NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/
-- Burson-Marsteller, a leading global strategic
communications and public relations firm, today announced
Patrick Ford, Worldwide Vice Chair
and Chief Client Officer, was named Diversity Champion in the PR
Agency category in the 2016 Diversity Distinction in PR Awards.
Sponsored by the PR Council in association with PRWeek, the awards
recognize individuals and organizations that play a key role in
facilitating the recruitment, retention and promotion of diverse PR
practitioners. The winners were announced at the PR Council's
annual dinner in New York on
September 21.
Since joining Burson-Marsteller in 1989, Ford has led a variety
of diversity initiatives both at the firm and industry-wide. He
founded the firm's Diversity and Inclusion Council, which he
personally chaired for five years. He instituted diversity training
at Burson-Marsteller, and he is deeply committed to mentoring and
reverse mentoring initiatives through which he has maintained
numerous relationships with diverse talent. He is a long-time,
active supporter of The LAGRANT Foundation and the Scripps Howard
School at Hampton University, and also
actively mentors ethnically diverse students at several U.S.
universities.
"There is no one more deserving of the Diversity Champion award
than Pat Ford," said Don Baer, Worldwide Chair and CEO,
Burson-Marsteller. "Pat truly understands that for us to do
our best work, we must deeply understand and be representative of
the world at large. He has worked tirelessly to help
Burson-Marsteller and the entire communications industry achieve
this goal. We are inspired by his commitment to creating
opportunities for diverse talent, and we are delighted he is being
recognized for his hard work and achievements."
Burson-Marsteller was awarded honorable mention for Best Large
PR Firm Diversity Initiative Award for its "Together Being More"
campaign. The program is designed to promote greater diversity at
Burson-Marsteller and the PR industry as a whole by enhancing
partnerships and programs that attract diverse talent, promoting a
culture of inclusion among all employees and elevating the PR
industry as an optimal and rewarding career path.
About Burson-Marsteller
Burson-Marsteller, established
in 1953, is a leading global strategic communications and public
relations 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 73
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 leader in communications services. For more information,
please visit www.burson-marsteller.com.
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SOURCE Burson-Marsteller