Waggener Edstrom Worldwide Promotes Jen Houston to President, WE Studio D

LEADERSHIP EXPANDS TO OVERSEE AGENCY’S CONTINUED DIGITAL GROWTH

SEATTLE — JUNE 17, 2010— Global public relations agency Waggener Edstrom Worldwide (WE) has promoted Jen Houston to the newly created role of president, WE Studio D, and global lead, effective immediately. Formerly senior vice president, Houston will continue to lead the WE Studio D™ practice, the agency’s digital influence and “future of communications” arm. Notably, the recently formed Insight & Analytics team — which encompass the agency’s pre-existing measurement and research arms, and newly formed product development function — was consolidated into the WE Studio D practice and will now also be under Houston’s leadership (no other personnel changes resulted from this consolidation). She will report to Melissa Waggener Zorkin, WE’s founder, CEO and president, and will continue to be based at the agency’s worldwide headquarters in Seattle.

Since joining Waggener Edstrom Worldwide in 1999, Houston founded and has led the aggressive expansion of WE’s digital innovations. Under her leadership, the WE Studio D practice — the agency’s full-service digital, measurement, and insight and analytics group focused on powering and inventing new forms of influence and engagement — expanded significantly, from 37 full-time affiliated employees in July 2008 to 132 employees today (115 in the U.S. and 17 in APAC and EMEA). Last year, the group experienced a 30 percent year over year revenue growth.

“I’m passionate about the future of communications, and this is a fantastic opportunity for not only me but WE as an agency to accelerate our progress in this area. By consolidating research, measurement and product development teams under the WE Studio D umbrella, our goal is to provide a completely integrated spectrum of solutions from research through strategy development and execution to measurement,” Houston said. ”All of these functions are tightly coupled and provide our clients with an insight-driven, integrated, measurable experience tied to business outcomes. This move signals WE’s continued commitment to innovation in communications while bringing more rigor to communications as a strategic business tool. There is so much yet to be explored, and I’m thrilled to be part of this era of discovery and invention.”

Waggener Zorkin said, “One of the key attributes of Jen’s leadership has been — and will continue to be — her unconventional approach to tackling big opportunities and challenges. Continuing to model this type of leadership moving forward will be a key component to the success of Jen, WE Studio D and the agency. These capabilities are critical to our exciting growth plans for understanding and owning influence. In this way the WE Studio D team will continue to be on the leading edge in our industry of communications, research, measurement, design and product development.”

Houston was included in PRWeek’s 2009 40 under 40 list, which profiles the top rising stars in the PR industry. In addition, the WE twendz™ Twitter-mining Web application was awarded PR Week’s 2009 Innovation of the Year. Houston is a well-traveled Army brat, a current resident of the Puget Sound area, and a graduate of The George Washington University, where she studied international relations.

For more information, press only:
Brooke Preston, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, (503) 443-7255, bpreston@waggeneredstrom.com

About Waggener Edstrom Worldwide

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide (WE) is a global, integrated communications agency. For more than 25 years, the independently owned firm has developed strategic communications programs for innovative and world-changing clients, working to influence markets, inspire people and improve lives. In 2009, WE was named one of Oregon Business' 100 Best Companies to Work For. WE was also named European Technology Agency of the Year in 2008 and Best Large Agency to Work For by the Holmes Report in 2006. WE has earned numerous honors for its outstanding work on behalf of clients, for its exceptional people and for its innovation in communications. The agency has more than 800 employees in 16 offices around the world, and its 17 Global Alliance partners expand the agency's reach to 30 additional international markets. WE has six global practices: Consumer Marketing, Corporate Communications, Healthcare, Public Affairs, WE Social Innovation and Technology, along with its digital strategies group, WE Studio D™. More information can be found at WaggenerEdstrom.com.

Waggener Edstrom, Innovation Communications and WE Studio D are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Waggener Edstrom Worldwide Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.