Former Nike, Levi Strauss Senior Executive Strengthens APCO's Corporate, Crisis, Issues Management Expertise

Washington, D.C. (December 6, 2010) – Vada O. Manager, former senior director of global issues management at Nike, Inc., joins APCO Worldwide as a senior vice president, Robert Schooling, managing director of the Washington, D.C., office, announced today.

"Vada is a respected business and communication strategist who has assisted with global growth plans and consulted on key initiatives for top brands such as Nike and Levi Strauss & Co.," said Schooling. "His pioneering work in corporate issues, sports business and crisis management is a great addition to APCO's strong team, and we are very excited that he is joining the D.C. office."

As senior director of global issues management for Nike, Manager's broad portfolio of responsibilities included labor practices/global sourcing procedures; marketing communication support for subsidiaries; and crisis management for athletes, product recalls and corporate issues. During his 12-year tenure, he served on the launch team of nike.com, strategized on new business acquisitions such as the Converse and Starter brands, was one of the early architects of Nike's renewed corporate responsibility strategy, and served as a member of the corporate leadership team, Nike's most highly valued team of global executives. He was Nike's senior crisis and issues strategist on issues such as the Olympics, the World Cup, and company response and business resumption after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"I am excited to join APCO - already a worldwide leader with very talented professionals," said Manager. "As CEOs and corporate boards place even greater value on anticipating risks and crises and managing critical issues, I look forward to working with APCO's clients on various challenges and new opportunities."

Prior to joining Nike, Manager was senior manager of global communications for Levi Strauss & Co, providing strategic communication counsel to the global leadership team as the company successfully launched and expanded its Dockers and SLATES brands. He was also a vice president at Powell Tate, where he co-managed accounts for key clients such as the PGA Tour, Major League Baseball and Court TV. While there, he also consulted the African National Congress in their transition to power in South Africa under newly elected President Nelson Mandela with sponsorship from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Most recently, Manager served as CEO of Manager Global Consulting Group, an issues management and sports business consultancy practice he founded in 2009. In addition to prior government service and his previous role as chair of the Issue Management Council, Manager also serves on the board of directors for Ashland, Inc., a Fortune 500 specialty chemical company based in Kentucky.

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About APCO Worldwide

Founded in 1984, APCO Worldwide is an award-winning, independently owned global communication consultancy with offices in major cities throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO clients include corporations and governments; industry associations and nonprofit organizations; and seven of the top 10 companies on Fortune's Global 500. APCO offers services related to business, industry and finance; media, public opinion and society; and government and public policy. The firm is a majority women-owned business. For more information, please visit www.apcoworldwide.com.

Contact:
Elizabeth Wolf
202.778.1470
ewolf@apcoworldwide.com