Burson-Marsteller Appoints Kevin Bell Worldwide President

NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Burson-Marsteller, a leading global strategic communications and public relations firm, announced today that Kevin Bell has been named Worldwide President, effective immediately.  Since 2014, when he joined Burson-Marsteller in London, Bell has been its Global Public Affairs Practice Chair. In his new role, Bell will report directly to Don Baer, Burson-Marsteller's Worldwide Chair and CEO. Working with Baer and other senior executives, Bell will manage across every region and practice group to drive growth opportunities throughout the entire firm. This will include continuing to build the firm's world-class strategic communications services for clients as well as further developing its integrated communications expertise. He will operate from the firm's worldwide headquarters in New York.

"Kevin Bell is a world-class communications professional with both the keen understanding and strong leadership ability to drive even greater excellence and growth at Burson-Marsteller," said Baer. "His clients and colleagues all know he is a trusted counselor, a thoughtful leader of talent and an especially strong manager who will bring all of his skills to our ongoing success in this rapidly changing communications sector."

Over the past 25 years, Bell has counseled clients across many industries in every region of the world and has supported some of the world's leading companies, including Aviva, BG, Procter & Gamble and Tata Consultancy Services. In addition, he has been an adviser to several senior Conservative Party politicians in the UK – a number of whom are now senior cabinet ministers in the current government – and has counseled various ministers of government and parliamentarians across Europe, North Africa and Asia. Before joining Burson-Marsteller, Bell was Executive Chairman of public affairs consultancy Maitland Political where he ran the Public Affairs Practice working on behalf of clients such as Fleurette Group of Companies, NATS and Spire Healthcare. Before that, he was the Regional President for UK, Africa and the Middle East for FleishmanHillard where he supported clients such as British Airways and Scottish Power. He ran the global inward investment campaign for the Government of Egypt, and has advised the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi. Bell is a Trustee of the Institute of Economic Affairs. He is a recipient of numerous PRWeek Awards and was named Outstanding Contributor in the Public Affairs News Awards in 2011.

"I am excited to deepen my role working with Don and others at the firm to help reinforce Burson-Marsteller's long-standing industry leadership in client service, innovation and talent development," said Bell. "Together, we will continue driving Burson-Marsteller forward as the leader in combining world-class strategic counsel with cutting-edge, creative, integrated communications to solve our clients' most important communications needs. Our firm enjoys an extraordinary 63-year legacy of being one of the top public relations firms in the world, the foundation of which is our having many of the brightest minds in the business. I am committed to the ongoing development of our talent, the most important asset we can offer our clients."

About Burson-Marsteller
Burson-Marsteller, established in 1953, is a leading global strategic communications and public relations 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 85 affiliate offices, together operating in 110 countries across six continents. Burson-Marsteller is a part of Young & Rubicam Group, a subsidiary of WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY), the world's leader in communications services. For more information, please visit www.burson-marsteller.com.

SOURCE Burson-Marsteller

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