CHICAGO: Cramer-Krasselt is spinning off its 85-person public
relations operation into a wholly owned subsidiary, CKPR, headquartered
in Chicago.
The new firm has $10 million in PR fees and is aiming to vault
into the top 20 of US firms "within a reasonably short period of time,"
said Peter Krivkovich, CEO of Cramer-Krasselt. Cramer's PR operations
ranked 44th this year.
Cramer's PR activities grew as an adjunct to its advertising work, but
clients are increasingly looking for different agencies to do
advertising and PR assignments, said Krivkovich. The company believes it
can pursue new business opportunities more easily as an independent
operation. The slowing economy is causing more clients to seek out
mid-size firms that offer more value, claimed Joel Curran, a managing
director of CKPR.
The firm's PR operations, formerly organized by location, have been
reorganized into eight practices: corporate and investor relations,
consumer products, employee relations, government/public affairs,
healthcare, packaged goods/food and beverage, travel and tourism, and
technology.
Steve Carr, 49, and Curran, 38, will become managing directors and SVPs
of the new firm. Krivkovich will serve as president of both CKPR and
Cramer-Krasselt.
PR staffers in the new company's four locations - Chicago, Milwaukee,
Phoenix, and Orlando, FL - are getting new office space separate from
Cramer's ad operations.
Major clients of the new firm include ConAgra Foods, Hershey Foods,
AirTran Airways, and Corona beer.
