Global public relations leader Porter Novelli (PN) has appointed three new partners to the firm. These appointments come in recognition of a deep commitment to attracting and developing the best talent; delivering strategic, results-oriented programs for clients; and driving strategic, sustainable growth for the agency.
New partners include:
-Inge Boets, managing director, Brussels
-Carrie Schum, executive vice president, strategic planning, analytics and research, Washington. D.C.
-Jimmy Szczepanek, executive vice president, Los Angeles, CA
Porter Novelli’s partner program is comprehensive and robust. With only 19 partners at the company, candidates must meet stringent criteria. Partners are evaluated by the executive committee each year in order to retain their partner status.
“Inge, Carrie and Jimmy have contributed significantly to the agency through their focus on results-driven, award-winning work for clients and steadfast commitment to excellent client service,” said Brad MacAfee, chief executive officer. “I am pleased to recognize their contributions to the agency, our clients and the industry.”
Inge Boets has been with Porter Novelli since 1998 and became managing director of Porter Novelli in Brussels in 2014. She brings 20 years of corporate and marketing communications experience, having worked with many leading multinationals and trade industry associations. Boets’ experience includes strategic consultancy, overall program planning and execution, issues and crisis management, coordination of multi-country and multi-region communications programs, the creation of partnerships and alliance building programs, working with key opinion leaders and advice in communication to end users or third party organizations.
In the 18 years Carrie Schum has been at PN, clients have benefited from her leadership, strategic insights, and creativity. Schum sees her mission as helping clients tell their story clearly and comprehensively to those who need it most. Research, insight and creativity are the tools she brings to bear, along with her years of experience as an account lead on some of the agency’s largest clients. Schum also plays an integral role in using and promoting PN’s proprietary Styles research surveys: ConsumerStyles, HealthStyles, YouthStyles and DocStyles.
Jimmy Szczepanek is an executive vice president in the agency’s food & nutrition practice and is currently the global client relationship leader for the Almond Board of California. He has 20 years of public relations experience in the US and Asia, including nearly five years at Porter Novelli in Singapore where he was Managing Director. In that role, he led a team of consultants to provide public relations counsel and support for a range of consumer, corporate and technology clients within Singapore and across the Asia Pacific region.