Former Fox PR Chief Bumble Ward Establishes Hive Communication Collective Focused on Social Media and Philanthropy

LA-based film and PR maven Bumble Ward, who in October 2012 left her post as publicity EVP at Twentieth Century Fox, has co-founded a new social strategy hub for art and philanthropy, Hive Communication Collective. She is partnered with philanthropy vet Tracy Bechtold, per their press release today:

The firm will offer a full complement of communication services including strategic messaging, media relations, and social and digital media outreach to forward-thinking entertainment companies, creators and projects as well as local and national non-profits and social causes.

Following a long hiatus from PR after shutting down her lucrative firm Bumble Ward and Associates in 2004, Ward joined Fox in summer 2011. She left the studio last October before her contract was to expire in February 2013, citing “different approaches” and a “mutual parting of ways.” Having leveraged many large-scale campaigns for Fox features including last year’s “Prometheus” and the awards track for “Life of Pi” — and inspiring an infamous New Yorker profile back in 2002 — Ward is a stalwart in the film PR community.

After some one-off awards consulting on “Les Miserables” and other projects, expect Ward to make her presence felt, especially in the social media universe, which fascinates her. Ward plans to help clients create a social strategy via communication services such as digital outreach and marketing to entertainment companies and non-profits alike.

Bechtold, formerly executive director of Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena and PR exec with Burson/Marsteller and Bender/Helper, brings a deep knowledge of fundraising and philanthropy. The duo originally partnered up to represent Megan Chernin’s LA Fund for Public Education.

Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.