Robin Leedy & Associates expands New York operations, names new managing director

MT. KISCO, N.Y. — PR and social media marketing specialists Robin Leedy & Associates on Tuesday named Tara McNally to oversee account teams and staff development, client services and brand campaigns from the firm's new Manhattan office at Fifth Avenue and 44th Street.

RL&A specializes in OTC and HBA PR and social media. A few drug store brands that the agency currently represents include Certain Dri, Anti Monkey Butt, Cystex, Sea-Band, Scunci, Conair, Feosol, FeverAll, Udderly Smooth and Replens. McNally, who was named managing director of RL&A, has a strong pedigree managing OTC/HBA media campaigns.

McNally comes to RL&A from Edelman, Chicago and has developed and executed successful, holistic communication and influencer initiatives for a variety of lifestyle brands in the beauty, fashion, health/wellness/nutrition, food/beverage and travel/tourism arenas. “Tara is a dynamic, creative and passionate professional who has an unwavering commitment to her craft and translating it into impactful results benefitting her clients,” stated Robin Russo, president of RL&A. “We are extremely excited to have her on the RL&A management team as we expand into our new Manhattan office.”

Most recently, McNally resided in Chicago, working for Edelman to drive and execute consumer engagement programming for a variety of brands, including Jim Beam and Quaker Oats, for which she traveled with Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper across three time zones in three days to teach people how small lifestyle changes can lead to big improvements in their overall health and wellness.

Prior to joining Edelman, McNally worked for several agencies in New York, where she created and implemented integrated communications platforms for a variety of national brands, including Vicks, Glaceau Vitaminwater/Smartwater, TCBY, H&M and Mattel. Additionally, she’s worked in-house alongside news anchor Lou Dobbs and astronaut Sally Ride at the online news organization SPACE.com.

With the new addition to the RL&A management team, O’Mahoney, who reports to Russo, will move more into further developing the agency’s integrated marketing capabilities and social network activation, as well as new business development and agency business. 

The new Manhattan location is in addition to its Mount Kisco office, which will remain its headquarters.