Burson has launched ahead of schedule
Burson, an agency which spawned from the merger of WPP outfits BCW and Hill & Knowlton, has officially launched.
WPP made the announcement in January to merge the two PR juggernauts, adding that the new shop was to be officially unveiled and fully operational on Canada Day.
The newly formed Burson will have more than 6,000 employees in 43 markets worldwide. Its name honours the late Harold Burson, a pioneer and founding figure of modern PR.
Corey duBrowa, global CEO of BCW, has been named global CEO of Burson, while AnnaMaria DeSalva, currently global chairman and CEO of Hill & Knowlton, has been named global chairman of Burson.
Hill & Knowlton said on LinkedIn that the move furthers its legacy in the Canadian market, while leveraging the power of Burson’s global network to offer technology, insights and solutions for its clients.
Craft PR adds to its leadership team
Craft Public Relations has a new face on its leadership team, with Laura Brown joining the comms shop as vice president.
Brown has more than 15 years of experience at a number of leading agencies in Canada and the U.S., with special expertise in integrated strategic planning, influencer and content marketing, and digital paid media.
She recently worked as Citizen Relations’ VP of digital strategy, and National PR’s director of digital strategy.
In addition to the new hire, Craft has made eleven internal promotions, including moving five team members – Angela Maxwell, Avery Smith, Brontë Wright, Laura Burrett and Sam Forgie – into account director roles. Kaila Currie-Bartlett and Emily Chang have been promoted to Senior Account Manager, Emily Keen and Danielle Filler are now account managers, and Colleen Cosgrove and Julia Gonyea are the agency’s newest account executives.
