MICHAEL W. KEMPNER FOUNDER & CEO
Michael Kempner founded MWW in 1986 and has since grown the agency into one of the largest independent PR firms in the world. He is a nationally recognized authority on reputation and crisis management, public affairs, B2B and consumer marketing, and corporate social responsibility. Known for his candor, commitment to community, and personal attention to clients, Michael has counseled some of the world’s most prominent executives and brands. Outside MWW, he is active in progressive politics, having played major roles in the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden.
BRET WERNER PRESIDENT
As president of MWW, Bret oversees all practice groups and geographical markets to ensure best-in-class client service and integrated creative strategy. He has spent the last five years at the agency implementing an insights-driven approach to creating earned-worthy content that moves the needle for businesses across all sectors, with over 20 years of experience lending to specialized brand-building expertise for the food and beverage, sports and entertainment, and alcohol categories. Bret has been recognized for noteworthy contributions to his organizations, clients, and industry at large as a PRWeek 40 Under 40 winner, and an honoree in the magazine’s Global Powerbook 500 list.
CARREEN WINTERS EVP, CORPORATE REPUTATION & CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER
Carreen leads MWW’s corporate reputation practice, covering all aspects of corporate reputation including executive positioning, employee engagement, DEI, CSR and citizenship, crisis and issues management, and labor relations. Beginning her career with MWW more than 25 years ago, Carreen has been responsible for some of the agency’s most recognized work. An integrated and creative thinker, Carreen lead the development of the firm’s proprietary CorpSumer approach to integrated public relations. She is a noted blogger, author, and speaker on topics related to reputation, and appears regularly in the national news media including the WSJ’s Crisis of the Week. Carreen’s work has been recognized by every major award in the industry, including being named to the inaugural class of PR News’ Top Women in PR.
TARA NAUGHTON EVP, CONSUMER MARKETING
Tara is an Executive Vice President and Managing Director of the agency’s consumer marketing practice, overseeing the agency’s largest practice globally. She is a mentor and motivator that offers more than two decades of brand-building experience in the food and beverage, travel, automotive, technology and health and wellness categories. Tara specializes in consumer strategy, break-through creative development, and execution of award-winning integrated campaigns.
GINA CHERWIN EVP, CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER
Gina Ormand Cherwin serves as a core member of the agency’s executive and operations teams. She leads MWW’s human resources organization, overseeing talent recruitment, development and retention, performance management, organizational development, employee engagement initiatives, and company culture.
PARKER RAY EVP & CHIEF DIGITAL STRATEGIST
Parker helms our digital strategy practice, leading a mighty team of specialists in social media, influencer marketing, search, paid media, content, and research & reporting. Parker’s background agency side, in house, at start-ups, and in the publishing world has helped him assemble a team with backgrounds and skillsets—and he truly brings a refreshingly holistic, integrated, and objectives-driven view to our clients every day. Parker specializes in elevated brand marketing through social media, influencer, content strategy and development, website design and development, SEO & SEM, and eCommerce—and he has successfully leveraged this experience across numerous leading consumer, corporate, and healthcare brands.
MICHELLE RIOS EVP, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & MD, WASHINGTON DC
Michelle is an Executive Vice President in the corporate reputation practice and GM of the MWW Washington, DC office. An award-winning, corporate communications and public affairs leader, Michelle’s areas of expertise include issues management and crisis planning, public affairs, brand positioning, corporate reputation management, message development, executive visibility and thought leadership, partnership development and influencer engagement. Michelle has helped clients across a myriad of industries agencies effectively build and manage their brands, mitigate crises, and protect their reputations. Michelle has successfully developed and led some of the agency world’s most respected and award-winning communications programs. She is also a sought-after speaker in the field of communications generally and specifically on corporate communications, issues and reputation management.
MICHELLE GORDON SVP, INSIGHTS & ANALYTICS
Michelle oversees MWW’s Research and Insights practice which provides strategic thought leadership to the agency and its clients based on a deep understanding of stakeholders, brands, and their interactions with communication channels. She has 20 years of research experience working across a broad spectrum of audience segments and brand categories. Her expertise includes proprietary and secondary research, measurement and evaluation, and strategic planning.
CARL SORVINO CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER
As Chief Creative Officer, Carl leads creative ideation and execution across all practices and office locations, as well as overseeing the agency’s creative and content team with over 20 years’ experience in the PR industry.
WILL STARACE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Will is responsible for all enterprise financial management and strategy across the U.S. and U.K. base of operations.
