Richard Edelman
President & CEO
Edelman
Richard Edelman is the president and CEO of the world's largest independent public relations firm with 3000 employees in 50 offices worldwide. Edelman, awarded Large PR Agency of the Year 2006 by The Holmes Report, has been a leader in public relations since it was founded in 1952.
Richard Edelman was named president and CEO in September 1996. Prior to that, he served as president of Edelman's U.S. operations, regional manager of Europe and manager of the firm's New York office.
Richard has extensive experience in marketing and reputation management, with current assignments for Schering-Plough, Swiss Re and Gap. He has particular interest in the technology and media areas, with assignments for Bertelsmann and Viacom. He worked on the "deal of the year" in 1994, the merger of Viacom, Blockbuster and Paramount, and assisted Deutsche Bank on its 1999 acquisition of Bankers Trust. He has counseled several countries on economic development programs, including Egypt, Israel and Mexico.
Richard has special understanding of the non-governmental organization (NGO) movement. He has spoken on this topic at several conferences including The Institute of Social & Ethical AccountAbility, The Conference Board and the World Economic Forum. Edelman's research on NGOs has been cited by several publications including The Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Richard won the Silver Anvil, the highest award in the public relations industry, in 1981. He was named 'Best Manager of the Year' by Inside PR magazine in 1995. He serves on the board of directors of the New York Historical Society and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He is also a member of the World Economic Forum, the Arthur Page Society, PR Seminar, the CEO Roundtable on Cancer, the International Council of the Field Museum, and the World Corporate Ethics' Council. Most recently, Richard was named the "The Most Powerful PR Professional" by PR Week in October 2007. He has worked on several political campaigns including "Jim Thompson for Governor" and "Ed Koch for Mayor."
Richard was graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1972. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He lives in New York City with his wife, Roz, and three daughters.