Ray Kotcher, CEO and Senior Partner of Ketchum
Ray Kotcher is CEO and senior partner of Ketchum, a unit of Omnicom Group and one of the world’s largest public relations agencies with more than 50 offices and 50 affiliates across six continents.
Ray started at the agency in 1983. Since becoming CEO in 2000, he has overseen the expansion of the firm’s global client service footprint, as well as the broadening and deepening of Ketchum’s offerings. In 2009, he led one of the largest mergers in the PR industry when Ketchum and Pleon, Europe’s largest strategic communications consultancy, combined operations. In 2010, he continued the firm’s global expansion with major investments in the Middle East and Russia, followed by, in 2011, China and India. Ray also has helped the agency grow its range of offerings through the acquisition of five complementary businesses as well as through the creation of four specialized communications businesses, which have strengthened Ketchum’s expertise in such areas as technology communications, sports and entertainment marketing and word-of-mouth marketing.
Under his leadership, Ketchum has continued its award-winning record of excellence in the PR industry, maintaining the record as the agency with the most Public Relations Society of America Silver Anvils (117). In 2011, for the third year in a row, Ketchum and its clients were recognized with the PR Week award (United States) for Campaign of the Year, marking an unprecedented third time an agency has received this honor.
Ray also has numerous personal and industry distinctions. He currently serves on the board of trustees of the Arthur W. Page Society. In 2008 and 2009, Ray was chair of the Council of Public Relations Firms, one of only two people to serve consecutive terms. In 2009, he was named to PR Week’s Power List, a ranking of 25 of the most important leaders in the PR industry and, in 2011, he received one of the Holmes Group’s highest individual honors, the SABRE Individual Achievement Award.
Ray has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the State University of New York at Geneseo and serves as a trustee of the Geneseo Foundation board. He has a Master of Science in public relations from Boston University's College of Communication, has been appointed to serve on the college’s executive committee and has been honored by the university as a distinguished alumnus.
Ray started at the agency in 1983. Since becoming CEO in 2000, he has overseen the expansion of the firm’s global client service footprint, as well as the broadening and deepening of Ketchum’s offerings. In 2009, he led one of the largest mergers in the PR industry when Ketchum and Pleon, Europe’s largest strategic communications consultancy, combined operations. In 2010, he continued the firm’s global expansion with major investments in the Middle East and Russia, followed by, in 2011, China and India. Ray also has helped the agency grow its range of offerings through the acquisition of five complementary businesses as well as through the creation of four specialized communications businesses, which have strengthened Ketchum’s expertise in such areas as technology communications, sports and entertainment marketing and word-of-mouth marketing.
Under his leadership, Ketchum has continued its award-winning record of excellence in the PR industry, maintaining the record as the agency with the most Public Relations Society of America Silver Anvils (117). In 2011, for the third year in a row, Ketchum and its clients were recognized with the PR Week award (United States) for Campaign of the Year, marking an unprecedented third time an agency has received this honor.
Ray also has numerous personal and industry distinctions. He currently serves on the board of trustees of the Arthur W. Page Society. In 2008 and 2009, Ray was chair of the Council of Public Relations Firms, one of only two people to serve consecutive terms. In 2009, he was named to PR Week’s Power List, a ranking of 25 of the most important leaders in the PR industry and, in 2011, he received one of the Holmes Group’s highest individual honors, the SABRE Individual Achievement Award.
Ray has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the State University of New York at Geneseo and serves as a trustee of the Geneseo Foundation board. He has a Master of Science in public relations from Boston University's College of Communication, has been appointed to serve on the college’s executive committee and has been honored by the university as a distinguished alumnus.