02/22/17

Padilla Promotes Matt Kucharski to President

MINNEAPOLIS (February 7, 2017) – Matt Kucharski, a veteran communications, marketing and public relations strategist, has been promoted to president of Padilla. He succeeds Mark Raper, who moves into the new role of chief counsel officer at Padilla. Lynn Casey continues as the company’s CEO.

Kucharski joined the agency in 1989. As a member of Padilla’s Executive Leadership Team, he leads the agency’s business-to-business and business-to-consumer practices. In his new role, the agency’s health practice also will report to Kucharski. As a seasoned business counselor, Kucharski has expertise in branding, corporate communications, reputation management and issues management.

“Matt is a big-picture thinker and sought-after counselor. He truly defines what it means to be a leader in our industry,” said Casey. “Thanks to Mark’s leadership and vision, and Matt’s willingness to assume the mantle of president, Padilla is ready to move forward and make 2017 and beyond the best years of our company.”

“Matt is universally respected and admired by clients and staff – including me,” Raper said. “As I transition toward retirement next year, I am thrilled that someone of his caliber will assume the role of president.”

Kucharski also serves as Padilla liaison to the Worldcom Public Relations Group, the world’s largest partnership of independent communications firms, and served as chair of Worldcom from 2010-2012. He sits on the board and executive committee of the Minnesota High Tech Association, the Twin Cities American Heart Association board of directors and the national board of Pheasants Forever, one of the nation’s most respected conservation organizations. He also performs ad hoc consulting for a variety of nonprofit and community groups.

Kucharski has spent more than 15 years as an adjunct instructor of marketing and strategic communications at the University of Minnesota and frequently serves as a panelist, guest speaker and moderator on a range of strategic communications, marketing and business strategy topics. He graduated with a degree in journalism and business administration from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

About Padilla
Padilla is a top 10 independent public relations and communications company comprised of 240 employee owners. Padilla builds, grows and protects brands worldwide by creating purposeful connections with the people who matter most through public relations, advertising, digital and social marketing, investor relations and brand strategy. Padilla includes the brand consultancy of Joe Smith, the food and nutrition experts at FoodMinds and the research authorities at SMS. Clients include 3M, Barnes & Noble Education, BASF, Bayer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, GE, Hass Avocado Board, Land O’Lakes, Mayo Clinic, Prosciutto di Parma, Rockwell Automation, U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, the Virginia Lottery, Welch’s and Xcel Energy. Padilla is a founding member of The Worldcom Public Relations Group, a partnership of 143 independently owned partner offices in 115 cities on six continents. Make a connection at PadillaCo.com.

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