**Exclusive** Frank Parisi Resigns as General Manager of Fleishman-Hillard Minneapolis/St. Paul

Frank Parisi, who joined the Twin Cities’ office of Fleishman-Hillard in 2001, has resigned as the office’s general manager to take on a consulting position with the firm, it was announced today.

“I’ve truly enjoyed leading this office,” Parisi said. “This is an agency that is rich with quality people and the very best clients, and while I will miss the day-to-day interaction of the general manager position, I look forward to assisting the agency in a consulting capacity in the community.”

“Frank is a person of true character and integrity,” said John Graham, chairman and chief executive officer of Fleishman-Hillard. “There are few who have exemplified better the values and philosophy of our company. We are delighted that he will remain connected with Fleishman-Hillard.”

Rich Jernstedt, an executive vice president of the firm, and former chief executive officer of Golin Harris International, will serve as interim general manager until a replacement is found, Graham said. Assisting Jernstedt in the search for a new general manager will be Ann Barkelew, who founded the office for Fleishman-Hillard.

“Being a general manager of an office in the Fleishman-Hillard network is about as good as it gets in our business,” Jernstedt said. “I’m eager to comb the talent pool both internally and externally to find just the right fit.”

Jernstedt noted that Fleishman-Hillard Minneapolis/St. Paul, founded in 1996, is particularly strong in consumer communications, technology PR, healthcare, and corporate communications. “I expect we will find many people who understand public relations, but more importantly, we want someone who has a knack for attracting talent and creating an exceptional work experience,” he said. “Also, it’s difficult to overstate the career enrichment that working with global clients brings, especially in a network where more than 85 percent of clients are served by more than one office. That aspect of our firm tends to sell itself.”

Parisi was only the second general manager to run the St. Paul/Minneapolis Fleishman-Hillard office. Ann Barkelew, APR, Fellow PRSA, who founded the Twin Cities office 1996, resigned in 2001 and currently also serves as a consultant to the agency.

The Twin Cities Business Journal has picked up the story, get it here.