Winner
Michael Kempner, MWW Group

Michael Kempner, president and CEO of MWW Group and The Financial Relations Board, has always been an innovator. He began MWW in 1986 with one employee, one client, and one office, and has since led the firm to become one of the fastest growing in the industry. But 2007 just might be the year Kempner remembers as one of his best.

MWW Group helped clients reach a number of highlights, including Respironics gaining a 40% increase in stock price and Nikon achieving the number-one market position in the digital SLR camera market.

What's more, Kempner has built upon his dedication to the Clinton Global Initiative, providing pro bono media relations and marketing campaign for Sabin Vaccine Institute, which fights neglected tropical diseases globally. Kempner, who serves as chairman of Sabin, went to Rwanda as part of his efforts to support its mission of mobilizing the international community to treat and finally eliminate these neglected diseases.

Upon his return, Kempner headed development of a comprehensive communications and advocacy strategy that helped place the underserviced diseases on the global radar. The campaign met with great success, with top-tier coverage generated in such media as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Bloomberg News.

Somehow Kempner still found time  to run a successful agency. In 2007, MWW achieved a 20% increase in organic growth and a 15% growth through account wins that have diversified the firm's client roster, representing new industries and product categories, such as Samuel Adams, Medco Health Solutions, Hang 10, ING Direct, Starkey Hearing Foundation, USA Field Hockey, and Dubai Aerospace Enterprise.

Kempner's influence, however, extends beyond his work with clients. He believes in his role as a nurturer of talent, engaging in the industry's future. Most senior-level employees started with the firm as junior-level staffers. Kempner personally mentors employees at all levels, and believes in growth from within. MWW's staff retention rate is 86%.

The judges were impressed by the  scope of Kempner's 2007 work. "He has applied his talents not only to building one of the rising young agencies in the industry," one judge noted, "but to making a difference in the world. He's a true business leader." 

Honorable Mention
John Bell, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide

With more than 20 years of marketing and brand-development experience, John Bell has consistently proved himself capable of thinking outside the box. Bell currently holds a dual role with Ogilvy, serving as both the MD of 360 Digital Influence and executive creative director of the agency's Creative Studio. 360 Digital Influence is Ogilvy's latest interactive discipline, designed to manage and extend brands' relationships with their consumers in an era when anyone can be an influencer. In the past year, the agency has significantly expanded the capabilities of this new arm, across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Americas, all under Bell's direction. In February, Bell held a summit in Hong Kong for team members from across the Asia-Pacific region to share best practices in digital influence from their markets. In April, Bell was also named to WOMMA's board of directors.

 


Finalists 2008
John Bell Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
Kathy Bloomgarden Ruder Finn
Ken Capps DFW International Airport
Stephen Jones GolinHarris
Michael Kempner MWW Group

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