Edelman has named Andrea Hagelgans as executive vice president for Public Affairs in its New York office. Hagelgans served as the highest-ranking communications professional and one of the highest-ranking women in Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration. She has an extensive background in non-profit and government communications and will be responsible for helping advance the firm’s public affairs work for some of the world’s leading corporations, foundations and non-profits. She will report to Brian Ellner, General Manager of Public Affairs and Issues Advocacy.
“Andrea’s experience makes her a valuable resource for our clients who are looking to navigate a complicated political environment and have a positive impact on the world,” said Ellner. “Our Trust Barometer research tells us that, increasingly, people are looking for businesses to engage on the issues that are challenging society, and she can help them do just that.”
As senior advisor for strategic planning, Hagelgans reported directly to the Mayor and oversaw all communications for the office. She was responsible for crafting the architecture of key mayoral policy initiatives and communications strategies and was one of the drivers of the City’s decision to offer paid parental leave and 3-K for All, an expansion of high-quality, free early childhood education. She worked closely with the Mayor to draft a nationally-acclaimed Cooper Union speech in response to the 2016 presidential election. Hagelgans has served in the New York City's Mayor's Office since 2014, first as the director of agency communications, then as communications director and, most recently, senior advisor.
Before joining the de Blasio administration, Hagelgans worked as a communications consultant and as a senior strategist for Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its affiliates, where she helped lead the successful efforts against attempts to defund the health care organization. This work won industry awards for Crisis and Non-profit Campaigns and was given an Honorable Mention for Campaign of the Year by PRWeek.
“The rapidly changing communications landscape and shifting consumer expectations are creating unprecedented challenges for business and organizations,” said Hagelgans. “I can't think of a better place to put my experience to work solving these challenges than with the world-class Edelman clients and team."
Hagelgans holds a master’s degree in political science from Columbia University in New York City and a Bachelor of Arts from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She has served on the board of directors of New York Common Pantry (formerly Yorkville Common Pantry), New York City’s largest community-based food pantry.
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. Among its many honors, the firm was awarded the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for PR, named one of 2018 “Agencies to Watch” by Advertising Age and “Global Agency of the Year” by both the Holmes Report and PRWeek, and cited five times by Glassdoor as one of the “Best Places to Work.” Edelman owns specialty firms Edelman Intelligence (research) and United Entertainment Group (entertainment, sports, lifestyle).