Edelman today announced the appointment of David Melançon as managing director of Corporate & Public Affairs in the firm’s New York office. Melançon most recently was the Chief Marketing & Product Officer of JUST Capital where he was responsible for all brand-building, marketing and product development for the start-up social enterprise. He will lead Edelman’s 150-person Corporate & Public Affairs practice. He will report to Jennifer Cohan, president, Edelman, New York.
“We are excited to welcome David to Edelman. David’s experience working with, and as both a CCO and CMO means he will bring fresh new thinking to the practice and the firm,” said Cohan. “His deep expertise across corporate communications and public affairs combined with his work in marketing and brand building, only strengthens our offering in the communications marketing space.”
Melançon started his career in the US Navy, where he served as a journalist and public affairs officer where he spent time on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations and working for the National Science Foundation in Antarctica and New Zealand. He also managed corporate communications for Visa, where he led the card giant’s global communications efforts in launching new technology products such as online payments and chip-enabled cards.
Over the course of his career, Melançon has held a number of leadership roles. As the Chief Marketing Officer at Benjamin Moore & Co., where he led all facets of corporate communications and brand-building for the iconic paint company. During his tenure at the Berkshire Hathaway-owned company, he was responsible for leading a transformation and streamlining of the company’s product portfolio and brands, as well as reorganizing and realigning the company’s marketing and brand functions. One of the initiatives he led – the breakthrough “Main Street Matters” campaign – was named one of the year’s best community improvement efforts by the US Chamber of Commerce. He has also held senior positions at agencies including Future Brand, Ogilvy and Fleishman.
“I’m so looking forward to joining this team, at this time,” said Melançon. “This diverse, talented and passionate team of professionals is perfectly positioned to continue both taking advantage of and leading change in the way companies and organizations connect with all of their stakeholders. I’ve long admired Edelman’s independence and creativity, and am thrilled to be joining at this exciting and pivotal time.”
Edelman New York’s Corporate & Public Affairs practice is home to more than 150 professionals in public affairs, corporate communications, social purpose, employee engagement, technology and crisis & issues and clients including Unilever, Southwest Airlines, ADP, Ebay, LaGuardia Gateway Partners, PayPal, the American Lung Association, Rockefeller Foundation, and BNY Mellon, among others.
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 Intelligence (research) and United Entertainment Group (entertainment, sports, experiential), a joint venture with United Talent Agency.