Burson-Marsteller Announces New Worldwide Leadership Team and Appoints Patrick Przybyski as Chief Operating Officer

Patrick Ford Named Chief Client Officer and Jeremy Galbraith Named Vice Chair for Strategy

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Donald A. Baer, Worldwide President and CEO of Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations and communications firm, announced today a new Worldwide Leadership Team, including the appointment of Patrick Przybyski as Chief Operating Officer.

“This new management structure and the individuals serving on the Worldwide Leadership Team are all aimed at one key objective: to build Burson-Marsteller as a great firm for the long haul”

Przybyski has served as the firm’s Chief Financial Officer since 2006. In his new role, Przybyski will serve as a full business partner to Baer in worldwide management of the firm, while playing a key role overseeing the firm’s growth strategy, including acquisitions. He will continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer, managing the firm’s finance and information technology functions.

In his announcement, Baer said the firm’s new Worldwide Leadership Team, which will work closely with the firm’s regional CEOs and global practice chairs, will include the following executives:

Jay Leveton, Worldwide Executive Vice President: Leveton will assume new business development responsibilities focused on driving worldwide new business growth and major new client relationships, while continuing to play a role driving integration between the firm’s worldwide level and its regional and global practice management teams. Leveton will also oversee integration with the firm’s sister company Penn Schoen Berland and other sister firms including Prime Policy Group. Leveton will also lead the firm’s marketing and communications function.

Karen Hughes, Worldwide Vice Chair: Hughes will join Baer and the other team members in focusing on key management decisions and on the strategic direction of the firm. She will continue to work closely with many of the firm’s growing client relationships.

Pat Ford, Worldwide Vice Chair and Chief Client Officer: Ford will intensify his focus on the firm’s key client relationships and other existing large growth clients in the new role of Chief Client Officer. Ford will be responsible for making sure the firm is focused on maintaining and building on existing client relationships. Ford will also ensure the firm is training staff focusing on the role that excellent client service plays in developing mutually beneficial client relationships.

Jeremy Galbraith, Worldwide Vice Chair for Strategy: Galbraith, who will continue in the role of CEO of the firm’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, will take on the added worldwide role of Vice Chair for Strategy. He will work with the other members of the Worldwide Leadership Team to chart the firm’s strategic direction on key business growth opportunities, drawing on his global perspective and his proven ability to develop and manage capabilities that both serve and anticipate client needs.

Rachel Wolman, Worldwide Managing Director, Human Resources: Wolman will oversee and enhance key talent functions including recruitment, training and career development to ensure that the firm has the most creative, focused and productive talent base in the communications industry.

“This new management structure and the individuals serving on the Worldwide Leadership Team are all aimed at one key objective: to build Burson-Marsteller as a great firm for the long haul,” said Baer. “We are fortunate to have a talented and experienced senior leadership team with deep and varied expertise. This team is committed to growth, accountability, talent development and teamwork. With this Worldwide Leadership Team, Burson-Marsteller will succeed around the globe as never before.”

About Burson-Marsteller

Burson-Marsteller, established in 1953, is a leading global public relations and communications firm. It provides clients with strategic thinking and program execution across a full range of public relations, public affairs, reputation and crisis management, advertising and digital strategies. The firm’s seamless worldwide network consists of 73 offices and 83 affiliate offices, together operating in 108 countries across six continents. Burson-Marsteller is a unit of WPP, the world’s leading communications services network. For more information, please visit bm.com.