JOHN DIGLES EVP & GM, MIDWEST
John Digles is an Executive Vice President and the Midwest GM at MWW, and a senior leader of the firm’s Health & Wellness practice. He is an accomplished public relations and marketing executive with a career record of leading teams, achieving notable firsts, and guiding brands to evolution and growth. As a CMO, John led a new venture to expansion in 30 international markets and global brand recognition. Winner of numerous top industry awards, John is recognized as a creative strategist who generates big ideas and effectively executes innovative campaigns.
WILLIAM P. MURRAY EVP, PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Bill Murray is Executive Vice President and National Director of the firm’s regional and national public affairs practice, managing the firm’s 50-state government relations and public affairs network. He has more than 40 years of experience in directing and conducting public relations, public affairs, crisis, issues management, and government relations programs in a wide range of industries and on a variety of topics. He specializes in campaigns that focus on impacting public policy; building and mobilizing third party advocates at the state and federal levels, and directing supporting traditional, digital and social media programs.
RICH TAUBERMAN EVP, CORPORATE REPUTATION
Rich is a 24-year veteran of MWW and a leading crisis and issues management executive in the corporate reputation practice. He serves as a trusted strategist and counselor for clients across industries and geographies. Rich’s approach to issues management includes conducting vulnerability assessments, creating and maintaining crisis communications plans, and crisis simulation exercises and training for executives and organizations. He has an MBA from the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA and a JD from the National Law Center at The George Washington University.
MARIA BROWN EVP, TECHNOLOGY
From startups to enterprises, B2B to B2C and beyond, Maria Brown has the seasoned expertise and leadership experience to help clients elevate their brands. With a comprehensive skillset that spans verticals, Maria helps businesses develop effective programs across category creation, pre-IPO launches, analytics, customer and community audiences, messaging, engagement, and digital activations.
TOM BUTTLE PRESIDENT & MD, LONDON
Tom is president and managing director of our London office. He’s passionate about communications programmes that drive value in sales and marketing and specialises in B2B and technology. Tom has helped tech giants such as Google, Intel, and HP define categories and expand markets. He also enjoys building marketing strategies with the most technical of businesses. As an agency head, Tom’s trademark approach has been ‘good growth’ – balancing profitable business management with a strong belief in well-being. In addition to his experience across PR, content, and digital, he has worked outside the PR industry as a corporate policy writer.
ELI FELDBLUM SVP, SEARCH MARKETING
Eli Feldblum leads the search marketing team at MWW. He is a recognized expert and authority in the search space, with two decades of experience working for clients like Viacom, Vice, New York Media, Verizon, Universal Music, eBay and more. Eli was fundamental in helping Google develop its platform for site owners and built the first-ever enterprise SEO tool. Eli has founded two successful search agencies, the latter of which was acquired by MWW. He has spoken around the world about search and digital marketing and has been published and quoted widely.
BRITTANY HERSHKOWITZ SVP, CONSUMER
Brittany is a Senior Vice President at MWW focused on brand strategy and storytelling through cultural relevancy. She is a veteran communications expert with a passion for strategy and storytelling specializing in brands that sit on the intersect of diverse and emerging market categories. Brittany has a background overseeing consumer, consumer tech, entertainment, corporate and digital work for some of the world’s biggest brands and believes in challenging traditional approaches to communications to push where and how we communicate with key audiences bridging insights with ever-changing consumer behavior.
JENNIFER RIEDINGER SVP, CORPORATE REPUTATION
During her tenure at MWW, Jennifer has led executive visibility and thought-leadership programs for Deloitte and the International Council of Shopping Centers, as well as a variety of other brands within the corporate reputation practice. Prior to joining MWW, she was the Congressional Affairs Liaison for the GSA Inspector General’s Office, drafting testimonies and handling all communications with appropriations and oversight committees. Jennifer also spent three years at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where she handled trade association summits, as well as policy issues for small and mid-size business members. Jennifer received a Masters in Political Management and a BA in Political Communication from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
LORI ROBINSON SVP, CONSUMER
Lori brings more than 20 years of experience in branding and corporate communications with expertise in consumer and corporate media relations, product launches, influencer programs, and executive positioning.
She is one of the agency’s key players in forming integrated accounts to ensure that clients are represented in all key areas, especially bridging social and digital with traditional media conversation. She has a diverse portfolio of clients including Dairy Queen, KB Home, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and New Wave Foods. She has also worked with major brands including Sherwin-Williams, Atkins Nutritional, Tyson Foods, and Red Lobster.
ALANNA SUDA SVP, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Alanna works with associations, corporations, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, and healthcare entities, utilizing her expertise in monitoring the federal landscape and leveraging the legislative and regulatory processes to achieve business goals. Alanna has over 25 years of experience helping clients identify key stakeholders and engage with the federal government to shape policies and funding streams that achieve their desired results.
