LONDON--Mark Mellor, who built Firefly into one of the UK's most highly-regarded tech PR agencies, has died at the age of 49.
Mellor joined Firefly nine months after it launched in 1988, becoming MD and eventually buying out the firm in tandem with his wife and CEO Claire Walker. The agency won recognition as PRWeek Consultancy of the Year, working with such businesses as lastminute.com, BBC News Online, HP and LG Electronics.
Under Mellor and Walker's leadership, Firefly became particularly lauded for its staff culture, regularly featuring on the FT's best workplaces list. The firm remains led by Walker, after Mellor stepped back from frontline duties.
Mellor was also actively involved in the PRCA, running the inter-agency benchmarking survey for many years as part of the Best Practice Committee. He arrived at Firefly after working at two of the UK's biggest PR firms at the time: Euro RSCG Biss Lancaster, and Countrywide Communications.
Mellor is survived by Walker and three children. A funeral service will take place in London, with more details available here.