Edelman has hired two senior leaders in New York and Chicago, Russ Messner in New York and Katie Spring in Chicago, to bolster the depth of counsel to the firm’s asset management, banking, insurance, exchange and market center, and payments industry clients. Katie Spring will also be the Midwest leader for Edelman’s financial communications specialty practice, which provides counsel and support for M&A transactions, investor relations, shareholder activism, IPOs and related special situations.
“The additions of Katie and Russ demonstrate Edelman’s commitment to bring top-notch specialists to financial services and financial communications clients across the United States,” said Russell Dubner, president & CEO of Edelman U.S. “These two players bring well-honed skills in key areas including integrated and digital marketing as well as capital markets communications in two global financial hubs — bolstering leadership in two markets where Edelman already has a deep bench of know how.”
Spring, who brings more than 20 years’ experience in global external communications, rebranding and strategic brand management, spent nearly 10 years as Citadel’s CCO, leading one of the alternative investment industry’s most effective communication platforms. Earlier, she was a senior vice president of Corporate Communications at USAA, a top-rated provider of insurance, banking and investments to nearly 12 million members globally. She also co-founded the social and professional network, Her Estate, which provides exclusive events, resources and career opportunities for senior executive women across industries. Spring succeeds Jeff Zilka, who will become a senior counselor, serving U.S. clients in financial communications, investor relations and strategic transactions.
An integrated marketing leader, Messner was most recently a global managing director at Ogilvy & Mather where he led the WPP marketing team responsible for strategy, creative, execution and analysis of major campaigns for BlackRock, iShares and E*TRADE. Messner also led several digital transformation efforts delivering deeper relationships with high net worth clients. Earlier, Messner was global managing director at mcgarrybowen, where he oversaw several of the agency’s highest profile assignments as well as the traditional and digital AOR functions. He also served as an executive vice president at BBDO and client services director at Anderson DDB in San Francisco, where he launched the agency’s digital capabilities and led the relationship for several key brands.
“Katie and Russ’s experience providing counsel to global, premium financial services brands better enables us to solve client needs and help clients meet the future,” said Deidre Campbell, global chair of Edelman’s Financial Services sector. “We are excited to have them join.”
Edelman’s global Financial Services sector comprises 350 executives in 33 offices around the world. For more information, please click here.
About Edelman
Edelman is a leading global communications marketing firm that partners with many of the world’s largest and emerging businesses and organizations, helping them evolve, promote and protect their brands and reputations. Edelman was awarded the Grand Prix Cannes Lion for PR in 2014; six Cannes Lions in 2015; and the Grand Prix in the Titanium category in 2016. The firm was named “2016 Global Agency of the Year” by the Holmes Report, and one of Advertising Age’s “Agencies to Watch” in 2014. In 2015, Edelman was among Glassdoor’s “Best Places to Work” for the fourth time. Edelman owns specialty firms Edelman Intelligence (research) and United Entertainment Group (entertainment, sports, experiential), a joint venture with United Talent Agency.