gci media releases

GCI Group Promotes Luke Southern
and Welcomes Bernice Couto

May 26, 2010 | Toronto | gci news

Leading public relations agency GCI Group has promoted Luke Southern to the position of Digital Strategist and Bernice Couto has joined the consumer practice group as a Senior Consultant.

"We are delighted to promote Luke and welcome Bernice as our business continues to expand. This year GCI's proposition particularly resonated with the introduction of our public affairs offering and the deepening of our social media credentials," said Marion MacKenzie, President of GCI Group.

Southern first joined GCI Group to investigate social media measurement as part of his graduate studies. Luke holds an MBA from the Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, an undergraduate degree in Communications from the University of Windsor and a post-graduate certificate in Public Relations from Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology.

"The increased attention paid to campaign measurement and the expanding role of social media are what drew me back to PR," says Southern, "I'm excited to help GCI's clients realize their full online engagement potential."

Couto has more than six years experience in public relations across a variety of sectors including technology, retail, healthcare and lifestyle brands. Prior to joining GCI Group, she worked for notable of clients such as Microsoft Canada, Koodo, Agfa Healthcare and Nando's, and led the national 2009 Movember Canada campaign. In addition to her traditional public relations experience, Bernice spent time working for a non-traditional advertising agency, helping develop publicity stunt creative and events, and accompanying strategic on-and offline media plans. Bernice holds an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Western Ontario, as well as a Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism from Humber College.