NEW YORK, July 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/
-- Burson-Marsteller, a leading global strategic
communications and public relations firm, today announced its
Founding Chairman Harold Burson has
been awarded the prestigious President's Medal by the Chartered
Institute of Public Relations (CIPR). Burson received the honor,
the organization said in its tribute, in recognition of having
"shaped contemporary public relations more than any person alive
today. His contribution has been to set the template for the public
relations agency as a global business, creating bright horizons for
the practice as it grows worldwide in the 21st century."
Bob Leaf, former International
Chairman of Burson-Marsteller, accepted the award on Burson's
behalf at CIPR's Annual General Meeting in London.
First awarded in 1966, the CIPR President's Medal is awarded at
the President's sole discretion to recognize the actions of an
individual who has played a significant role in developing public
relations' ability to engage, communicate and to campaign, or whose
actions have highlighted the role and benefit of public relations
to society. Past recipients include HRH Prince Philip, HRH Princess Anne, Edward
Bernays, Sir Richard Branson,
Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Archbishop
Desmond Tutu.
"I am truly humbled to receive the President's Medal from the
CIPR and to join so many highly accomplished and distinguished
honorees," said Burson who, at the age of 96, continues to come to
his office on a near daily basis. "I am extremely grateful to be
recognized for seeing the opportunity to make PR a global
enterprise, which is what I call one of my 'defining moments.' But,
as I look back on Burson-Marsteller's 64 years, I am most grateful
for having had the opportunity to work with and employ many of the
brightest minds in our industry."
Burson, described by industry trade publication PRWeek as "the
[20th] century's most influential PR figure," founded
Burson-Marsteller in 1953 with advertising executive Bill Marsteller and has spent his career as
counselor to and confidant of corporate CEOs, government leaders
and heads of public sector institutions. Burson began his
professional career as a stringer for a local Memphis newspaper, followed by a reporting job
during World War II as a public information officer for the
American Forces Network. In this role, Burson covered the Nuremberg
Trials. Burson went on to co-found Burson-Marsteller and spend 35
years as Chief Executive Officer. In 1983, under Burson's
leadership as CEO, Burson-Marsteller became the largest public
relations firm in the world.
Burson has received numerous awards from public relations
organizations including Hall of Fame designations by the Public
Relations Society of America, the Arthur W. Page Society,
PRWeek, PR News, the Institute of Public Relations,
the Alan Campbell Johnson Award
(England), as well as numerous
citations by colleges and universities in the United States, Europe and China. He was awarded an honorary degree by
Boston University in 1988, and a chair
in public relations was established in his name in 1995. Burson
also received the Paladin Award from the Public Relations Society
of America in 2012.
"Harold Burson has defined our
field, inspired thousands of communications and media professionals
of all kinds around the world and shaped the course of how people
relate to and with one another in profound ways," said Don Baer, Worldwide Chair and CEO,
Burson-Marsteller. "I speak for all of us at Burson-Marsteller,
past and present, in saying we cannot think of a more deserving
recipient of the prestigious President's Medal."
About the Chartered Institute of Public Relations
(CIPR)
Founded in 1948, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)
is the Royal Chartered professional body for public relations
practitioners in the UK and overseas. The CIPR is the largest
membership organisation for PR practitioners outside of
North America. By size of turnover
and number of individually registered members, we are the leading
representative body for the PR profession and industry in
Europe.
The CIPR advances professionalism in public relations by making its
members accountable to their employers and the public through a
code of conduct and searchable public register, setting standards
through training, qualifications, awards and the production of best
practice and skills guidance, facilitating Continuing Professional
Development (CPD), and awarding Chartered Public Relations
Practitioner status (Chart.PR).
About Burson-Marsteller
Burson-Marsteller, established in 1953, is a leading global
public relations and communications firm. It provides clients with
strategic thinking and program execution across a full range of
public relations, public affairs, reputation and crisis management,
advertising and digital strategies. The firm's seamless worldwide
network consists of 77 offices and 85 affiliate offices, together
operating in 110 countries across six continents. Burson-Marsteller
is a part of Young & Rubicam Group, a subsidiary of WPP
(NASDAQ: WPPGY), the world's leading communications services
network. For more information, please visit bm.com.
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