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After a Period of Impressive Growth at Hill Holliday Hispanic, José López-Varela Hands the Reigns to Manny Gonzalez
Former Zyman Group Managing Consultant Takes Helm at abecé
BOSTON -- (The Hispanic PR Monitor)-- May 16, 2006 -- After leading Hill Holliday Hispanic (abecé) for more than three years and through a period extraordinary growth, José López-Varela announced that he will step down from the practice group he helped create. Hill, Holliday named Manny Gonzalez as the new managing director of the firm's Hispanic marketing practice in Miami recently renamed abecé. Gonzalez comes to abecé from the Zyman Group in Miami where he served as managing consultant for the firm's Marketing to Hispanics (M2H) Practice Group. While at the Zyman Group, Gonzalez managed the development of intellectual capital, go-to-market strategies and new business development for M2H clients.
"We're enormously indebted to José and greatly appreciative of the work, passion and energy he brought to Hill Holliday Hispanic. We're sorry to see him go," said Mike Sheehan, president and CEO of Hill Holliday. "At the same time, we're thrilled to have Manny on-board. We're replacing one top-notch leader with another. Hill Holliday is committed to growing its Hispanic marketing practice and we're thrilled to have someone of Manny's expertise and caliber leading abecé. Manny is a well-known marketer with a wealth of experience in Hispanic brand management, media and consulting."
"I am very proud of what we accomplished in three years, abecé is definitely on the right track, I have built a great team but the time has come to move on," said José López-Varela. "The Hispanic market is hotter than ever and there are countless opportunities out there to fuel my entrepreneurial spirit. I wish Manny and the team at abecé continued success."
"At a time when the marketing industry in general, and the world of Hispanic marketing in particular are undergoing tremendous change, Hill Holliday recognizes that marketing leadership and innovation are required to succeed in today's Hispanic marketplace," said Manny Gonzalez, managing director of abecé. "Hill Holliday understands that Hispanic marketing strategies and initiatives must work synergistically with the general marketing strategies of companies and brands. In many ways, successful marketing to Hispanics originates with a brand's essence and attributes."
Prior to his time at the Zyman Group, Gonzalez served as brand director of the Scotch Group for the Diageo North America where he managed market planning, advertising and promotional planning for Johnnie Walker. He also served as a senior manager for multicultural marketing at Schieffelin and Somerset in New York. In Los Angeles, Gonzalez was partner of Sapo Communications and president of ELB Group. He also served as national brand manager for Miller Brewing Company in Milwaukee. Gonzalez brings a strong, well-rounded set of Hispanic and multicultural marketing skills and provides sound analysis of Hispanic consumer trends, identifying the essential Hispanic consumer insights critical for a brand's growth in this segment.
About Hill, Holliday
Hill, Holliday, owned by the Interpublic Group of Companies Inc. (NYSE:IPG) and headquartered in Boston with offices in New York, San Francisco, Miami Beach and Greenville, S.C., is one of the top communication agencies in the nation. Hill, Holliday has won every major award for advertising excellence and effectiveness and has among its roster of clients leading national and regional brands such as Anheuser-Busch, American Red Cross, CVS, Dell, Dunkin' Donuts, EMC, John Hancock, The Massachusetts State Lottery, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Putnam Investments, TJX Cos., Tyco, and Verizon Wireless. Hill, Holliday can be found on the Web at www.hhcc.com.
About abecé
Abecé is the Hispanic marketing division of Hill, Holliday. Founded in 2003, abecé is a full-service Hispanic marketing agency based in Miami Beach, Florida. Our tagline is: "Teach Your Brand EspañolSM." Our mission is simple: to help clients win over the hearts, minds and wallets of Hispanic. Our clients include CVS/pharmacy, Dunkin' Donuts, Uniroyal, Liberty Mutual, Tenet Hospitals and LoJack. Abecé can be found on the Web at www.abeceusa.com