Siegel & Gale reaches out with new PR arm

Siegel & Gale in New York is introducing a public relations capability to help existing clients with communications issues.

Thomas Clohesy has been brought in as senior vice-president and director of public relations to organise the group’s existing PR arm in the US. He currently heads a staff of seven which is set to expand.

Group chairman and chief executive Alan Siegel says this is the right time to add PR to the group’s service mix: “We are providing an increasing number of fully-integrated communications programmes to our Corporate Voice clients [the strategy to help clients find their corporate voice].

“Consequently, we are often asked to deal with communications issues that reach the boardroom, such as crisis management and media positioning.”

Siegel adds of the group’s UK office: “London will get its own PR arm,” although Malcolm Parkinson, managing director of Siegel & Gale in the UK, says he is not currently recruiting for such a position.

Clohesy was previously with financial public and investor relations firm Gavin Anderson & Company in New York.