MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Weber Shandwick today announced the promotion of Eric Pehle to executive vice president and general manager of the firm's Minneapolis office.

In this new role, Pehle will take on broader responsibilities within and across the office, working closely with Sara Gavin, president of the Minneapolis office.

Since 2006, Pehle has led one of the agency's largest accounts, supporting the U.S. Army's recruitment efforts. In his role as the U.S. Army public relations account team leader, Pehle oversees a team of more than 100 colleagues from across the country, responsible for developing award-winning outreach efforts in social media, community engagement and media relations. He has also worked with the Mall of America since its opening in 1992, as well as many other local, regional and national accounts, including BAE Systems, Dairy Management Inc., Prairie Island Indian Community and Manitoba Hydro. During his 20 years at Weber Shandwick, Pehle has worked on a variety of issues and crises for clients.

"Eric's steady leadership has boosted dozens of people up the career ladder from their first jobs to positions of influence in the Minneapolis office and elsewhere," Gavin said. "Respected throughout our company and his clients, Eric brings judgment, expertise, a cool head, inventiveness and a strategic mindset to any situation."

Pehle is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in journalism and began his career as a broadcast reporter and anchor.

About Weber Shandwick
The Minneapolis office of Weber Shandwick is the leading public relations office in the upper Midwest, offering consumer, corporate, digital, design and development, financial services, health care, public affairs, and technology communications and marketing expertise. The office represents a variety of national and local clients, including BAE Systems, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Honeywell, the Internal Revenue Service, the Mall of America and Polaris Industries. Follow us on Twitter @WSMpls.

Weber Shandwick is a leading global public relations firm with offices in 81 countries around the world. The firm has won numerous awards for innovative approaches and creative campaigns including being named both The Holmes Report's 2012 Global Agency of the Year and the "Most Creative PR Firm in the World," based on the agency's first-place finish in its "Creative Index," as well as PR News' 2012 Digital PR Firm of the Year. Major practice areas include consumer marketing, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, corporate and crisis management. The firm has deep, award-winning expertise in social media and digital marketing that helps drive engagement. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com.

Contact: Randy Sands
Company: Weber Shandwick
Phone: 952-346-6191
Email: rsands@webershandwick.com

SOURCE Weber Shandwick