Matthew J. Harrington is Executive Vice Chairman of Edelman. Previously, he served as the firm’s President and Global Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the firm's operating regions – the United States, Canada & Latin America, Asia Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa – as well as our People, Citizenship and Sustainability efforts. He also was responsible for our Solutions practices (Digital, Creative, Strategy & Planning and DxI) as well as our financial communications advisory, Edelman Smithfield.
During his four decades with the firm, Edelman has grown tenfold. Matthew has worked closely with the leadership teams of the firm’s largest clients, including several with 30+ year relationships and helped to elevate the role of communications. A trusted C-suite adviser, Matthew is a specialist in corporate positioning and reputation management initiatives across a range of matters, including crisis communications, M&A and corporate transformations as well as executive transitions.
He speaks regularly on Trust in institutions and the nature of today’s multi-stakeholder business environment and has been a participant of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos for more than a decade.
Matthew’s previous roles with Edelman include president of the U.S., and president of the Eastern and Western regions. He also led Edelman’s initiative to create a Code of Conduct, a first of its kind in the sector.
Matthew is a graduate of Denison University, where he serves on the Board of Trustees. He is an advisory member of the Marketing 50 and serves on the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communication’s Board of Advisors and the Board of the 4A's. He also serves on the board of The Picturehouse Regional Film Center and the Emeritus Board of the Classic Stage Company.