Michelle Curran, Vice President
mcurran@double-forte.com

Industry Hero:
Nintendo’s flagship video game character Mario. Without him, I would never have become a decent pianist.

Favorite Opera:
Hands-down, The Who’s rock opera “Tommy.”

Business Book I recommend:
“Mr. China: A Memoir” by Tim Clissold, because it stresses a key component to building successful business partnerships: the importance of being sensitive to and understanding of each other’s markets and cultures– be it on foreign soil or the company next door.

…And I have to include the classic “Elements of Style” by Strunk and White, because we all need a little grounding.

Most Embarrassing Professional Moment:
Let’s just say it involved handing over my car keys to a parking valet at a restaurant prior to a large group dinner only to realize that this “valet” was not really a valet after all….but a journalist new to the industry and about to join our party!

I wish:
I could design and sew 60’s mod kids clothes for a living. *sigh*

Bio:
Michelle has been practicing public relations for nearly 15 years and has an extensive public relations background in the consumer software and electronics, entertainment and technology sectors.

Over her career, Michelle has directed public relations campaigns for some of the industry’s top-selling video games. Most recently as Director of Public Relations for the interactive entertainment publisher Eidos Interactive, Michelle was responsible for spearheading all North American public relations activities in support of the company’s key brands including: the legendary Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, the blockbuster Lego Star Wars: The Video Game, and the Hitman series – now a major motion picture for 20th Century Fox. She promoted Lara Croft’s debut on the silver screen in the Tomb Raider films starring Angelina Jolie – the most successful films based on a video game character to-date.

Prior to Eidos, Michelle held senior level client and agency-side positions with Acclaim Entertainment and Access Communications managing and executing communications strategies for companies including LG Electronics, Scholastic Multimedia, Prodigy Internet, and ToyMax.

Michelle began her career in marketing and public relations for Magnet Interactive, a Washington, DC based interactive technology company focused on delivering technologically progressive Internet solutions to Fortune 500 customers including Kellogg’s, DeBeers, Mercedes-Benz North America and Haagen-Dazs.

Michelle earned her bachelor of science from the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in Television and Radio, with a concentration in Public Relations. She currently resides in the East Bay in her beloved Eichler with her husband, two young, spirited children and Angus, the superstar little black pug.