Three Box Strategic Communications and the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced new officers for one of the top five largest networks of independent PR and communications agencies. The appointments were announced during PRGN’s recent bi-annual meeting in Amersfoort, 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 members 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,” Blank said. “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.
PRGN adds two members in Europe and U.S.
At its spring meeting, the global agency network also selected two new agency members and now includes 50 independent, owner-operated communications and public relations firms.
New York-based Southard Communications was selected to represent the group. 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 members 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 grow their visibility and brand awareness, supporting them with innovative thinking, carefully targeted communications, engaging storytelling and effective marketing.
Founded in 1990 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.
“Three Box has been a proud PRGN member since 2013,” Hill said. “Through PRGN, we connect our clients with global communications resources—unique capability for a Dallas-based independent firm. We work closely with our 50 independent agency partners to serve clients, no matter their need or location.”
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.
