PR powerhouse Burson-Marsteller picked up a political heavyweight by hiring a longtime former adviser to President Bush. Karen Hughes joins the team as global vice chair (AKA advising corporations in crisis) with a boss who has ties to the left side of the aisle.
Who's the boss? Burson-Marsteller CEO Mark Penn. He's the same guy who admitted to contributing to Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton's failed bid.
This PR mastermind says in the release that “Karen is one of the leading communications strategists working today,” and goes on to say “she brings enormous strategic insights.”
Whatever that means... just a bunch of garble in a press release. But hey, now they're joining forces to conquer the bipartisan consulting world!
While the match-up raises eyebrows in political circles, Penn assures The Wall Street Journal that “we agreed that we won’t let politics interfere in our business.”
It seems like a good deal for Hughes. She'll be based in Austin, near her family, and likely earn a fat paycheck.
This news comes a few weeks after Penn tried to spin his way out of Clinton’s camp by blaming the loss on being outspent, not in delivering the message.
Penn might have lost out with the Clinton campaign, but picking up Hughes will surely attract some high-profile conservative clients.
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Comments (4)
Coach Purses Outlet
Posted by Coach Purses Outlet | March 24, 2012 2:39 AM
Posted on March 24, 2012 02:39
FYI: Mark Penn isn't seen as left-leaning by lefties. Mark Penn was a liability to the Clinton brand. He was a rogue personality with horrrrrrible advice.
Posted by GingerM | March 6, 2009 3:20 PM
Posted on March 6, 2009 15:20
Karen Hughes is a yokel. Mark Penn is old-school and lost the election for Hillary. I blame him, Bill and the Barracuda for Hillary's loss against Senator Obama.
I am from Texas and the scuttlebutt on all of Bush Jr.'s "stars" is that they are/were always so tight-knit as to be positively narrow-minded. Nobody from outside the inner circle formed around Bush Jr. was ever allowed inside.
I've lived all over the world and been in comms for most of my career, including in DC, and Karen Hughes was a terrible disappointment to the working-female executive world. She is a total and complete hick. Just the way Bush Jr. likes 'em.
But a close friend of mine just joined Burson and she is excellent. I wish the firm well in general.
Posted by Stephanie Nelson | July 11, 2008 11:10 AM
Posted on July 11, 2008 11:10
Yeah, big win for Penn. Picking up the US Goodwill Ambassador to the World! Woo hoo!
Her big, high-profile task in the Bush Admin was to "improve America's image in the Muslim world."
Uh, how'd that work out again?
Posted by Jazmac | July 11, 2008 10:47 AM
Posted on July 11, 2008 10:47