Prosek Partners, a leading independent marketing and communications firm, is launching a dedicated HR Special Situations Practice Group for existing and prospective clients experiencing a crisis or other special situation which impacts their employees.
The new practice combines Prosek’s deep experience in human resources and crisis management. It will be managed by Karen Niovitch Davis, partner and chief human resources officer at Prosek. She will work with special situations partners Andy Merrill and Mickey Mandelbaum.
The Prosek team will work with clients across the financial services industry to identify issues, assess the risks, and strategically advise on and support the execution of an actionable plan. Services include independent onsite HR investigations, HR strategy advisory services, internal and external communications, digital reputation audit and strategy, and media and public relations strategy and execution.
“HR risks have risen dramatically in the last five years and we want to help lean management teams effectively handle talent and culture issues that may be new to them,” said Niovitch Davis. “Our independent HR specialists can conduct investigations or ensure that all legal protocols are being followed and will work with our experienced crisis management and strategic communications experts. We see a need for this especially at alternative asset managers including private equity firms and hedge funds.”
The three Prosek partners leading the new practice have decades of experience in employee issues and crises:
– Karen Niovitch Davis has more than 20 years of HR experience working inside investment banks and hedge funds, including Morgan Stanley, Moore Capital and Third Avenue Management. She has helped guide and design these firms’ strategic planning and execution, with an emphasis on human resources, talent recruitment, employee retention and cultural development.
– Andy Merrill brings nearly 20 years of strategic financial communications experience to Prosek with a focus on transaction communications and issues and crisis management working with some of the world’s leading corporations. He was formerly with Teneo and was the US CEO of Finsbury.
– Mickey Mandelbaum brings over 25 years of experience to the team in strategic corporate and financial communications, with a focus on special situations such as litigation support, issues management and executive transitions. He is a lawyer who started his career at Kekst and Company and then founded his own firm before merging it with Prosek.