WASHINGTON: Powell Tate's executive exodus continued last week with
the departure of 11-year veteran EVP Mike Gelb.
The last founding member to leave - excepting vice chairmen Jody Powell
and Sheila Tate - Gelb will open his own consultancy, Gelb
Strategies.
Other recent high-level defections include Robert Bork Jr., whose firm
Bork & Associates was subsequently folded into Powell Tate, and
president David Krawitz, now the head of APCO's LA office. According to
Tate, decisions on whether to replace them and Gelb will not be made
until the Shandwick-imposed merger with BSMG is complete. The target
date for that is now January 2002.
Tate also refuted the widespread rumors that her company was encouraging
its more expensive executives to leave.
"The fact I'm moving on is more a reflection of where I am in my life
than anything going on in the firm," said Gelb.
