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Allison & Partners Adds Cathy Planchard to Senior Leadership Team

Rapidly Expanding Mid-Sized Independent Public Relations Agency Adds Arizona Business Leader to Accelerate Growth in the Region

Phoenix, AZ, February 9, 2010 – Allison & Partners, one of the nation's fastest growing public relations and public affairs firms, has added strategic marketing and PR expert Cathy Planchard as General Manager of its Phoenix office.

Planchard will accelerate the firm's growth in the region, leveraging her extensive experience in brand building and communications to fortify business development and the management of key accounts. Many Allison & Partners clients are headquartered in Phoenix, including Best Western and SEA LIFE Arizona.

“Cathy knows the Phoenix market intimately and is skilled at building long term partnerships with clients, ” said Andy Hardie-Brown, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Allison & Partners.  “Her experience working with some of the region's leading brands will be valuable as we aggressively build market share in the Southwest.  Our goal is for the agency to rank #1 in the region within three years.”

Planchard said “I wanted to join an agency that has a clear vision of the future where my entrepreneurial talents would be embraced enthusiastically.  Allison & Partners is dedicated to two things: delivering extraordinary work to its clients and creating an environment where talent can thrive.  From opening new offices in Atlanta and Seattle in 2009, winning new high profile clients, and its selection as a finalist for PR WEEK's 2010 PR Agency of the Year, this firm is on a roll.”

Planchard's experience includes working with some of the Southwest's leading consumer, hospitality, healthcare and technology companies such as LifeLock, Hilton Resorts, Hilton, Doubletree and Motorola, among others. She is active in the local business community, serving as the Vice President of Communications for the Junior League of Phoenix and as a Board Member of the Phoenix Public Relations Society.