offerings across practice areas to meet client needs in a changing world.”