COLUMBUS, Ohio (August 31, 2022) – Fahlgren Mortine today announced that Marty McDonald has been promoted to president of the $30 million integrated communications and public relations firm, effective Sept. 1, 2022. Neil Mortine, the firm’s namesake, continues as the company’s CEO and adds the title of chairman. As part of a long-planned leadership transition, McDonald, executive vice president and a 22-year employee of Fahlgren Mortine, will serve as the first female president in the company’s 60-year history.
In her new role as president, McDonald will focus on daily operations, delivery of the firm’s integrated services and new growth strategies to further strengthen the company’s core practice areas. Mortine will continue to guide the company vision, culture and growth, working closely with McDonald and the executive team.
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Fahlgren Mortine is the largest integrated communications company in Ohio, and a top 25 firm nationally with more than 200 associates in seven locations throughout the U.S.
“This leadership transition has been years in the making, and business conditions over the past few years only accelerated our desire to reshape our operations in some areas,” said Mortine. “Marty has emerged proactively and naturally as the leader for our next chapter of growth.”
The company grew 20 percent in 2021 and is projecting another double-digit growth year in 2022 – far outpacing industry benchmarks. Fahlgren Mortine also enjoyed all-time high client satisfaction metrics in its annual client satisfaction survey.
McDonald’s career with Fahlgren Mortine spans 22 years. She ascended within the company through many different roles, including leadership of the company’s largest practice segment; driver of associate engagement; chair of the firm’s executive and operations committees; managing director of a new office; and executive sponsor for diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) programs, among other initiatives.
She has been named a PRWeek “Outstanding Young Professional,” PRNEWS “Top Woman of the Year,” PRNews “Changemaker,” Columbus CEO “Future 50,” “Smart 50” and several other honors.
“Every day of my professional career, I have been proud to be part of Fahlgren Mortine and our incredible client partnerships – and it is exciting to take this next step,” said McDonald. “Our strong culture truly represents the shadow of our leader, and I am honored to build on this foundation.”
Together with Mortine, McDonald has built a highly integrated, collaborative firm that has won numerous Agency of the Year and Best Places to Work awards. The company has been recognized as one of “America’s Best PR Agencies” by Forbes; earned “Agency of the Year” distinctions from PRWeek and Bulldog Reporter; and is a perennial winner of “Best Place to Work” distinctions.
ABOUT FAHLGREN MORTINE
Fahlgren Mortine is an integrated communications company helping brands engage in ways that are precise and meaningful. The agency is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio with locations in Cleveland and Dayton, Ohio; Boise, Idaho; Denver, Colo.; Chicago and New York City. Fahlgren Mortine provides an integrated offering to clients around the world with industry specializations in business-to-business, consumer, higher education, healthcare and tourism/economic development. Capabilities include social media, digital services, advertising, public relations, research, branding, media planning/buying, creative and design. TURNER, a subsidiary of Fahlgren Mortine, delivers industry-leading public relations, content development, influencer programming and social media services and represents some of the world’s best resorts, destinations and lifestyle brands. Fahlgren Mortine is a 2022 finalist for PRNEWS Platinum Awards Large Agency of the Year, a 2022 Chief Marketer Best Engagement and Activation Agency and was recognized with Bulldog Reporter’s Grand Prize Best PR Agency distinctions in 2020 and 2021. For more information, visit www.fahlgrenmortine.com.
CONTACT: Erin Balow
Corporate Communications
(614) 383.1573
erin.balow@fahlgren.com
