Edelman has appointed Steven Spurr CEO of Edelman Australia, effective March 1. Spurr is currently COO of Edelman UK and Ireland and will lead the firm’s award-winning Australian operation with nearly 100 employees.
Edelman Australia has also hired Stuart Edwards as managing director, Edelman Digital and Belinda Brett as general manager, Consumer Marketing. Matthew Gain, currently COO of Edelman Australia, will be leaving the agency and joining Amazon-owned Audible as head of operations Australia and New Zealand, effective January 2016. Tim Riches, CEO Edelman Australia, has resigned to pursue other opportunities, effective immediately.
“Our Australian business delivers world-class work and has a leading bench of talent across Melbourne and Sydney,” said Iain Twine, CEO, Edelman Southeast Asia and Australia. “Steven’s return to the Australian team is fantastic news. He is a highly-respected figure across our network, exemplifies our culture and brings to the table a depth and breadth of experience for our clients.”
Spurr is a 17-year Edelman veteran who has been based in its Sydney, New York and London offices. He currently oversees the day-to-day running of the Edelman UK and Ireland business where he is responsible for the technology, health, energy and science sector teams; and previously its digital, creative and studio teams.
Spurr was responsible for creating the first corporate citizenship program for a major multinational pharmaceutical corporation in the early 2000s that went on to win five awards, and has consulted with every leading pharmaceutical company with an oncology franchise. He served as managing director of the Health practice in the UK for four years covering health brand work, medical education, health policy and health corporate work.
Prior to joining Edelman, Edwards was most recently managing director and company director at Lowe Profero. Brett returns from the UK, where she was a board director at Talk PR looking after clients including P&G.
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 named one of Advertising Age’s “Agency to Watch” in 2014; one of Forbes’ “14 Most Influential Agencies of 2014”; and The Holmes Report’s “2013 Global Agency of the Year.” Edelman was awarded the Grand Prix Cannes Lion for PR in 2014 and was among Glassdoor’s “Best Places to Work” for the third time in 2014. Edelman owns specialty firms Edelman Berland (research) and United Entertainment Group (entertainment, sports, experiential), a joint venture with United Talent Agency.