Edelman has named Lisa Osborne Ross U.S. chief operating officer, effective immediately. Ross will drive an evolution of the firm’s operating model as well as oversee U.S. sectors, talent and business development. She will embed the firm’s earned-minded approach to creative, digital, data and insights. Ross, who retains her current title of president of Edelman’s Washington, D.C. office, will remain based there and will continue to report to Russell Dubner, CEO of Edelman U.S.
“Lisa is gutsy – both as a leader and a practitioner – and brings a range of counsel that extends to CEOs, CMOs and government leaders alike,” said Dubner. “Her progressive thinking and drive to adapt quickly make her the perfect choice to advance both our agenda and our operations as we charge forward.”
Ross, an industry, government and White House veteran, joined Edelman two years ago. At the helm of the D.C. office, she furthered Edelman’s prominence not only in public affairs but across crisis, brand, digital and multicultural. She champions a bi-partisan perspective and a diverse workforce.
Ross joined Edelman from APCO Worldwide where she was the managing director of its Washington, D.C. office. Earlier, Ross had a 15-year career at Ogilvy, culminating in her role as head of public affairs. Before that, she served in the Clinton administration, specializing in policy development and issues management. She was communications director for the U.S. Department of Labor’s effort to promote high-performance workplaces, deputy director of the bi-partisan Federal Glass Ceiling Commission and chief of staff of the White House Office of Women’s Initiatives and Outreach.
“In our work we strive to be both brave and bold – that’s a mantra that has helped us to grow and thrive and I take with me into this new role,” said Ross. “By putting people first, with trust and client excellence at the center, we will continue to do great things.”
Recently, Ross was named as one of Savoy Magazine’s Most Influential Women in Corporate America (2019), an honoree for Washington Women Who Mean Business (2018) and a Diversity Champion by the PR Council (2017). She is passionate about diversity, inclusion and philanthropy, especially empowering women and building a better Washington. She co-founded and led the Washington Area Women’s Foundation, which has raised hundreds of millions of dollars to fund grassroots organizations addressing the critical needs of women and young girls through essential services and training throughout the Washington metropolitan area.
About Edelman
Edelman is a global communications firm that partners with businesses and organizations to evolve, promote and protect their brands and reputations. Our 6,000 people in more than 60 offices deliver communications strategies that give our clients the confidence to lead and act with certainty, earning the trust of their stakeholders. Our honors include the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for PR; Advertising Age’s 2019 A-List; the Holmes Report’s 2018 Global Digital Agency of the Year; and, five times, Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work. Since our founding in 1952, we have remained an independent, family-run business. Edelman owns specialty companies Edelman Intelligence (research) and United Entertainment Group (entertainment, sports, lifestyle).