ST. LOUIS: Cause marketing firm In/Pact has named former FleishmanHillard global MD of strategic integration John McNeel as its chief executive.
McNeel described In/Pact as both a "solutions provider for major brands and companies" and a "tech company, investing for the past few years" in e-commerce and social media platforms that help brands.
He added that the firm "connects overarching brand purpose with the consumer."
In his new role, McNeel said he will lead outreach to both Fortune 500 companies and agency partnerships to work with clients that want to "activate purpose."
He added that his experience has helped him understand corporate efforts to "remove artificial boundaries between consumerism, philanthropy, and business success." McNeel started in the position this month after leaving Fleishman in May, according to his LinkedIn account.
Fleishman gave advertising veteran McNeel broad responsibilities when it named him global MD of strategic integration in 2012, reporting to global CEO Dave Senay. He oversaw the integration of PR, social, digital, marketing, and other work across paid, earned, shared, and owned media platforms at the Omnicom Group firm.
After McNeel’s departure, Fleishman is "completely committed to the notion of strategic integration and have brought in dozens of new personnel to continue our evolution," Senay said in a statement to PRWeek. "We thank [McNeel] for his contributions and wish him continued success."
The agency rebranded from Fleishman-Hillard in spring 2013 and introduced a new brand platform, logo, and tagline – "The Power of True" – as it positioned itself as a fully integrated communications firm with PR at the center.
Prior to Fleishman, McNeel worked at ad agency TBWA as president of global clients and held roles including worldwide director of operations for the Procter & Gamble business at Saatchi & Saatchi. He has also worked at Young & Rubicam and Bates USA.
