Havas PR staffers Brian Ackermann (an Account Executive in Pittsburgh) and Megan Duffy (an Account Executive in New York City) have been named “Rising Stars” for their forward-thinking use of social media. Each year, The Social Shake-Up—a premier social media conference for digital, marketing and PR professionals—recognizes stand-out professionals through its Movers and Shakers Awards. The awards honor individuals who have demonstrated that they are “shakin’ up” social media strategies for clients.
During his more than two years at Havas PR, Ackermann has become indispensable. “Always on” when it comes to social, his ideas and hard work have led to tremendous success for client Transitions Optical. Brian leads the Transitions PRO social media channels for eyecare professionals—growing post engagement by 512 percent since taking over content planning, development and execution. Brian also manages the award-winning Transitions Change Agent influencer program and launched Transitions Optical’s trade Instagram account—both of which won top awards at the 2019 PRSA Pittsburgh Renaissance Awards.
Duffy—who joined the Havas PR team less than two years ago—is also a social media powerhouse who is credited with elevating Havas PR’s digital marketing development to new heights. She delivers strong social results for many clients and will do whatever it takes to get the job done. Her accomplishments include spearheading influencer outreach for True Citrus—securing 238 influencer posts for a total reach of 6.3 million (only 16 posts were paid). Duffy also has a knack for converting influencer relationships into traditional media placements, including earned segments on ABC “Lowcountry Live” and WBTV-CBS.
“We are proud to have two very valuable members of our team recognized for such prestigious awards,” said Katie McSorley, president, Mid-Atlantic, Havas PR. “Both Brian and Megan have made a tremendous impact on their respective clients’ social media strategies and we are excited to see them continue to ‘shake things up’ for years to come.”
Ackermann and Duffy will both be honored during the Social Shake-Up conference, taking place May 6-8 in Atlanta.
