NEW YORK--Allison+Partners has hired two executives to lead a new operation in Chicago. Greg Dunn and Mary Shaughnessy have been named co-managing directors responsible for building the client portfolio and managing operations.
The office is part of an expansion initiative that includes both targeted US and international markets.
Separately, Allison has expanded its relationship with Asics from its New York office, and will provide retained support to help the sports brand broaden its consumer appeal. The firm is working alongside ad agency Vitro on Asics’ branding account, after handling projects since last year. One of their collaborations is Stop It Never, an exhibition that encourages people to reach their personal best.
“It’s about broadening the amount of people that are using the product, both in the sports performance world, and the everyday athlete,” said Allison senior partner Anne Colaciacovo. “Bridging that line between lifestyle and sports.”
The expansion in business is not limited to New York. The MDC firm grew by 25 percent in 2011, and its new Chicago operation launches with such clients as the Dairy Communications Management Team, Kohler Co, and Viewpoints.
Last week, Allison announced a raft of promotions, with founding partners Scott Allison, Andy Hardie-Brown and Scott Pansky shifting to broader roles focused on overall strategic vision and growth initiatives for the firm
Prior to joining Allison+Partners, Dunn spent 11 years with Burson-Marsteller where he co-led the agency’s corporate reputation offering within the US corporate practice, working with both blue-chip and smaller companies. Shaughnessy most recently co-led the PR practice at Cramer-Krasselt, an advertising and marketing agency. Previously, she was principal of Cube Public Relations, an agency she founded in 1998.
“As one of the country’s most diverse business environments, Chicago presents tremendous opportunity across practice areas,” said Scott Allison, CEO of Allison+Partners. “We’ve chosen a strong team to lead our growth and will leverage our expertise in multiple industries in this important market.”