Fleishman-Hillard Hires CNN Correspondent Allan Chernoff

Fleishman-Hillard has hired senior CNN correspondent Allan Chernoff to serve as a full-time senior business media consultant.

The jump to a large PR shop will be a big change for Mr. Chernoff, who has been with CNN for over a decade, often serving as the network's economic and personal finance analyst. In his time there, he has regularly appeared on CNN, CNN International, HLN and CNN Radio. He also wrote for Money.com and CNN.com.

Ad Age was not able to reach Mr. Chernoff, and CNN did not immediately respond to a call for comment. Omnicom Group-owned Fleishman declined to comment for this story, but people familiar with the matter say he will begin on Nov. 1.

PR agencies often dip into the same circle they pitch to--journalists--when it comes to making hires. But for Fleishman, it's become a strategy to go after hotshots who are foreign to the PR world.

Over the past year and a half, the firm has made a number of non-traditional hires. There was Steve Hardwick, formerly president of Grey , who was made general manager of Fleishman-Hillard's New York office and president of the Eastern region, as well as Richard Dale, formerly of Leo Burnett Asia, who is now senior VP, senior partner and director of strategic account planning for North America. Fleishman also recently hired Stefan Gerard, former co-owner of the fashion and culture organization Gen Art, as head of strategic planning.

The agency recently was hired to handle PR for the American Petroleum Institute and it also won duties for Cigna.