PRWeek US News

SAN FRANCISCO: Wells Fargo is in the midst of an agency review process for its Wealth, Brokerage, and Retirement Group.

WALTHAM, MA: MyMediaInfo is gearing up to launch a standalone social media influencer database that will allow users to research, track and react to blogger, journalist and commentator activity.

DALLAS: Hill and Knowlton's Dallas office picked up the account for TravisDavid following a competitive pitch.

WASHINGTON: Fleishman-Hillard confirmed it let go up to 9% of staff in the firm's Washington office but declined to provide the specific number of people laid off.

LOS ANGELES: Burson-Marsteller hired Carline Jorgensen as MD in its US brand marketing practice.

NEW YORK: HBO linked up with Bloomingdale's, Harrah's, and Canadian Club whisky and invested in media relations and social media to promote its new series Boardwalk Empire.

SAN DIEGO: Social networks are all the rage but corporate marketing executives still rely on traditional public relations and online communications for brand awareness, a new survey says.

PARSIPPANY, NJ: Coyne PR has been appointed by Breastcancer.org to maximize media coverage around Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and its "Rock the Ribbon" 10-year anniversary celebration.

AVON, CT: Magellan Health Services hired David Carter as SVP of marketing and communications, effective August 30.

ROCHESTER, NY: Bausch & Lomb has appointed Attention as its first social media agency AOR following a competitive three-way pitch process.

WALTHAM, MA: Kimberly-Clark Health Care has selected Schwartz Communications as its AOR.

SAN FRANCISCO: Eastwick Communications has named former Google Enterprise executive Ellen Leanse vice president.

BOSTON: Arbella Insurance Group hired Greenough Communications as PR AOR.

LONDON: A PR trade group has established two separate task forces to answer lingering questions about the measurement of social media strategy and metrics.

LONDON: WPP Group has reported a revenue increase of 3.5% for the first half of 2010, as its global PR and public affairs revenues grew by 3.2%.

CHICAGO: Edelman promoted APAC president Alan VanderMolen to a new US-based leadership position overseeing the firm's global practices, its research firm StrategyOne, and its consulting businesses.

CHICAGO: Edelman promoted Alan VanderMolen to a new leadership position where he will oversee the firm's global practices, its research firm StrategyOne, and its consulting businesses.

SALT LAKE CITY: Streaming-video server software business Wowza Media Systems hired PR agency Wall Street Communications for media exposure.

PURCHASE, NY: PepsiCo recently brought on a number of senior-level PR employees as it continues to evolve its global communications strategy.

BLOOMFIELD, CT: Cigna named Maggie FitzPatrick, an executive at APCO Worldwide, its chief communications officer, starting September 20.