CRT/tanaka Announces Departure of Livingston to Start New Company

RICHMOND, Va. and WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 22, 2009) - Geoff Livingston, senior vice president of social media at CRT/tanaka, will be leaving the agency to launch a new business venture. Livingston was the founder of Washington D.C.-area Livingston Communications, which was acquired by CRT/tanaka in March 2009.Livingston, author of the award-winning book on new media “Now is Gone: A Primer on New Media for Executives and Entrepreneurs,” cited by the Wall Street Journal as a valuable resource for social media, will be leaving CRT/tanaka in November 2009. He plans to launch his new company in early 2010. Livingston will continue to work with CRT/tanaka and its clients as a social media strategy consultant. He also will continue to be a contributor to the revamped, multi-author Buzz Bin blog.

Priya Ramesh, director of social media, will assume oversight of CRT/tanaka’s social media group and the agency’s Washington, D.C. office.

“We acquired the Livingston Communications operations earlier this year specifically to increase our social media capabilities throughout the organization. With Geoff’s assistance and the expertise of our D.C.-based staff, we have substantially enhanced our social media expertise,” said Mike Mulvihill, CRT/tanaka president. “I would like to thank Geoff for his role in helping CRT/tanaka become a top-quadrant social media player. And, I look forward to continuing to work with Geoff as a consultant to CRT/tanaka and in possible future collaborative efforts.”

“It was great watching the many young and talented minds across CRT/tanaka embrace social media,” Livingston said. “In many ways, I felt my job had been accomplished. I look forward to continuing my relationship with CRT/tanaka, albeit in this reduced role.” (For more commentary, see Livingston’s post on his personal blog at www.geofflivingston.com.)

About CRT/tanaka
CRT/tanaka is an award-winning public relations and marketing firm known for its whatcanbeSM workplace culture and approach to business. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., and New York, with offices in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Norfolk, Va., CRT/tanaka features four integrated specialties - Consumer, Health, Corporate and Interactive/Social. The agency has been recognized with more than 300 national and regional awards for its strategic counsel, creativity, workplace culture and community service. Clients include Air New Zealand, BISSELL Homecare, Inc., Cambria Suites, Charles Schwab & Co., Council for Responsible Nutrition, Council of Better Business Bureaus, Girl Scouts of the USA, Network Solutions, Sprint Nextel, Quebec Maple Syrup and Wines from Rioja (Spain). More information about CRT/tanaka is available at www.crt-tanaka.com.