As Senior Media Specialist, Blair Hefty leads the Pennzoil and Shell Rotella accounts for Shell Lubricants.  His automotive public relations experience as well as his time as a motorsports writer and car reviewer for one of the country’s leading newspapers leads Coyne PR’s automotive clients to rely on him to manage media relations issues and opportunities.

He leads trade shows and consumer events for Shell Lubricants and manages national and regional auto show publicity for BMW and MINI. For Pennzoil, Blair also leads activation of enthusiast programs such as the award-winning Pennzoil Platinum Prize, which is presented at grassroots automotive events around the country.  He also maximizes Pennzoil’s NASCAR sponsorship with the media.  Blair was also instrumental in developing and executing a recent award-winning campaign to educate truckers about the first significant reformulation of Shell Rotella T motor oil, the #1 brand for heavy-duty diesel trucks.

Blair is also among Coyne PR’s team of seasoned technical and feature writers, producing articles for publication in trade and enthusiast media on behalf of clients.

Blair began his relationship with BMW Group in 1988, and he managed public relations for its factory-supported sports car team as well as its auto shows. Blair also managed marketing and communications and helped develop services for the motorsports division of Sport Systems, a provider of internet media services to sporting-events communications managers.  He was instrumental in adding new motorsports clients, including sanctioning bodies, manufacturers and teams.

Blair also previously managed sports car racing publicity for Michelin’s Pilot brand.  He has written internal and external communications for Porsche Cars North America and trade associations. He began his career as a staff writer and editor for National Speed Sport News and was a freelance auto writer for The Star-Ledger and Bergen County Newspapers.