Edelman's David Brain to oversee Middle East and Africa in addition to Asia-Pacific

According to the public relations firm, the realignment of these two markets reflects emerging business trends and will be effective with the firm's new fiscal year starting 1 July 2013. 

 

“As global markets grow and change, we continually examine how we shape our global path forward and make the right strategic adjustments for our clients and for our people,” said Richard Edelman, the firm’s president and CEO. “Increasingly our clients are structuring themselves against growth opportunities prompted by ever-increasing trade flows between Africa, the Middle East and Asia. We are looking to capitalise on this trend by organising ourselves in a similar fashion. David’s leadership strength and overall experience in emerging markets will be essential to our pan-Asia growth strategy.”

 

Scaling the region in this way allows the network to focus investment in more practice and specialist experts in the sub-regions, commented Brain. "Clients are demanding both excellence in market understanding and execution as well as deep industry and specialist knowledge."

 

Edelman also made the following organisational changes which will likewise be effective next July. 

 

Bob Grove, currently managing director of Southeast Asia, based in Singapore, will be based in Hong Kong and will be given oversight of North Asia including China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

 

Iain Twine, currently general manager of Middle East and Africa, will move to Singapore and manage operations in Southeast Asia and Australia (including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia). 

 

Robert Holdheim, who is currently managing director of India based in Delhi, will lead India, Africa and Middle East markets. 

 

All three will report to Brain.

Over in Europe, Susan Eastoe, who has been leading the region as interim head, will focus more on emerging markets Russia and Turkey. 

 

“We’re equally pleased to introduce over the last several months new leadership with Kerry Irwin in Moscow and Serra Türk Büyükfirat in Istanbul,” said Harrington. “We are optimistic about the continued growth prospects all of these moves bring to our firm and our clients in Europe and Asia.”