Michael Duffield Joins Hall Company As West Coast Vice President

HALL COMPANY HIRES CREATIVE CONSUMER BRAND VETERAN

The Hall Company, a New York-based restaurant, hospitality branding and communications agency, today announces the appointment of marketing and public relations expert Michael Duffield as Vice President in Los Angeles. Duffield, who has spent more than 24 years in the public relations and marketing fields, exploring and strengthening his culinary, consumer, design and communications experience, will serve as West Coast lead for the growing firm.

"Public Relations is increasingly the cornerstone of smart marketing plans. Michael's impressive, ongoing commitment to food, consumer brands and integrated marketing and his hands-on passion for the client fits perfectly with the Hall Company," said Hall Company partner Steven Hall. "We're thrilled to have someone with Michael's depth and breadth of experience bring his expertise to bear on behalf of the Hall Company and our clients."

Most recently, Duffield lead North American Consumer programs as Vice President for Porter Novelli's Almond Board of California client. Prior to that he was Director of Public Relations at advertising agency Erwin Penland in Greenville, South Carolina representing regional grocer BI-LO and eco-conscious floor care firm milliCare, an arm of Milliken. Before assuming that role he developed his Atlanta-based Michael Duffield Communications consultancy creating internal and external communications and brand development strategies for a myriad of clients including the Southeastern Flower Show and Chalmers Ganache. He was vice president and creative strategist for Waterhouse Public Relations in Chattanooga, Tenn. where he developed and executed award-winning PR plans for Mayfield Dairy Farms. Duffield also served as national public relations manager and food & lifestyle editor for the world's largest retailer of natural and organic foods, Whole Foods Market in Austin, Texas and spent time in New York at Creamer Dickson Basford (now Euro RSCG Magnet) - as well as his Chicago firm, One Step Ahead.

Over the years he has applied his creativity and communications knowledge to products and destinations such as Bristol Farms, Disaronno Originale Amaretto, Oliviers & Co. Olive Oil, Eat Rice Restaurants (Daily Chow, Kelley +
Ping, Kin Khao), Jean Georges Restaurant Group, Holiday Meals on Wheels, Lactaid, and Heinz' EZ Squirt Blastin' Green Ketchup, Boston Market Gravy and Mr. Yoshida's Fine Sauces, among others.

A graduate of the University of Iowa, Duffield holds a degree in journalism and graphic design.
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