Edelman shifts Africa and Middle East oversight to Asia-Pacific

By John Owens, prweek.com, Wednesday, 19 December 2012 11:36AM

Edelman is to shift its global structure in response to increasing comms work around Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

David Brain: A wider remit

Oversight of Edelman's Africa and the Middle East markets will shift from Europe to the Asia-Pacific region.

As such, from next July – the firm’s new fiscal year – it will be added to the responsibilities of David Brain, currently president and CEO of APAC.

This means the former role of EMEA president and CEO held by Robert Philips – who left Edelman in a shock departure last month – and currently filled by Susan Eastoe on an interim basis will cover Europe only.

The overhaul will also see further personnel moves within the Asian region. This includes Bob Grove, currently MD of South East Asia, given oversight of North Asia including China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Iain Twine, currently general manager of the Middle East and Africa, will manage operations in South East Asia and Australia.

Finally, Robert Holdheim, currently MD of India, will lead the India, Africa and Middle East markets. All three will report to Brain.

Richard Edelman, the firm’s president and CEO, said: ‘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.

'Increasingly, our clients are structuring themselves against growth opportunities prompted by 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.'

This article was first published on prweek.com