ViaNovo Launched: Leading business and public affairs strategists announce merger
Founding partners of bipartisan shop include top advisors to President Bush
(Washington, D.C.; Austin, TX; and Monterrey, MX) - May 26, 2005 - Four leading international strategists today announced their merger forming a new management and communications consulting firm, ViaNovo , which provides breakthrough strategies for global corporations, governments and non-profit organizations. The founding partners of ViaNovo are Blaine Bull, Matthew Dowd, Tucker Eskew, and James Taylor. Drawing on their combined 100 years experience - on the ultimate testing grounds of U.S. presidential campaigns and the White House, as well as with Fortune 500 businesses, coalitions, and governments - the ViaNovo partners join forces to help clients find new ways to win.
ViaNovo applies its own, new proprietary process - AIMD (Audience, Insight, Message and Delivery) - across a range of services, including strategic planning and communications, threat assessment and competitive positioning, crisis communications, brand strategy, media relations, issue campaigns, alliance and coalition building, and grassroots mobilization.
The founding partners of ViaNovo are:
Blaine Bull. With more than two decades' experience in politics, government, and corporate America, Blaine is an expert in government affairs, media relations, issues management, and public opinion. Prior to starting the strategic communications firm The StratCom Group in 2004, Blaine was a founding officer and shareowner of Public Strategies, Inc., an international public affairs firm. During 13 years there as a managing director, Blaine led dozens of successful international, national, multi-state, and statewide corporate campaigns. Previously, he was legislative director to former U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) and directed his successful 1988 re-election campaign.
"We're excited about offering our clients a new, proprietary methodology known as AIMD," said Bull. "Campaigns today - for corporations just as for candidates - must be built around understanding the changes around us and how they affect what the public wants."
Matthew Dowd. Prior to forming Dowd Strategic Consulting last year, Matthew was Chief Campaign Strategist for Bush-Cheney 2004, where he oversaw the campaign's media, message development, targeting and research - work that earned him the title of Pollster/Strategist of the Year from the American Association of Political Consultants. Previously, Matthew was Senior Advisor to the Republican National Committee and Director of Polling and Media Planning for the 2000 Bush for President Campaign. In the 1990s, Matthew was President and founding partner of Public Strategies, Inc. While there, Matthew was Texas Lt. Governor Bob Bullock's chief campaign consultant. A contributing analyst for Fox News, Matthew is co-authoring a book for release in fall 2006 that examines the tactics used by two great politicians and a groundbreaking company to thrive in an era of immense change.
"Our name comes from the Latin root for new way, or new path," said Dowd. "With a name that's both classic and contemporary, this firm is devoted to understanding every client's historic framework, and then designing strategies that fit the needs of the fast-changing now."
Tucker Eskew. PR Week says Tucker has played "a key communications role in some of the U.S.' fiercest political tempests." While leading the Eskew Strategy Group, Tucker served as a spokesman and strategist for the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign. As Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush for Global Communications, Tucker headed the development of strategic communications to promote U.S. foreign policy. During the war in Afghanistan, Tucker served in London as the President's communications representative to No. 10 Downing Street. Previously, as Director of the White House Office of Media Affairs in 2001, he oversaw strategy and tactics for "outside-the-Beltway" news organizations. He was Press Secretary and Communications Director to S.C. Governor Carroll Campbell. Tucker began his career in the national press office of President Ronald Reagan's 1984 re-election campaign.
"Our clients face pressures such as regulatory uncertainty, on-demand media and an always demanding public," said Eskew, who heads the firm's Washington, D.C. practice. "ViaNovo brings together culturally aware, plugged-in strategists to solve big problems and reposition leading organizations."
James S. Taylor. A leading international strategist, James founded the strategic consulting firm CIMA Strategies Ltd., and was a founding director and shareholder of Public Strategies, Inc., where he created and managed the International Division. Many of James's professional endeavors have been tied to Mexico's economic and political transformation. James continues to advise government and corporate leaders in Mexico and the United States. James was also a presidential appointee to the U.S. International Trade Commission. He served as special assistant to former U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas, and was the deputy campaign director for Bentsen's 1988 re-election. James was born in Texas and grew up in Ciudad Victoria, Mexico.
"We prepare our clients to cope with continual change at home and abroad," said Taylor. "In today's increasingly integrated world, communications can profoundly affect organizations. ViaNovo works with corporate and government leaders across the Americas, Europe, and beyond, in discovering new ways to succeed in today's complex world."
Contact Information for ViaNovo Partners:
Blaine Bull, (512) 744-0044
Matthew Dowd, (512) 744-0044
Tucker Eskew, (703) 549-0330
James Taylor, (512) 744-0044
For more information, please visit www.vianovo.com or write info@vianovo.com .