Edelman today announced it has hired Natalie “Nat” Kerris, former Twitter and Apple executive, as global chair of its Technology sector, which includes over 700 communications professionals worldwide. Previously vice president of global communications at Twitter, Kerris will join Edelman on March 6 and report to Kym White, Edelman’s head of Global Sectors.
“Nat has been at the forefront of some of technology’s greatest revolutions in the past two decades,” said Richard Edelman, president and CEO of Edelman. “We’re excited to have her join our team and offer her talents to Edelman technology clients worldwide. Nat will be providing strategic counsel to some of our largest global technology clients while growing our technology practice in rapidly emerging markets such as AI, VR, fintech, social media and the sharing economy.”
As one of Silicon Valley’s top public relations professionals, Kerris is best known for her 14 years at Apple where she introduced the company’s most iconic products to the world, including the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, App Store, iPad, MacBook Air, Apple Pay and Apple Watch. Kerris worked directly with Apple’s visionary executive team, including the company’s legendary founder Steve Jobs, during one of technology’s greatest turn-around stories of all time. Named to Business Insider’s Top 50 PR people in 2012, 2014 and 2015, Kerris led Apple’s communications team to reshape the company’s narrative from tech underdog to industry disrupter, through the meteoric rise of the iPhone, to become the world’s most valuable and profitable company.
“Nat has the unique ability to cut through the noise in the marketplace and ’think different’ when it comes to creative solutions for our global clients,” said Ben Boyd, Edelman’s president of practices and sectors.
“I’m so psyched to join Edelman,” said Kerris. In a political climate where the very nature of communications and journalism is being redefined, it’s more important than ever for tech companies to partner with world-class communications pros like those at Edelman.”
Prior to joining Apple, Kerris spent more than a decade in high tech PR, managing communications strategy and IPOs for pioneering new technology companies, including Netscape. Kerris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from California State University, Chico and was honored as a Distinguished Alumna in 2015.
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.