“I worked with Cornelia for seven years in EMEA, during which time she took our business in Germany from $6 million to $18 million and leaves us now with, by far, the most awarded marketing PR offer in that country,” said Brain. “Just two years ago, Cornelia and I started the acquisition of digital agency GoSub, which she and her team have now integrated into the Edelman Germany business to transform their offer into what is arguably the most sophisticated of its kind in Germany. She is a great brands thinker, a terrific corporate counsellor and one of the best managers and leaders of a PR business I have ever worked with.”

Kunze will have a particular remit to help develop the consumer and brand planning offer throughout APAC. She will also be charged with further developing Edelman’s current stable of German clients in the region which includes, BMW, Osram, BASF and TÜV SÜD. Kunze will further support Robert Holdheim, managing director of Edelman India, with the rapid development of that business in the wake of the Tata win, which has made Edelman India’s leading PR firm.

“EMEA’s loss will be Asia’s gain,” said Robert Phillips, president and CEO, Edelman EMEA. “Cornelia is without doubt one of the outstanding PR professionals of her generation. It has been a privilege to work with her for the past eight years. Her legacy is a vibrant, growing, commercially successful and award-winning business of the highest order.”

“Whilst I will miss my fabulous German colleagues and clients, I am very much looking forward to this new challenge in Asia and to being based in India, a market I experienced for a few great weeks last year,” said Kunze.

A new CEO for Edelman Germany has been appointed and will be announced later this month.

Economic Impact
Across the UK, people are scaling back on leisure spending, but are increasingly willing to buy brands that support the causes they care about. 80%, compared to 85% globally, claimed that they have been affected by the economic downturn and over a third have reduced spending on food and electricity. In order, they are spending less on leisure shopping (47%), food (40%), electricity in their home (36%) and many have stopped saving money (36%). However, 43% on average, are purchasing a brand that supports a good cause at least monthly, an increase of 7 percentage points since 2010.

Personal Involvement
Despite clear economic challenges, 39% believe that the responsibility of “people like me” to address societal issues has increased over the past year, compared to 46% globally. And just over a quarter believe that compared to five years ago people like them now have more power and influence to make a difference. Notably, participants in the survey ranked the importance of “people like me” to address societal issues behind government (54%) and ahead of NGOs, business in general, and religious institutions.

“This spells significant opportunity for marketers. While consumers currently have less time and money, they still feel they’re responsible to help,” said Carol Cone, global practice chair, Business + Social Purpose, Edelman. “Brands and corporations can ease the burden for people by making involvement in social issues easier and more aligned with the core needs they face today – jobs, hunger, education and healthcare.”

Expectations of Businesses
The number of British consumers that now believe “it is OK for a brand to support good causes and make money at the same time” has increased from 57% in 2007 to 71% in 2012. Furthermore, those who also say they have more trust in a brand that is ethically and socially responsible has increased in just three years to 58%. This is reflected further in the fact that 84% deem it important for businesses to place equal weight on society’s interests as on business’ interest (compared to 86% globally).

However, only 18% rate business’ performance in addressing societal issues as excellent or good. A picture of a deeply skeptical British public also emerged from the 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer, with trust in both government and business down from 2011. Just 29% of people expressed trust in government to do the right thing, with only slightly more people (38%) trusting businesses to do what is right.

Contributing to the current debate about the potential of “responsible capitalism”, nearly three-quarters of British surveyed would be more likely to give their business to a company that supports good causes and has fair prices, than a company that simply offers discounts. The good causes British consumers personally care about most are improving the quality of healthcare (90%), reducing poverty (86%), protecting the environment (86%), education (85%) and alleviating hunger and homelessness (85%).

“There is an urgent need and appetite to move towards wealth creation and sustainable economic development that builds both trust and loyalty,” said Robert Phillips, president and CEO, EMEA.  “Without a drive for real social reform and towards real societal values – and without a new approach to business, based upon values-based leadership and public engagement – the erosion of trust and confidence in businesses will continue. Today’s leaders have an opportunity to make a step-change in their approach and pursue a three-dimensional model of Profit + Purpose + Engagement.”

The study found that not just in the UK, but globally, citizens are calling for business leaders to genuinely embed purpose, grounded in core values, into their everyday operations:

• 56% believe CEOs need to create innovative products that are socially responsible
• 55% believe CEOs need to make a long-term commitment to address societal issues
• 55% believe CEOs need to publically support societal issues
• 52% believe CEOs need to motivate employees to take part in societal issues

For more information please visit Edelman’s goodpurpose site

The announcement comes on the heels of rapid EU growth for the research firm including work for clients such as GE, Norton, Richemont International, Starbucks, Shell and BDO International Limited.

“James brings an entrepreneurial spirit and cutting edge thinking on how to integrate brand insights, media communications, and social media trends for our clients,” said Laurence Evans, StrategyOne’s President of international operations. “The UK is a vital hub for both Edelman and StrategyOne growth and James who is highly regarded in the UK research world will help both organizations take evidence based communications to the next level.”

Turner leaves his current role as an ICM board director, where he is responsible for several large clients, fieldwork operations and developing services. Before ICM, Turner was director of research communities with FreshMinds, a brand consultancy, and prior to that was head of Research for BT until 2008.

