New York, NY—(HISPANC PR WIRE)--August 27, 2007--Edelman, the world’s largest independent public relations firm, announced today that Stephen Chavez will join the firm as Senior Vice President and US Director of its fast-growing multicultural practice. Chavez brings more than 16 years of Hispanic and multicultural communications experience. Based in Los Angeles, he will work with Edelman’s multicultural team of more than 30 professionals in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Atlanta.

Since its founding in 1998, Edelman’s award-winning multicultural practice has delivered significant counsel and expertise in segment marketing to a comprehensive range of industries, including healthcare, consumer products, travel & tourism, food & beverage, automotive, retail, corporate, financial services, telecommunications/wireless, and entertainment.

In the past year, the practice experienced substantial growth by securing several key new accounts, increasing staff, and enhancing its core capabilities of integrated marketing, media relations and employee communications. Clients include Unilever, General Electric, WaMu, Microsoft, Starbucks, and AstraZeneca.

“We are very excited to have Stephen join our team,” said Pam Talbot, President and CEO of Edelman in the US. “He brings a proven track record of successful, award-winning communications strategies for major brands. Via his thorough understanding of the Hispanic market and the relationships he’s forged with key U.S. Hispanic leaders, he will be of great value to taking our Multicultural practice to the next level.”

Previously, Chavez was Vice President, Director of Public Relations at La Agencia de Orcí, where he spearheaded the growth of the agency’s Hispanic practice by acquiring top blue chip clients and developing ground-breaking programs. His work has received three Public Relations Society of America PRism Awards including Hispanic Campaign of the Year for Verizon Communications. Prior to La Agencia de Orcí, Stephen worked for six years at Valencia, Perez & Echeveste, where he supervised a team of 25 staff members as head of Consumer, Public Affairs and Social Marketing.

Chavez said, “Among the numerous positive aspects of joining a firm as rich in expertise as Edelman, I look forward to leveraging Edelman’s proficiency in digital media to explore new ways to communicate with multicultural communities. For example, Hispanics are the fastest growing audience in the US using the Internet.”

Chavez has been deeply engaged with the Hispanic community through his affiliation with professional associations. He serves as a board member of Mariachi USA Foundation, Self-Help Graphics & Art, and is a member of the California Chicano News Media Association (CCNMA) and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Formerly, Stephen served for two years as President of the Hispanic Public Relations Association and board member of the Public Relations Society of America, Los Angeles Chapter, as well as the Hispanic Americans for Fairness in the Media.

About Edelman
Edelman is the world’s largest independent public relations firm, with 2,700 employees in 48 offices worldwide. The firm was named PRWeek’s Large Agency of the Year for 2006. Advertising Age named Edelman as one of ten marketing firms to watch in 2007 in its Best Agencies issue. Edelman was also named 2006 Large Agency of the Year and 2005 International Agency of the Year by The Holmes Group. A&R Edelman was formed following the acquisition of A&R Partners in May 2006.