We are delighted to announce the hire of media and PR veteran Ed Garsten as an integrated media consultant. Ed will advise on Franco’s integrated communications strategies, support media training and crisis work and provide strategic direction on multimedia projects.
His 45-year multimedia career has ranged from spinning records on the radio, launching CNN’s second network, pioneering corporate journalism at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and instructing budding broadcast journalists as an adjunct professor at Wayne State University.
Ed truly embodies Franco’s core value of forward motion – he’s never stopped innovating – and we look forward to bringing his brand of experience and innovation to Franco’s clients and teams.
Prior to joining Franco, Garsten served as a video reporter at Automotive News. Before that, he was head of digital media at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) where he led FCA’s social media, internet and broadcast communications to consumers, media, employees, retirees and investors. In this position he pioneered the concept of corporate journalism, helping the company tell its own story via video, social media and webcasts.
Additionally, Garsten has served in many broadcast and print roles including correspondent, bureau chief, producer and anchor at CNN spanning two decades and automotive writer for the Detroit News and Associated Press.
Ed is a contributor to Forbes.com and maintains a personal blog – edlines.co. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in speech and theatre from the State University of New York at Oswego and a Master of Arts in journalism from the University of Arizona.
Tina Kozak leads Franco as president. Contact her at [email protected], or @tinakozak.
Ed, you are a great choice for a media company. Besides being an authentic, serious reporter, (I know, I’ve worked at least one very big CNN story with you) you’ve also got a great sense of humor and are an amazingly clever writer. Congrats.
Don, thank you so very much. That’s high praise from someone I respect so much. I wish we had a chance to work on more stories together because I’m sure I could have learned so much from you.