Public Communications Inc. Names Craig Pugh Agency President
Appointment adds marketing, management capacity to support agency’s continued growth nationally
CHICAGO – April 22, 2015 – Public Communications Inc. (PCI) www.pcipr.com announced today that Craig Pugh of Tampa, Fla., will join the national integrated communications firm on June 1 as president. He also joins the ownership team of the 53-year-old agency ranked one of the largest independent, women-owned PR firms in the country.
Pugh, 58, brings 30 years of extensive management and marketing experience to the agency, and returns to Chicago after several years leading two Florida cultural attractions through strategic expansions and multi-million-dollar capital campaigns.
Pugh comes to PCI from the Lowry Park Zoological Society in Tampa where he served the past five years as CEO and directed a staff of 350 and a budget of $20 million. He previously was executive director of Palm Beach Zoo, Palm Beach, Fla.
“I’m excited to join such an accomplished team of professionals at a time the agency is poised for growth and expanded reach. I look forward to bringing executive leadership and communications expertise to PCI’s array of clients. It feels like I’m coming home to Chicago, where I have deep roots and admire the extraordinary community of education, culture, research and business development,” said Pugh, who held senior editor positions at Scott Foresman Publishing and Times Mirror/Mosby Year Book prior to working at the Chicago Zoological Society as associate director, Communications.
Pugh earned a Master of Science in Communication from Northwestern University.
As the agency’s fifth president he will help manage professional development and concentrate on the agency’s growth in all sectors, including tourism and hospitality planning and development, business to business, and association marketing, as well as provide executive and issues counsel to clients. He has served on several boards, most recently the Florida Attractions Association (FAA), Florida Association of Museums (FAM), and advisory board of Visit Tampa Bay, and was appointed in 2009 by Florida’s Governor to the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.
“As our agency continues growing into new business sectors and we expand the menu of services we provide, Craig’s proven talents in executive management and collaborative team development strategically enhance our capacity to meet the needs of our diverse clients,” said Chief Executive Officer Jill Allread, APR, who has held the president title since 2010. “His leadership and communication experience are a great addition to our team of talented communication counselors and strategists.”
About PCI
PCI is a national, full-service communications and marketing agency with more than 55 professionals committed to making a positive difference for our clients and our community. PCI is the fifth largest independent public relations firm in Chicago and within the top 55 in the nation.
PCI provides clients global reach through the WORLDCOM Public Relations Group, one of the world’s leading networks of independently owned public relations counseling firms. The agency is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE). PCI’s offices are at One East Wacker Drive in downtown Chicago.