February 15, 2024
ARLINGTON, Va. – PLUS Communications, a Beltway-based strategic communications and public affairs firm, has named Jamie Wren as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Tamara Smith as the agency’s new head of public affairs. Both women will continue to serve as partners within the firm’s public affairs practice and have been instrumental in driving unparalleled growth at PLUS, which was recently acquired by Omnicom PR Group (OPRG), the world’s largest global network of communications and consulting agencies.
“Jamie and Tamara are proven leaders who understand the communications and policy challenges facing our clients in Washington, D.C., state capitals, and cities and towns across the country,” said Danny Diaz, a founding and managing partner at PLUS Communications and FP1 Strategies. “They know what it takes to deliver creative solutions and consistent results. We are lucky to have them leading our team into a new era.”
Among other duties, Wren will oversee all day-to-day operations at PLUS as well as its sister firm, FP1 Strategies, including human resources (HR), information technology (IT), operations, and administrative functions. She also will provide strategic counsel and direction to guide the firm’s evolution among the nation’s top public affairs consultancies. Prior to joining PLUS, Wren spent nearly eight years at Burson (formerly Burson-Marsteller) and its sister grassroots company Direct Impact. Among other roles, she served as the chief of staff to the U.S. CEO at Burson, helping manage client services, talent and new business initiatives.
“In my 10 years at PLUS, we have grown from two dozen employees to more than two hundred,” said Wren. “From interns to partners, we invest in the success of every team member, and that commitment is reflected in how our team works to drive the success of our clients. I look forward to building on that culture as we integrate new regional offices, expand services, and tap fresh opportunities for cross-agency collaboration within OPRG.”
Smith, another long-time communications veteran, will assume leadership of the firm’s public affairs practice, which serves clients ranging from multi-national corporations and trade associations to local and national non-profits. In her new role, Smith will oversee more than 75 full-time professionals, including all staffing, client services and business development within the department. Prior to joining PLUS, Smith served in a diverse range of communications roles, including as Group Vice President for Policy Communications at Charter Communications, chief spokesperson for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and a White House Correspondent for Newsweek and ABC News.
“Having worked as a journalist, a corporate communications officer, and a federal agency spokesperson, I have a deep appreciation for the diversity of talents and perspectives on display at PLUS,” said Smith. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to manage, guide and nurture our team as we continue to raise the bar advancing the objectives of an ever-growing roster of clients.”
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Omnicom PR Group (OPRG) is the largest global network of communications and consulting agencies in the world. It is home to three of the top global PR agencies FleishmanHillard, Ketchum, Porter Novelli and more than a dozen specialist agencies in corporate and public affairs, political consulting and advertising, language strategy, global health strategy and organizational transformation. OPRG is part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC). www.TeamOPRG.com.
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