• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, August 11, 2009

Marian Salzman, the noted trend spotter and commentator on marketing dynamics, continues her tour of some of Madison Avenue's top public relations and ad agencies, becoming head of Euro RSCG's domestic PR operations.

Salzman, who is credited by some with helping to popularize the term "metrosexual," assumes the new position of president, public relations, North America at the agency.

Often labeled as a futurist, Salzman was most recently CMO at Porter Novelli and previously worked at JWT, Young & Rubicam and TBWA. She also had a previous stint at Euro RSCG from 2001-2004.

Asked on her Twitter page why she left Porter Novelli, she wrote: "Nothing happened at all -- great great experience. This was an offer too good to refuse."

The charismatic Salzman will report to David Jones, the global head of Euro RSCG and its parent Havas, and Donna Murphy, managing partner of Euro RSCG Life, which is the agency brand's health care arm -- a signal that Salzman will be involved in the still rapidly growing pharmaceutical marketing sector.

Jones said he had worked with Salzman during her previous post at Euro RSCG, where she had a key role in "generating valuable strategic insights for clients and uncovering trends that captured worldwide interest." Among her duties will be helping clients navigate new social media and digital opportunities.

Lisa Sepulveda, who had led Euro RSCG PR operations in New York, has moved to Weber Shandwick. Mary Perhach will continue as chief communications officer for Euro RSCG in New York and will head the worldwide Heineken business.

Salzman said "public relations is uniquely poised to be at the forefront of what social media can and will provide for tomorrow's leadership brands."

Salzman makes frequent appearances as a commentator on the likes of CNN and the BBC. Among the many books she has authored is Next Now, The Future of Men, and Buzz.

At Y&R, she was president of a unit known as the "Intelligence Factory," while at TBWA she was worldwide director of the "Department of the Future."

Late last year, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote: "Salzman personally became part of a trend she predicted -- a meltdown in real estate values. 'I was seeing a fall-out as real estate values began to drop; small, liberal arts colleges not seeing as many applications; and people withdrawing kids from private schools because they couldn't pay the tuition."

'Then I found out my own home had declined 40% in value in the last two years. I live in southern Connecticut where real estate had always gone in one direction before: up. And up between 4 and 12%.'"