Bianchi Public Relations and PRGN Add Offices in Finland and New York, Elect Aaron Blank as PRGN President

Posted Jun. 6th 2019

Group elects new president and adds two new member agencies from Helsinki (Finland) and New York (USA) during bi-annual meeting; Succession and acquisition strategies, digital solutions and services, growth in the Asia-Pacific region and reaching and involving Generation Z among larger opportunities discussed by global PR professionals

TROY, Mich., June 6, 2019 – Bianchi Public Relations, Inc. and the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today two new affiliates and a slate of new officers for one of the top five largest networks of independent PR and communications agencies. The appointments were made during PRGN’s recent bi-annual meeting in Amersfoort, the Netherlands.

The three-day event, where the group’s leadership teams discuss best practices and find new ways to collaborate and develop business partnerships globally, included sessions and presentations on succession and acquisition strategies, agency performance, growth in the Asia-Pacific region, digital solutions and services and reaching and involving Generation Z.

At the Amersfoort meeting, attended by owners from 41 agencies, PRGN members elected Aaron Blank, CEO and president of Seattle-based The Fearey Group, as its 27th president to lead the worldwide network of 50 independently owned firms for the next 12 months. C.L. Conroy, president and CEO of The Conroy Martinez Group, assumes the role of immediate past president and chair of the Advisory Board.

Other officers named include: President-elect Robert Bauer, managing partner of accelent communications, a leading PR agency in Vienna, Austria; Amanda Hill, principal and CEO of Dallas-based Three Box Strategic Communications, who will serve as Treasurer; and Andy See Teong Leng, principal partner and managing director of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-based Perspective Strategies, who will serve as Secretary.

“With 54 offices on six continents, PRGN is as strong as ever,” said Blank. “The back-half of 2019 is going to be profound for PR business throughout the globe. I am truly excited that we can offer communications services to clients in practically every corner of the world.”

TWO NEW AFFILIATES IN EUROPE AND U.S.

At its spring meeting, the global agency network also selected two new agency members and now comprises 50 independent, owner-operated communications and public relations firms.

New York-based Southard Communications was selected to represent the group in that important market. Established 25 years ago, Southard Communications identifies itself as a strategic marketing and communications partner focused on helping clients build business in a cost-effective and meaningful manner. Southard Communications was founded by Bill Southard, a communications professional with more than 35 years of experience, who has counseled some of the U.S.’s leading Fortune 500 firms.

Also joining the ranks of PRGN agencies is hasan communications, a communications and public relations agency based in Helsinki, Finland. Led by Managing Director Päivi Holmquist, the agency helps organizations to grow their visibility and brand awareness supporting them with innovative thinking, carefully targeted communications, engaging storytelling and effective marketing.

“Bianchi PR has been a proud PRGN member since 2014,” said James A. Bianchi, president of Bianchi Public Relations, Inc. “Adding these two agencies strengthens our network, which itself enables us to connect our clients with expert local PR partners in key markets around the world, offering us a competitive advantage. Through PRGN, we have close, personal, trusted relationships with our 50 independent agency partners that ensure our clients will get the senior attention they need and deserve.”

About PRGN

Founded in 1992 by a group of visionary public relations leaders, PRGN is one of the world’s largest international networks of independent public relations and communications agencies with more than $85 million in revenues and approximately 1,000 professionals throughout the globe.

PRGN partners meet twice a year to share knowledge and develop global business. The next meeting will be held in Puerto Varas, Chile from Oct. 24-26, 2019. Agency members are independent, local, owner-operated public relations, digital marketing and communications firms that share expertise and resources, while providing broad-based comprehensive communications strategies to clients worldwide. Companies or organizations interested in the services of PRGN’s local agency network can visit www.prgn.com or contact PRGN’s executive director Gábor Jelinek at gabor.jelinek@prgn.com for more information.

Independent agencies interested in joining the network can visit the member recruitment section of the PRGN website for more information or email its membership chair, David Wills, senior vice president, Media Profile at david.wills@mediaprofile.com.

About Bianchi PR

With special expertise in business-to-business PR and social media for automotive and mobility technology suppliers – and the professional service firms that serve them – Bianchi PR was founded in 1992 and is perennially ranked among the top independent PR agencies based in Metro Detroit.

Among Bianchi PR’s ongoing business-to-business PR clients are Adient, BASF Automotive Refinish, Cooper Standard, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, KIRCO, Munro & Associates, Schaeffler Group and Yanfeng Automotive Interiors. The firm’s experience also includes work with technology companies, consulting firms and industry trade organizations. For more information, visit http://www.bianchipr.com or call 248-269-1122.

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Contact:
Jim Bianchi
248.269.1122
jbianchi@bianchipr.com