NEW YORK, January 9, 2024— Edelman has named Kirsty Graham CEO of Edelman’s U.S. operation, effective February 1, 2024. Graham, currently Global President of Edelman’s Practices and Sectors, will oversee the firm’s largest region comprised of nearly 2,500 people in 12 offices. Based in New York, Graham will continue to serve on the firm’s Executive Leadership Team and will report to Matthew J. Harrington, Global President, Chief Operating Officer, and acting U.S. CEO.
“It’s a unique opportunity to be able to apply Kirsty’s vast experiences from overseeing the firm’s global practices & sectors, and transforming Health into our largest sector, to our U.S. operation in order to drive its next phase of growth,” said Harrington. “Kirsty’s experience, which spans senior communications roles at Pfizer to regulatory and diplomatic and experience on Capitol Hill make her the ideal person to continue evolving our business.” As head of the firm’s Practices and Sectors she oversaw strategy and development for Edelman’s global Brand and Corporate practices, the global Impact team, and Edelman’s global sectors: Health, Technology, Energy and Food & Beverage. Graham also serves as Global Chair of Health, a role she has held since first joining Edelman in 2020.
Under her leadership the firm’s Health sector has produced award-winning and industry leading work including Up the Antibodies for AstraZeneca, The Round Table of Health Inclusivity for Haleon, and Fight for What Counts for The Global Fund. She was named one of PRWeek’s Top 30 Health Influencers in 2021.
“Joining Edelman at the start of the pandemic, I was amazed by the firm’s sense of community, collaboration and smart client counsel in the face of unprecedented global circumstances,” said Graham. “Four years later, I continue to be impressed by our commitment to building Trust, the deep and unmatched specialization of our talent and the outstanding work we produce. I am excited by the opportunity to lead the U.S. at a time of incredible change and opportunity.”
Graham has lived in the United States for 24 years and has engaged with business, government, media and civil society in the course of her career. Prior to Edelman, Graham spent 10 years at Pfizer Inc, where she served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs for their Biopharmaceuticals Group. In that role she oversaw policy, public affairs and communications for Pfizer’s medicines business, operating in more than 125 countries with a portfolio of more than 600 products generating approximately three-quarters of the company’s revenue. Graham was previously SVP, Global Policy and International Public Affairs at Pfizer.
Earlier in her career, Graham spent 16 years in the New Zealand Foreign Service working on a wide range of economic, security and trade policy issues with responsibilities spanning bilateral relations with China, Japan, and the United States. Her diplomatic assignments included a five-year posting to Washington, DC (1996-2000) and five years as New Zealand’s Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations (2006-2010).