Thomas Gensemer Named To PRWeek's "40 Under 40" List

NEW YORK, July 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations and communications firm, announced today that Thomas Gensemer, U.S. Chief Strategy Officer has been named to PRWeek's annual "40 Under 40" list. The list profiles the young professionals whose innovative thinking and foresight are powering the future of communications.

Gensemer manages cross-practice strategy development on behalf of Burson-Marsteller's clients and new business prospects. He works closely with practice leaders to develop and bring to market new products and services that leverage the breadth and depth of Burson Marsteller's expertise across the U.S. He is a key architect of Burson-Marsteller StudioB, the firm's fully integrated, real-time, data-driven center of creativity, content production and distribution, which was launched earlier this year.

"Thomas is a pioneering digital communications strategist who has been advising corporate clients and public officials at the highest levels throughout his career," said Donald A. Baer, Burson-Marsteller Worldwide Chair and CEO. "The firm has benefited tremendously from his dedication to innovation, integration and creativity, and to bringing the best minds together to benefit our clients. All of these qualities have been central to his leadership in driving our new StudioB effort. Thomas is incredibly deserving of this prestigious industry honor."

Before joining Burson-Marsteller, Gensemer served as Managing Partner of Blue State Digital (BSD), a position he held since 2005. He negotiated the acquisition of BSD by WPP in 2010.  From 1999 to 2004, Gensemer was Managing Director of The Accelerator Group, a venture capital fund and business incubator with offices in New York, Los Angeles and London. Gensemer is well known for his political work in the U.S. and around the world and for public affairs and marketing campaigns with corporate and NGO brands.

"Thomas is a tireless champion of the power of data and insights to drive compelling communications programs that yield measurable results for our clients," said Michael Law, Burson-Marsteller's U.S. CEO. "He is deeply committed to the success of our clients and our firm and an extraordinary example of the caliber of talent at Burson-Marsteller."

Gensemer has served on the World Economic Forum councils on the Future of Government and Technology (2011, 2012, 2013). He sits on the advisory board of the YMCA of NYC and is a board member of the "It Gets Better Project" which he co-founded in 2010.

Gensemer also has been named to Crain's 40 Under 40 (2009) and AdAge's 40 Under 40 (2013) and his work has earned awards including four Webbys, two Reed Awards, an EMEA Sabre Award, and more than 25 AAPC Pollies. He is a graduate of New York University and currently resides in New York City.

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 84 affiliate offices, together operating in 110 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.

SOURCE Burson-Marsteller