NEW YORK: Ketchum has promoted president Rob Flaherty to CEO, effective July 1. The Omnicom firm's current chief executive, Ray Kotcher, will assume the role of chairman at that time.

The agency has planned the leadership transition for several years, said Kotcher.

“We believe it's important for any organization to make sure it is always upping the game another notch,” he said. “It's our thinking that this is the best time to do this to make sure Ketchum stays a ...