Joel Benenson Named Burson-Marsteller Worldwide Vice Chair

NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Burson-Marsteller, a leading global strategic communications and public relations firm, today announced that Joel Benenson, CEO and Founder of Benenson Strategy Group (BSG), a member of the Burson-Marsteller network of companies, has been named Worldwide Vice Chair, effective immediately. In this role, he will work with the firm's professionals around the world to bring clients senior-level strategic communications counseling, while continuing to lead BSG.     

Benenson Strategy Group, a WPP-owned strategic research consultancy, joined the Burson-Marsteller network in May 2016. BSG advises clients by marrying its language expertise with innovative research to deliver winning communications strategies. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in New York, Benenson and BSG ran the award-winning research and polling programs for President Barack Obama's 2008 and 2012 campaigns, and have advised 11 prime ministers and presidents worldwide. Benenson was Chief Strategist on the Hillary for America campaign. In addition, Benenson has extensive private sector and advocacy experience working with clients including AARP, the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Football League, Toyota, Panera Bread and Procter & Gamble.

"Joel Benenson is one of the most respected communications strategists in the world, and we are proud to have him work with us at both BSG and now as one of our Worldwide Vice Chairs," said Donald Baer, Worldwide Chair and CEO, Burson-Marsteller. "With Joel in this role, we will be able to extend the impressive contributions he and BSG have already made to Burson-Marsteller since they joined us."

Added Benenson, "I look forward to taking on this larger role within Burson-Marsteller and to working closely with our clients to help them overcome the challenges of a more complex and fractured media environment and achieve their communications and business goals."

Burson-Marsteller's other Worldwide Vice Chairs include Karen Hughes, former Counselor to President George W. Bush and one of the world's foremost communication strategists, specializing in crisis communications, executive communications and strategic messaging; and Pat Ford, Worldwide Chief Client Officer and 27-year Burson-Marsteller veteran who specializes in corporate reputation management, senior executive communications, media strategy, and issues and crisis management.

About Burson-MarstellerBurson-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.

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SOURCE Burson-Marsteller