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Lestelle, a life-long resident of the New Orleans area, has 38 years of communications experience, including 21 years as senior vice president of corporate communications for Hibernia Corporation, parent of Hibernia National Bank, a top-50 U.S. bank with $22 billion in assets and 8,000 employees; and Capital One Bank, formed through Capital One's 2005 acquisition of Hibernia. He also served as a news editor for the New Orleans Times-Picayune and public relations manager for Dravo Basic Materials, Inc. As a member of the bank's senior-management team, Lestelle served three CEOs as a close, confidential adviser on public-affairs matters related to corporate reputation management. He also developed and executed Hibernia's communications strategy through one of the most dynamic periods in its 135-year history, such as directing communications for approximately 60 mergers in Louisiana and Texas; playing a lead role in approximately 50 branch grand-openings; crafting messages for a major recapitalization, management changes and product launches; directing a $5-million annual contributions program; and leading executive, media and employee communications campaigns. He also was a key member of the disaster-recovery team that led Hibernia's recovery from hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and served as a senior member of Capital One Bank's communications team following the company's 2005 entry into commercial banking. His community service includes his present position as a director of the Contemporary Arts Center and president of Parkway Partners. Lestelle is a trustee and on-going strategic-planning team member for the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, a former founding director of the National Football League's New Orleans Youth Education Town, former president of the Shakespeare Festival at Tulane University and a former director of the New Orleans Opera Association. jlestelle@theehrhardtgroup.com
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With more than three decades of experience in the communications industry, Jim Lestelle today serves the public relations needs of businesses throughout the Gulf South. Services include news media relations and campaigns; full-spectrum communications, such as employee, external, shareholder, executive, crisis and merger-and-acquisition; public relations counseling; special events; and philanthropic consulting.