GSPM Blog

Ovaitt Named Executive Vice President of Makovsky + Company

CEO Emeritus of Institute for Public Relations and GWU Professor

Will Lead Firm's Efforts to Integrate Research into PR Practice

NEW YORK, February 2, 2010 - Frank Ovaitt has joined Makovsky + Company as Executive Vice President, leading the firm's efforts to integrate research into public relations practice.

"I'm incredibly impressed with Frank's philosophy that too many professionals view research and measurement as a report card when it's really a GPS to guide the journey and suggest better ways," said President and CEO Ken Makovsky. "I know of no one better than Frank to help clients figure out how to use research more effectively in today's digital environment."

Ovaitt is CEO Emeritus of the highly respected Institute for Public Relations and professor of applied public relations research at The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. "Makovsky's position as the specialized thinking advocacy agency has always attracted clients who focus first on strategy, and that's exactly where you must start integrating research into public relations," said Ovaitt.

The new client services will include:

• High level counsel on integrating research and measurement into practice/programs.
• Ongoing support for senior communications executives to interpret and evaluate research results, communicate these to top management, and build programming on research.
• Educating client staff on research skills and uses.

Based on his long corporate and consulting experience including chief communications officer for a FORTUNE 200 company, Ovaitt will also counsel Makovsky clients on employee engagement and international public relations. Prior to becoming President and CEO of the Institute for Public Relations in 2004, Ovaitt founded Crossover International Inc. and worked with major corporations in the pharmaceutical, automotive and retail industries. He also held senior public relations positions at AT&T, MCI and Monsanto.