Santa Monica, CA (PRWEB) September 20, 2016 -- Harmonica, a leading independent PR and social marketing agency with offices in Los Angeles and London, announced today the opening of a third outpost in New York City. Along with the expansion, Harmonica also announced the hiring of Mark Ballard, as Senior Vice President and General Manager, New York, to manage and run east coast operations. Harmonica’s New York City office will service existing accounts such as Xaxis, the world’s largest programmatic advertising company, Life Is Good, the Boston-based positive lifestyle apparel brand, and others. Harmonica’s New York office will also serve as a cornerstone for the agency’s rapidly-expanding technology practice.
Ballard comes to Harmonica from Channel V Media where he led media relations and spearheaded the growth of the agency’s technology practice. Earlier in 2016, Ballard won a Marcom award for promoting the national expansion of Gotham Greens, pioneers in high-tech urban agriculture and builders of the country’s first commercial-scale hydroponic rooftop greenhouse. Ballard won another Marcom award for his work on Audience Entertainment, creators of the first-ever in-theater mobile video game experience, part of the pre-show for the new Terminator: Genisys film. Prior to Channel V Media, Ballard worked at The Rosen Group where he led independent music and culture magazine, Paste, to several national awards. Ballard also launched Make magazine, and its companion Maker Faire events. The hugely popular events celebrating technology, science and creativity have expanded globally, even reaching the grounds of The White House in 2014. Before The Rosen Group, Ballard was at The MWW Group, where his work on Invest-UK, the primary inward investment agency for the United Kingdom, won several awards.
“Mark has been behind several of the most notable technology stories of the last couple decades. With Make and Maker Faire, Mark helped turn a quirky magazine and a Bay Area event into what is now a global phenomenon. He possesses a sophisticated understanding of how media, content, partnerships, and other elements of PR can work together to help achieve business goals, and he has an uncanny ability to identify new opportunities for clients,” said Harmonica CEO Katy Saeger. “Mark is smart, visionary and loves what he does—we couldn’t ask for a better anchor to launch and grow our east coast footprint.”
A leader in his field, Ballard coined the term “slow PR”—an approach that champions an emphasis on reading, research and a greater respect for media professionals. His writings on PR and business have been published in PR Week and The Huffington Post. A graduate of Villanova University, and native of Rochester, NY, Ballard currently lives on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
For high-resolution headshots, interviews, or more information, please contact 646-391-0453.
About Harmonica
Harmonica is a media and communications agency based in Santa Monica, CA, with offices in New York and London. Founded in 2007, Harmonica brings together talented minds in business, PR, media and design to create intelligent and creative brand programs that achieve desired business goals and break down common market barriers and challenges for clients across industries. Harmonica has a particular focus in business, lifestyle/wellness and technology. Clients include Xaxis, Life Is Good, KeVita, Manduka, mophie, Inc., thinkThin, The Offices of His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama, Safeway, Jamba Juice, Possible, and SPY. Visit our website at http://www.harmonica.co.
Rabeeah Patail, HARMONICA, http://www.harmonica.co, +1 310-935-3886, [email protected]
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