Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations and public
affairs consultancy, today announced it has appointed Simon Pangrazio
as President and Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific effective
January 1, 2008. Pangrazio, who has been with the firm for 11 years,
will report to Burson-Marsteller CEO Mark Penn and joins the company's
global leadership team. Pangrazio succeeds Bill Rylance, who becomes
Chairman, Asia Pacific and the company's Vice Chairman for Global
Development.
Pangrazio is based in Hong Kong and will assume leadership of the
firm's wholly-owned network of offices through-out the Asia Pacific
region. The network includes offices in India, Singapore, Indonesia,
Mainland China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan and Australia. Pangrazio will
work with the regional and global leadership teams to expand the
firm's geographic footprint in the Asia Pacific region, service and
grow existing client relationships, develop new business
opportunities, further differentiate its suite of digital services and
continue to attract and develop the strongest industry talent.
"Simon's appointment from within Burson-Marsteller demonstrates
the depth of our leadership team in Asia Pacific," said Mark Penn.
"Asia Pacific is a critical growth market for Burson-Marsteller as
well as for many of our clients. This appointment will help keep the
region strong through a continuity of focus and a smooth transition of
leadership."
Pangrazio, 41, joined Burson-Marsteller in 1996 in Melbourne and
has held senior country, sub-regional, client leadership and corporate
practice roles during tenures in Singapore, Tokyo, Beijing and Hong
Kong. He has had a critical role in driving the firm's strategic
direction in Asia Pacific as a member of the region's senior
leadership team since 2000. Currently, Pangrazio is Regional Managing
Director for North Asia and leads Burson-Marsteller's
Corporate/Financial Practice for the Asia Pacific region.
During his career, Pangrazio has provided senior counsel to major
multi-national companies and organizations in sectors including
banking and financial services, mining, technology,
telecommunications, FMCG and tourism. He has also provided counsel to
clients based throughout the region including: Japan, Korea, Hong
Kong, Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Vietnam,
Thailand and the Philippines.
Before joining Burson-Marsteller, Pangrazio was an associate
director at another major public relations consultancy and worked for
seven years in corporate affairs roles with financial services
provider National Mutual, which now operates as AXA.
Originally from Australia, Pangrazio has a Bachelor of Arts in
public relations from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
About Burson-Marsteller
Burson-Marsteller (www.burson-marsteller.com), established in
1953, is a leading global public relations and public affairs firm. It
provides clients with strategic thinking and program execution across
a full range of public relations, public affairs, advertising, and
web-related services. The firm's seamless worldwide network consists
of 57 wholly-owned offices and 46 affiliate offices, together
operating in 59 countries across six continents. Burson-Marsteller is
a part of Young & Rubicam Brands, a subsidiary of WPP (NASDQ: WPPGY),
one of the world's leading communications services networks.
