CHICAGO: Burson-Marsteller EVP Erica Swerdlow has been hired as the first CEO of Wye Communications, a new PR firm jointly owned by Stagwell Group and Finn Partners.

Reporting to Stagwell partner Jay Leveton, Swerdlow is based in Chicago. Her first day at Wye Communications was January 8. She oversees six staffers in the role.

Stagwell Group, the investment advisory firm founded by former Burson-Marsteller CEO Mark Penn in 2015, took an investment in Finn Partners last September. At that time, the two organizations told PRWeek they were planning to roll out Wye Communications, which Stagwell has a controlling interest in. Wye officially launches this week.

The new agency is structured around "data intelligence, scalable talent, and operational excellence," a news release explained. The firm's focus is on consumer, b-to-b, and "technology organizations in transformation." It is based in Chicago and will scale nationally during 2017.

As Wye’s CEO, Swerdlow is responsible for serving clients, acquiring talent, and building U.S. operations.

"I do not think agencies are always solving the right problems. And on the client side, there is the propensity to put PR into a box and just ask agencies to do work that may not really serve the bigger business challenge," said Swerdlow. "We think we have developed a formula for new partnerships that allows us to work as PR AOR, but also scale up for projects and scale down when we need to."

She added integration and operational excellence – the best tools to operate a more lean and effective operation – are major focus areas for Wye.

"We are not going to have any separate P&Ls," continued Swerdlow. "We are going to reward collaborations."

Most recently, Swerdlow was EVP and Midwest market leader for Burson-Marsteller. In that role, she led U.S. business development and growth, the Chicago office, and key client work. She joined Burson in 2010 and exited in December.

Swerdlow started high-tech PR firm EBS Public Relations in 1993, during the first technology boom. She sold the agency to Omnicom in January 2000, where she merged into Porter Novelli’s Chicago office and led the agency’s technology practice. Swerdlow worked at Porter for nearly 11 years before joining Burson.

The Stagwell Group portfolio includes Harris Insights and Analytics, performance marketing firm PMX Agency, creative digital firm Code and Theory, entertainment research agency National Research Group (NRG), and SKDKnickerbocker, a strategic communications firm acquired by Stagwell in October 2015.

STAGWELL GROUP BRINGS ON ERICA SWERDLOW AS CEO FOR WYECOMM
Swerdlow to lead new joint venture public relations agency

CHICAGO, January 31, 2017 – The Stagwell Group today announced it appointed Erica Swerdlow as Chief Executive Officer of Wye Communications LLC, a new public relations agency joint venture from the Stagwell Group and Finn Partners. Based in Chicago, Swerdlow will focus on serving leading corporations, acquiring talent and building U.S. operations.

Wye Communications (Wyecomm), is structured around data intelligence, scalable talent and operational excellence. The agency’s focus is on consumer, B2B and technology organizations in transformation. The firm is based in Chicago and will scale nationally during 2017.

“Erica brings proven success in building and leading digital-first public relations campaigns. She has more than 30 years of experience working with clients and has the entrepreneurial approach to talent management and business development,” said Mark Penn, Managing Partner of the Stagwell Group.

Peter Finn, Founding Managing Partner of Finn Partners said, "We've known Erica for many years as a competitor and a recognized player in the PR industry and we're very glad to see her now join the Stagwell Group of companies. She brings creative expertise and will use her talents to lead and grow Wyecomm from the ground up."

Prior to joining Wyecomm, Swerdlow served as Executive Vice President and Midwest Market Leader for Burson-Marsteller. In that role, she led U.S. business development and growth, the Chicago office and key client work. She has a diverse background in public relations, including starting high-tech PR firm EBS Public Relations, Inc. in 1993 during the first technology boom. Swerdlow built and sold EBS to Omnicom in January 2000, where she merged into Porter Novelli’s Chicago office and led the agency’s technology practice.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join Wyecomm and the Stagwell Group of companies. Throughout my career, I have seen what works and what doesn’t and am excited to build an agency based on people and clients who like and trust each other. Far too often, agency/client business models are not aligned or have not identified the right work to solve business challenges. We believe Wyecomm has built a better formula for partnership and success,” said Swerdlow.

For more information, please contact Haley Perrin at haley.perrin@wyecomm.com.

About Wye Communications LLC
Wye Communications LLC (Wyecomm) is a jointly-owned venture of the Stagwell Group and Finn Partners, Inc. Wyecomm was developed by experienced industry people who understand what works and what doesn’t for strong agency partnerships. The agency is focused on solving business challenges for organizations in transformation. Wyecomm begins each assignment by asking why and leveraging intelligence, then developing predictive communication programs that are executed with integration and operational excellence. Wyecomm builds partnerships that communicate. Online at www.wyecomm.com and Twitter @wyecomm.

About the Stagwell Group
The Stagwell Group LLC is a registered investment advisory company formed by Mark Penn who serves as the Managing Partner of Stagwell Media LLC, a private equity fund. The Stagwell Group portfolio includes custom research experts Harris Insights and Analytics, performance marketing firm PMX Agency, creative digital firm Code and Theory, entertainment research agency National Research Group (NRG), and strategic communications firm SKDKnickerbocker. Stagwell Group has also made a strategic investment in public relations firm Finn Partners and created communications agency Wye Communications. The fund previously announced it has raised $250 million in capital and may leverage that to make up to $750 million in acquisitions. Online at www.stagwellgroup.com.

About Finn Partners, Inc.
Finn Partners was launched in late 2011 to realize Peter Finn's vision to create a leading communications agency dedicated to shaping a bold new future in which innovation, collaboration and partnership are strong brand drivers. Finn Partners specializes in the full spectrum of marketing, public relations and public affairs services, including digital and social media. Practice areas include arts, consumer, CSR and social impact, education, financial services, health, technology and travel & lifestyle. Headquartered in New York City, the company has approximately 550 employees, 13 offices around the world and offers international capabilities through its own global network and PROI Worldwide. Find us at www.finnpartners.com and follow us on Twitter @finnpartners.

# # #