Edelman has named Kelly Schwager as general manager for its Silicon Valley office in the U.S. Western Region. Schwager succeeds Maria Amundson, who was recently named global chair, Technology sector in September 2014. In her new role, Schwager will oversee all operations, client service and overall business direction and growth for Edelman Silicon Valley.
Schwager brings more than 20 years of integrated marketing and communications experience for global technology brands and start-up organizations. She will report to Cricket Wardein, U.S. Western Region president and join Edelman’s Bay Area leadership team and operations which includes the Silicon Valley, San Francisco and Sacramento offices.
“Kelly is a strong, creative and proven leader who is well positioned to solve for our clients’ business challenges, based on her unique and direct experience as an agency founder, a senior communicator at top technology brands, and more recently as a chief marketing officer,” said Wardein. “In partnership with our Bay Area leadership, Kelly’s appointment brings to Edelman the right skill set and the most innovative thinking, to meet the dynamic needs of our Silicon Valley clients.”
Prior to joining Edelman, Schwager was senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Streetline Inc. Prior to Streetline Inc, Schwager was at SAP as vice president, Global Product Communications. She also led executive communications for SAP co-CEO Jim Hagemann Snabe. In addition, Schwager has held various marketing and communications leadership roles with global companies including Symantec, VERITAS, and USWeb/CKS. She also has deep agency experience from Cunningham Communication and founded her own integrated marketing firm Think*Aloud.
“I am thrilled to join Edelman and its world-class Silicon Valley team,” said Schwager. “Edelman has the capabilities to serve the evolving needs of today’s C-Suite and I am excited to apply my integrated marketing experience and passion for storytelling to further Edelman’s market leadership and growth here in Silicon Valley. It is an exciting time to join Edelman and I look forward to being part of this new chapter with Edelman in the Bay Area.”
Schwager holds a Master’s Degree in communication management from University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts in public relations from Pepperdine University.
Edelman’s Silicon Valley office employs more than 90 people serving a broad range of clients, including Adobe Systems, Samsung, CitiVentures, Juniper Networks and more.
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Edelman is the world’s largest public relations firm, with more than 5,000 employees in 65 cities, as well as affiliates in more than 35 cities. Edelman was named one of Advertising Age’s “A-List Agencies” in both 2010 and 2011, and an “Agency to Watch” in 2014; 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 has been awarded seven Cannes Lions including the Grand Prix for PR in 2014. Edelman was named one of the “Best Places to Work” by Advertising Age in 2010 and 2012 and among Glassdoor’s “Best Places to Work” in 2011, 2013 and 2014. Edelman owns specialty firms Edelman Berland (research), Edelman Deportivo (creative), Blue (advertising), BioScience Communications (medical communications) and agency Edelman Significa (Brazil).