Pumpkin PR appoints ITV’s Tracey O’Connor to newly-created MD role

ITV ‘s head of press, Tracey O’Connor, has returned to Pumpkin PR, which specialises in the creative and media sectors, as the agency’s first MD.

In this new role, O’Connor will develop the agency’s business strategy, with an aim to grow its account portfolio.

She will report to Pumpkin CEO Sarah Owen.

With over 20 years’ PR experience in media and broadcasting O’Connor has most recently focused on corporate comms for the ITV, with senior roles in commercial, online, ITV Studios and ITV Studios Global Entertainment.

She led the PR strategy for the recent repositioning of ITV’s VOD service and latterly managed the corporate comms for ITV’s biggest advertising Upfronts – the ITV Gala.

ITV has also retained Pumpkin to manage its commercial and online PR until April 2016.

Prior to her three years at ITV, Tracey was director at Pumpkin, having joined from Premier PR, where she led the TV team. Previously, she was deputy head of press at Channel 5, which she joined from ITV

Owen said: “Tracey is the obvious and ideal choice to lead Pumpkin in the next stage of its development. Not only is she a joy to work with, she has a deep understanding of the commercial landscape, exceptional crisis management skills and proven leadership expertise. We are growing fast. So her first task at Pumpkin will be to attract and add to the existing team.”

O’Connor said: “I am delighted to be joining Pumpkin as MD at such a crucial stage. Sarah has built an exceptional and growing business with a fantastic reputation as a can do agency that knows the industry inside out. I am really looking forward to working with Sarah and the team to realise its ambition for further growth and success.”