Big thanks to all who came out to our party at the Empire Room on Tuesday night! We greatly appreciated you all showing up to have a couple of drinks, trade business cards, look for new career opportunities and listen politely as your host tested his latest, lamest jokes. Apologies to anyone who wasn’t able to get in (we are popular for some reason) and a special thank you to the folks at Horn Group for sponsoring and organizing a great event. Here are some pictures:

Attendees getting their network on…

Read more

And now a quick note to all readers, friends, blog trolls and forgotten boarding school roommates in the greater New York metropolitan area who don’t have incredibly important business to attend to next Tuesday night (that means all of you): PRNewser will be throwing its first party of 2013 with the help of the Mediabistro events team, The Empire Room and our fine sponsors at Horn Group.

Some details, ’cause you know you want ‘em: the event will take place Tuesday, March 19th from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (yes, that’s one week from today). The venue will be The Empire Room, a “Deco lounge” at the base of the Empire State Building on 33rd Street between 5th Avenue and Broadway on the island of Manhattan. The host will be your truly humble editor, who will say a few awkward things into a microphone before impressing everyone in attendance with his growing tolerance for hard liquor! (Ed. note: I don’t do Scotch though, sorry. It’s a flavor thing.)

Most importantly, the first 100 guests to arrive will receive a ticket for a free drink–once again courtesy of our sponsors at Horn. Everyone on our mailing list should receive an official invite soon, but here’s the online RSVP in case you want to make sure you’re registered. Oh, and feel free to file your complaints via email if you haven’t received an invite.

Again, that’s the Empire Room, one week from today, RSVP here. No excuses!

Fleishman-Hillard has appointed Anne de Schweinitz (left) SVP, managing director, and senior partner of the healthcare practice. She will relocate from New York to London, reporting to John Saunders, president of the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region. De Schweinitz joined F-H in 2011. She replaces Michael Rinaldo who has left the firm.

Warner Brothers Pictures has promoted two execs in its international publicity department: Lance Volland to EVP and Désirée Finnegan to SVP, the role previously held by Volland. Based on the press release, many of his duties for both jobs will remain the same: overseeing the international publicity department and all of the functions of that division (the former) and helping with strategies and global campaigns (the latter).

Read more

If you’re going to be in San Francisco on April 18 and think you might enjoy a free drink with friends and colleagues, read on.

Mediabistro and Horn Group is throwing a cocktail party that Wednesday at Bubble Lounge on Montgomery Street from 6:30 to 8:30 and you’re invited.

Hosted by the UCSF Department of Medicine editor, Erin Hartman, the Horn Group will provide the first 75 cocktails. Join the San Francisco crowd for a drink, some appetizers, and some good conversation.

Click here to RSVP.

Join us and the Horn Group at New York City’s Empire Room on tomorrow for a cocktail party to celebrate Wednesday cocktails. Huzzah! Also take some time to catch up with colleagues, meet new people, and say “Hi” to us in person. The first 100 drinks come courtesy of the Horn Group. Everyone bring your good times.

There’s still time to RSVP! Click here to add your name to the list. See you there!

In the past couple of weeks since we posted a story about the good works and well wishes coming from PR firms for the holiday season, there’s been a whole lot more, and its getting even more elaborate.

Read more

Next week, the Horn Group and Kelton Research will unveil the findings of The CMO Challenge, research they conducted to find out what CMOs want from the agencies they work with.

Among the findings of the Challenge — 2/3 of respondents said they prefer to work with firms that have 50 or fewer staff members. The two companies surveyed 300 senior execs for the Challenge.

After the jump, we have an infographic illustrating “What CMOs Want In An Agency.” Thoughts? The comments section is open, and you can contact us @PRNewser.

Read more

It’s springtime in NYC (sort of). So why not swing by the next PRNewser party to celebrate? Did we mention that Horn Group is buying a round of drinks?

Join us on March 24 at the Empire Room from 6:30 to 8:30 for cocktails and fun times.

See you there! Click here to RSVP.

In this late-day Spin the Agencies column, there’s tech, furniture, and low emissions.

Pervasive Software has selected the Horn Group as its U.S. PR firm. Pervasive is a $50-million public company in the data integration arena. The Horn Group will provide the company with social media, PR, and interactive design services. The account will be handled by firm VP Erin Zehr in the San Francisco office.

Baltus Collection, a line of furniture from Spain with showrooms in Miami, New York, and other U.S. cities, has selected rbb Public Relations as its AOR. The firm will provide media outreach to consumer and trade outlets, strategic PR services, and brand management counsel.

Olmstead Williams Communications has added three new clients: FlexEnergy, a clean energy company that turns methane gas into near-zero emissions; Language Line Services, a phone service that provides language interpretation services; and Cloudworks, a cloud computing company.

In today’s Spin the Agencies of Record, we have a couple of mouthwatering selections, some tech news, and urban renewal out West.

D.C. fresh food chain sweetgreen has chosen Cornerstone as its AOR as it branches into new markets. The firm will also work with the brand’s arts and music event, sweetlife Festival.

French/West/Vaughn is now AOR for Financial Insurance Management Corporation (FIMC), which provides membership-based benefits programs for credit unions and other groups.

The Horn Group has added three online businesses to its consumer tech roster: Answers.com, BuyWithMe, and YD Online.

Eataly, the New York City Italian food marketplace, has selected Susan Magrino Agency to promote in-store events. Eataly founders include Mario Batali (above) and Joe Bastianich.

The Denver Urban Renewal Authority has chosen Cohn Marketing as its AOR to work on (among other things) strategic planning, special events, and ongoing PR.