NEW YORK, MSLGROUP Americas today announced that it has hired Rum Ekhtiar as senior vice president and director of development for its New York corporate and health practices.  Rum is known for working across silos and geographies to create broad-sweeping global strategies and innovative platforms for some of the world’s largest global businesses, including Citi and Novartis.  He will be tasked with driving strategy and innovation across the practices groups for existing and prospective clients.

According to Jim Tsokanos, president, MSLGROUP Americas, “Rum Ehktiar is an unprecedented master storyteller who can shape powerful narratives for our clients.  Rum specializes in partnering with clients to shape distinctive ideas, meaningful platforms and engaging conversations that are delivered in real-time.”

“I joined MSLGROUP Americas because of its focus on growing opportunities across the channels of communication and appreciation of transformative innovation,” said Ekhtiar. “I was most attracted to the company’s focus on boundless creativity. It’s not every day you come across an agency that is so client-focused. Paired with its practice and geographic agnostic approach to talent and ideas, MSLGROUP felt like the right place to continue honing my craft.”

About Rum Ekhtiar

Rum has a unique and rich professional background that spans practice areas, including building corporate reputation and thought leadership initiatives for Fortune 500 companies. 

Prior to joining MSLGROUP, Rum was an executive vice president at Ruder Finn, responsible for strategy and creative development in the corporate communications group. While there, he led the Citi business developing a world-wide employee engagement and thought leadership platform. Rum also served as the global account director of the Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics (NVD) Vaccines Franchise.

Additionally he was responsible for business development across Ruder Finn globally.  

Prior to coming aboard Ruder Finn, Rum was an account director at FischerHealth/Porter Novelli in Los Angeles where he managed several award-winning PR and integrated marketing accounts. 

Rum will divide his time between providing senior counsel for some of MSLGROUP Americas’ largest health and corporate clients and serving as the creative and strategic director for program development for both existing and new clients.  In this role, he will draw on his experience helping launch new vaccines and life-saving therapies, advising companies on innovation strategies and collaboration tools, helping shape CSR platforms and managing multi-million dollar mergers and acquisitions. 

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About MSLGROUP Americas

MSLGROUP Americas is part of MSLGROUP, Publicis Groupe’s strategic communications and engagement group, advisors in all aspects of communication strategy: from consumer PR to financial communications, from public affairs to reputation management and from crisis communications to experiential marketing and events. With more than 3,500 people across close to 100 offices worldwide, MSLGROUP is also the largest PR network in fast-growing China and India. The group offers strategic planning and counsel, insight-guided thinking and big, compelling ideas – followed by thorough execution. Learn more about us at: www.mslgroup.com + blog.mslgroup.com

About Publicis Groupe

Publicis Groupe [listed on the Euronext Paris Exchange - FR0000130577 - and part of the CAC 40 index] is the world's third largest communications group. With activities spanning 104 countries on five continents, Publicis Groupe offers local and international clients a complete range of advertising services through three global advertising networks, Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, and numerous agencies including Fallon, 49%-owned Bartle Bogle Hegarty, and Kaplan Thaler Group. VivaKi combines digital and media expertise, allowing connection with consumers in a holistic way, with Starcom MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia worldwide media networks; and interactive and digital marketing led by Digitas and Razorfish networks. VivaKi develops new services, tools, and next generation digital platforms. Publicis Groupe’s specialized agencies and marketing services offer healthcare communications with Publicis Healthcare Communications Group (PHCG, the first network in healthcare communications), sustainability communications and multicultural communications. With MSLGROUP, one of the world's top three PR and Events networks, expertise ranges from corporate and financial communications to public relations and public affairs, branding, social media marketing and events. www.publicisgroupe.com