Hall leaving OMA

By Len Gutman on June 10th, 2008 In Agencies

Laura HallOff Madison Ave is losing its top flack — Vice President and Director of Public Relations Laura Hall has informed the agency that she is leaving OMA to return to her roots in New York. According to her bio, Hall spent a large part of her career in New York working at boutique public relations agencies on mega consumer brands like Secret, Mumm Champagne, Smirnoff, Wonderbra, and many others.

Hall leaves an agency that has shown some signs that it is not bullet proof during this tough economy. The agency has quietly laid off staff over the past few months, even while it has added staff on the interactive side.

Hall leaving OMA

Comments

Steve Says:
June 10th, 2008 at 3:59 pm

flack? No wonder this region is behind the times in PR.

Dan Wool Says:
June 10th, 2008 at 9:29 pm

Because the term’s a joke, we generally use the ‘flack’ term with affection on the blog…or sometimes not.

If you think Phoenix is so behind the times, a more constructive comment would be to ask why this city can’t sustain and support talent like Laura who come in from the big cities.

Steve Says:
June 11th, 2008 at 8:21 am

I’m a reader of the blog but I think the answer to your question Dan, is that this market is waaaaayy behind the PR times. This market can’t sustain talent for that very reason. Why should people stay in a market that still thinks the press release is PR 101. It seems the closest thing we have here to progressive PR is a blog with an occasional posting about social media.

But then just when you think you’re making some progress, those people working on that social media tool, use terms like flack that make you realize just how outdated we still are.

Dan Wool Says:
June 11th, 2008 at 9:58 am

Look, Len and I get the ‘flack’ thing. I think you could get that from my link.

That said, I’d be lying if I didn’t share the same sort of frustration about the market. There seems to be a lack of global thinking here – but that’s a Phoenix phenoemon, not necessarily a PR one. This is primarily a small business town; the PR community reflects this.

As far as I’m concerned though, any perceived lack of talent here is just a HUGE opportunity for those at the top of the PR practice — or any category for that matter — to come in and dominate. For example, if I’m the PR guy who strategizes to get his local clients in the New York Times or CNN as well as the Republic and Channel 12 News and I have the contacts to make it happen consistently — I’ll attract more and better work and others will automatically provide less value or competition. I bring global SEO tactics to the table or an expertise in social media or depth of knowledge about a given industry – same thing. The cream rises to the top.

In the meantime, thanks for the inspiration – it’s something I was already thinking about and you may see a post from me on this.

Jackie Wright Says:
June 11th, 2008 at 4:52 pm

Laura is probably one of the most savviest PR professionals I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Not to mention the best dressed. She will be missed.

Liam Says:
June 11th, 2008 at 9:25 pm

Thanks for letting the PR community know. Good luck Laura back on Madison Avenue in NYC!

Roger Says:
June 15th, 2008 at 6:26 pm

I saw the banter back and forth and after 7 years at Off Madison Ave it’s not a question of keeping great PR people in town at all. Sometimes people just prefer one lifestyle over another.

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