Edelman Names Glenn Engler Global Chief of Staff & Director of Corporate Strategy
Edelman has announced the appointment of Glenn Engler as global chief of staff and director of corporate strategy. Engler will serve as chief of staff to president and CEO Richard Edelman, and assume the newly created role of director of corporate strategy, in which he will manage advancement of the firm’s strategic planning process. Engler also will work closely with Edelman’s 10-member executive committee to forge new working relationships and synergies across the organization. He will report to Richard Edelman and work closely with Matthew Harrington, global chief operating officer, and Victor Malanga, worldwide chief financial officer.
“We have a tremendous opportunity due to the changing nature of clients, who are now open to ideas from PR, advertising and digital agencies. As a PR firm, we have a specific advantage because we understand storytelling, credibility and the living brief,” said Edelman. “With our three areas of emphasis being PR, digital and research, Glenn’s unique blend of PR, digital, and social media skills make him a perfect fit to drive the implementation of our global strategy of advancing research, creative, digital, partnerships and new media relationships.”
Engler most recently served as CEO of Digital Influence Group, which he helped turn into one of the largest stand-alone social media creative agencies in the U.S. through its work with brands including IBM, GE, AT&T, Glidden Paints and Reebok. Prior to that, he was president of Digitas’ Boston operation, where he oversaw 900 people across the Boston, Detroit, and Atlanta offices. During his ten years at the digital agency, he served as senior advisor to C-level executives for brands such as General Motors, AFLAC, Home Depot, OnStar and Goodyear.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Edelman at such an exciting time for the marketing and communications industry,” said Engler. “The opportunities for a firm as entrepreneurial and innovative as Edelman are endless in today’s landscape. And the chance to work closely with an industry thought leader such as Richard, along with the firm’s executive committee and global leadership teams, in developing and driving strategy with an amazing set of clients is truly energizing.”
Engler was also a partner at Mercer Management Consulting, a principal at Corporate Decisions and a managing director at data giant Epsilon. A graduate of Tufts University, Engler brings more than 30 years of experience spanning marketing, consulting, media and analytics.
About Edelman
Edelman is the world’s largest public relations firm, with 67 offices and more than 4,800 employees worldwide, as well as affiliates in more than 30 cities. Edelman was named Advertising Age’s top-ranked PR firm of the decade in 2009 and one of its “A-List Agencies” in both 2010 and 2011; Adweek’s “2011 PR Agency of the Year;” PRWeek’s “2011 Large PR Agency of the Year;” and The Holmes Report’s “2013 Global Agency of the Year” and its 2012 “Digital Agency of the Year.” Edelman was named one of the “Best Places to Work” by Advertising Age in 2010 and 2012 and among Glassdoor’s top ten “Best Places to Work” in 2011 and 2012. Edelman owns specialty firms Edelman Berland (research), Blue (advertising), BioScience Communications (medical communications), and agencies Edelman Significa (Brazil), and Pegasus (China).