Before joining MWW in 2008, Alanna worked on Capitol Hill and at Jorden Burt LLP, where she led the firm’s appropriations and higher education practices. Alanna is actively engaged in a broad range of national, Washington-based organizations and coalitions including Women in Government Relations, where she currently co-chairs the Health and Social Policies Task Force. She is a highly effective advocate who is passionate about using her government and communications skills to give clients a stronger voice in our nation’s capital.
ALIZIA WALKER SVP, LONDON
Liz has more than a decade of experience in strategic communications, her wide-ranging expertise covers crisis and issues management, insights, narrative creation, building EMEA hubs, and media relations for some of the world’s leading tech and B2B brands. She’s passionate about helping technical brands tell their stories in a way that connects them to people, making those individuals care about the brands she works with — while also challenging the status quo of the ever-changing tech industry. Liz heads up the client services function in the UK and is laser-focused on building long-lasting, and sustainable, relationships with our clients. She is also a huge proponent of positive mental well-being and is a trained mental health first aider.
JASMIN ATHWAL SVP, LONDON
Jasmin is a B2B communications specialist with a focus on campaigns that engage B2B buyers as real people rather than corporate stereotypes. This means understanding what makes these audiences tick and developing creative campaigns that cut through. Jasmin is also passionate about removing PR from its ‘box in the corner’ and creating integrated programs encompassing content marketing, demand generation, and traditional communications.
With over 15+ years’ global PR experience, Jasmin has worked in sectors including B2B and consumer technology, financial services, manufacturing, and retail, and currently leads the agency’s enterprise, fintech, and martech clients.
THERESA MEREDITH-HARDY SVP, LONDON
Theresa is an experienced PR practitioner that can build unrivaled media relations programmes for brands that like to think outside of the traditional B2B box. She is also passionate about insights and measurement and has worked with organisations including Cision to set the bar for measurement in B2B PR.
Theresa leads the team in business development, and drives efficient engagement with prospects, supporting the wider team as they pursue opportunities.
JOE CALABRESE SVP, INVESTOR RELATIONS
Joe Calabrese is a Senior Vice President of the agency’s Investor Relations practice. Joe specializes in developing and implementing customized investor relations programs, assisting companies in effectively communicating to the financial community, including quarterly earnings, financial reporting, and expanding relationships with sell-side and buy-side investment analysts. With over 27 years of IR experience at MWW’s Financial Relations Board, his perspective provides management teams with unique insight into Wall Street and enables clients to navigate all financial communications situations. Joe has successfully guided public and private companies through significant milestones, including initial public offerings, executive transitions, spin-offs, and M&A as well investor events including Investor Days and NDR’s.
RORY SWIKLE SVP, CORPSUMER
Rory is a Senior Vice President providing strategic brand, creative, and media counsel to clients. Having worked with leading corporate, business-to-business, and consumer brands, Rory has developed and led award-winning campaigns in a variety of industries, including CPG, food and beverage, nutrition, automotive, education, financial services, commercial real estate, licensing, product design, cause, retail, consumer electronics, telecommunications, home appliances, retail fuels, sports, and home and housewares. Rory has executed extensive rebranding and repositioning efforts for companies seeking to reinvent their public perception surrounding their products and services within the competitive landscape.
LESLIE LINTON SVP, CORPORATE REPUTATION
Leslie Linton doesn’t just know media. She is media. As a former network television producer for 25 years at CNN, CNBC, NBC & PBS, Leslie is MWW’s go-to expert for getting clients featured on broadcast, which she does daily. Leslie specializes in executive media training, ensuring clients produce optimal message delivery during interviews. She is a recipient of numerous industry accolades such as the George Foster Peabody award for live stock market coverage as well as the American Academy of Nursing’s media award for excellence in journalism.
RICHARD LEVESQUE SVP, PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Rich is Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at MWW. He has been with the firm for over 8 years and has over 15 years of experience in public affairs. Rich manages the MWW office in Trenton, NJ. During his time at MWW, he has worked on a variety of campaigns specializing in public relations, community relations, government relations, third-party coalition building, and crisis and issue management. Rich specializes in working on multifaceted public affairs campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, large New Jersey corporations, associations, and coalitions.
Rich is a graduate of Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY, with undergraduate degrees in Finance and Economics.
NYCOLE HAMPTON SVP, DIGITAL & HEAD OF INFLUENCER
Nycole is a Senior Vice President and leads MWW’s influencer marketing practice. With more than 16 years of integrated marketing strategy experience, she provides strategic thought leadership, program design, and oversight for client campaigns and programs. Nycole is passionate about identifying storytelling opportunities for brands and finding ways to bring those stories to life through social media, influencer, and integrated initiatives. She has paired her experience and passion to lead successful programs across industries such as CPG, retail, travel + hospitality, airlines, wine & spirits, restaurant/QSR, sports, and technology.