Paul M. Rand – President and CEO

Paul M. Rand is the president and CEO of Zócalo Group.

Paul is responsible for overall client strategy and satisfaction as well as the leadership and growth of the Zócalo Group team.

Prior to launching Zocalo Group, Paul served as a Partner and Global Chief Development and Innovation Officer at Ketchum, one of the world’s leading public relations firms. At Ketchum, Paul led or co-led the development of four industry recognized services: ChannelEdge (a sales channel communications program); Influencer Relationship Management (an influencer identification and marketing program); Women 25-54 (a service line focused on marketing to women) and Ketchum Personalized Media (delivering services in blogs, podcasts, Search Engine Optimization and mobile marketing).

Paul has 20 years of strategic communications experience, with expertise in corporate, industry analyst, financial, crisis, employee, business-to-business, media and marketing communications. As the founder and CEO of Corporate Technology Communications (CTC), Paul led CTC into becoming the Midwest’s largest independent corporate and technology communications firm and among the most respected in the nation. Ketchum acquired CTC in June 2001.

Paul also serves on the Executive Committee and Board for the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) and is widely regarded as a leading expert in Word of Mouth marketing and brand evangelism.

Paul has served as an adjunct faculty member at DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, teaching strategic planning and entrepreneurship.  He is currently on Executive Committee of the Dean’s Board of Advisors.  In addition, Paul serves on the Membership Committee for the Economic Club of Chicago and the Foundation Board for the Chicago Children’s Memorial Hospital.

Paul has been featured and/or quoted on WOM, business and communications issues in media including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Business Week, National Public Radio, The Chicago Tribune, PRWeek, AdWeek, Advertising Age and numerous other outlets.  He is a regular speaker and moderator for business and trade groups and was named in BtoB Magazine’s Top 100 marketers in 2004 and 2006. email: prand@zocalogroup.com