Manning Selvage & Lee Hires Director of Its North American Technology Practice

Manning Selvage & Lee (MS&L) today announced it has appointed Siobhan MacDermott as director of its North American technology practice.  MacDermott joins MS&L from McAfee, one of the world’s largest internet security firms, and will be based in San Francisco.  Her appointment is effective immediately.

In her new role, MacDermott will be focused on developing MS&L’s technology practice in North America, including attracting new clients from high growth sectors, working with other offices to develop stronger technology capabilities and leveraging the agency’s global assets to provide best-in-class work for its clients. 

“Siobhan’s track record in the technology sector is second to none, and I am very confident she will attract more high technology clients to our growing practice, as well as have a tremendous impact on the visibility and quality of our work in the technology space,” said Mark Hass, MS&L’s global chief executive officer.

At McAfee, MacDermott was vice president, worldwide corporate & executive communications and analyst relations.  Her responsibilities included global corporate messaging and strategy, internal communications, CSR, crisis communications, community affairs and government relations.  She was also McAfee’s corporate global spokesperson, appearing on outlets such as CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, BBC, Sky News and Nikkei, and oversaw the firm’s PR agencies in all geographies. 

MacDermott’s previous roles include SVP, global marketing and communications for Betrusted, a global internet security firm and president and founder of Takatech, a global strategic consulting firm.  She has also worked for Applied Communications Group, Telephia, Inc., and Sprint PCS, and has written more than 450 articles, white papers, reports and thought leadership pieces on everything from multinational public relations to global mergers and acquisitions.

MacDermott’s education includes an MBA in international business from Thunderbird School of Global Management, a BA from Temple University in Philadelphia, and a certificate in technology from the University of Cambridge in the UK.  She holds a board position at Temple University; is a member of the supervisory board of the Golden Hospitality Group, Swiss-Dutch Hotel company; and is on the editorial board of the Thunderbird International Business Review.

About Manning Selvage & Lee
MS&L is one of the world's leading communications firms.  Headquartered in New York, MS&L has 54 offices throughout North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia-Pacific, as well as an extensive global affiliate network.  The agency meets the needs of global and local clients by providing best-in-class services in consumer marketing PR, healthcare PR, corporate communications and technology communications, as well as industry-leading work in digital communications.  MS&L won PRWeek's Best Use of Internet/New Media Award in both 2006 and 2007.

MS&L is a member of the Publicis Groupe (Euronext Paris: FR0000130577 and NYSE: PUB), the world’s fourth largest communications group, and a global leader in digital and online advertising, media consulting, and healthcare communications. With some 42,000 professionals in 104 countries, the Groupe's activities cover advertising through three global advertising networks:  Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, as well as through its two multi-hub networks Fallon Worldwide and 49%-owned Bartle Bogle Hegarty; media agencies with two worldwide networks ZenithOptimedia and Starcom MediaVest Group; and marketing services, including digital and interactive communications through Digitas, relationship and direct marketing, public and media relations, corporate and financial communications, multicultural communications, and event communications. The Groupe is also the world leader in healthcare communications. Web site: www.publicisgroupe.com.

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