St. Louis, MO – (August 20, 2010) To meet growing business demands, Osborn & Barr (O&B), the leading marketing and communications firm devoted to agricultural and rural markets, has hired two directors to help lead the organization’s longest running account – Monsanto.

“As the Monsanto account expands, we have hired two industry experts with more than 40 years of marketing and advertising experience to help lead the Monsanto account,” says Cultivate Practice Group Director Lance Burditt. “Their expertise will strengthen our work by providing valuable new insight to the business.”

Jonathan Bloom brings with him extensive experience in brand management and market research in his role as Director of Planning with O&B. Bloom has more than 20 years of consumer products experience, including leading brands for Sara Lee, Spectrum Brands and Nestle’ Purina.

With a strong background in marketing, advertising, branding, and agency management, Rob Niccolai joins O&B as Group Account Director for the O&B Cultivate Practice Group. Niccolai brings with him more than 20 years of advertising experience during which time he was co-founder of Siegler/Niccolai Advertising. He has led business for clients such as Energy Star, Lowe’s Home Improvement and the Arizona Department of Commerce. Both new additions will lead the overall planning and management of the Monsanto account.

As agriculture and rural America’s greatest advocate, Osborn & Barr provides marketing and communications counsel to its clients through strategy, account planning, creative and digital services, public relations, media services, social and 1-to-1 marketing. Osborn & Barr’s headquarters office is located in St. Louis, and it has additional U.S. offices in Kansas City and Des Moines. Osborn & Barr can be contacted via phone at 1-888-235-4332 or 314-726-5511, or at www.osborn-barr.com