Steve Lombardo, StrategyOne global CEO, added: “We strongly believe that research today is about the intersection of big data with beautiful data. James is perfectly suited to drive the integration of multi-audience, multi-country insights we manage out of London with digital analytics and compelling visual storytelling.”

-ENDS-

For the Diamond & Gold categories which “recognize the increasingly strategic role of public relations agencies in brand-building and corporate branding”, Edelman Germany received five nominations, Edelman UK received three nominations, Edelman Spain received two nominations, Edelman Italy received two nominations and Edelman Netherlands received one.

Within the Silver categories which “recognize the expanding range of work performed by public relations professionals in creating a wide range of content to support their organizations’ branding, reputation and other public relations objectives” Edelman scooped three wins. The UK marketing team based in London, won PR Agency Marketing, the UK Digital team’s development of the Mail Online mobile application for Android was named winner of the Widget or Mobile App category, and Amsterdam’s Energy Future Programme campaign for Shell was the winner of the Trade Show category. Three other campaigns from London were also listed as finalists within the silver categories, along with one from Amsterdam.

Robert Phillips, Edelman’s President & EMEA CEO said, “I send my congratulations to the nominated teams, and thanks to everyone for entering. It is obviously very important for Edelman EMEA to showcase our great client work and to be recognized for it.”

The SABRE Awards ceremony will take place in Brussels on 31st May 2012.

The appointment will kick-start a renewed push behind the Think-Do Tank positioning of Edelman Brussels and The Centre, its forum for public engagement in Europe’s capital – ushering in a new chapter of seminars, White Papers and publishing platforms that will contribute to both the intellectual and new business growth of Edelman’s PA business worldwide.

As Chair of the PA Practice in EMEA, Martin will be working closely with GMs and colleagues across the region as well as with global members of the Public Affairs Practice, across continents. He will also work closely with Edelman’s Corporate Practice and StrategyOne to develop the potential for PA synergies.

Martin Porter said: “I am delighted to have this opportunity, which is both to build on the distinctive approach we have successfully developed here, and to extend and integrate it more systematically with Edelman’s suite of leading IP around policy, digital and social media, Trust and public engagement, with colleagues across our EMEA markets.”

Commenting on the appointment, Robert Phillips, EMEA CEO said: “I am delighted that Martin has accepted this position – not least because it re-affirms the central role that the Brussels office plays within both the regional and global PA Practice”.

Susan Eastoe, currently Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO of Edelman UK, has been appointed to the role of Chief Operating Officer, EMEA, while Iain Twine, currently General Manager of Edelman’s Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices will expand his remit to embrace the rest of the Middle East and Africa.

Robert Phillips, EMEA President and CEO said: “Susan has been instrumental in helping build the UK business to the buzzing, success story it is today, while the growth Iain has driven in the United Arab Emirates has been phenomenal. Their expanded roles will be critical to our on-going success as we continue our strategic expansion and growth in the region”.

Susan Eastoe said: “With a combination of thriving business in mature markets and new opportunities in emerging markets in Russia, the Middle East and Africa, EMEA is an energising and exciting place to be. I am really looking forward to my new role and working with the Edelman teams across the region”.

Added Twine: “Edelman is now fifty-strong in the UAE after only three years and we have further ambitions for the Gulf region. In addition, we have sharpened our focus on Africa, where we have an ever-deepening team of experts and some excellent in-market delivery partners”.

Twine will work closely with Chris Dobson, GM of Strategic & Emerging Markets, who joined Edelman last autumn.

Robert Phillips concludes: “Despite the tough economic backdrop, not least in the Eurozone, we are achieving significant growth across all Practices, in all markets. In their new roles, Iain and Susan will both contribute significantly to our senior, regional bench strength”.

Fink is also the new head of Edelman’s Corporate Practice for Germany, Switzerland and Austria, and deputy head of the practice for the EMEA region and member of the German management team.

For Robert Phillips, CEO and President of Edelman EMEA, the establishment of a Swiss presence marks an important strategic step. Phillips sees the need to build up a wholly owned organization in Switzerland, a strategic market with many global headquarters, including global Edelman clients.

“We are happy that through Alexander Fink and his team, Edelman will now have a presence in Switzerland for our existing Swiss international clients. Through our own office we can now combine local and global know-how from one source,” said Phillips. “The opening of Edelman Switzerland comes off the back of very strong business performance across the region in 2011, despite what are clearly troubled economic times. Many of our European offices have experienced double-digit growth, led by Germany, the UAE, the Netherlands, the UK and Spain. We are determined to continue to dimensionalise our business in order to offer best thinking and best quality to our clients.”

Fink is looking forward to the opportunities the integration into the Edelman network will bring: “This marks a milestone in the development of our agency and opens up great new perspectives for clients and employees.”

Companies are surveyed on a number of workplace factors, including leadership, wellbeing and personal growth, and the rankings are based on staff feedback on each of these factors.  This year the lists were derived from 828 entries, surveying over 246,000 employees.

Edelman received the 2nd best result for staff saying that the opportunities to learn and grow at the company are unlimited. With 84% of employees saying the experience they gain at work is valuable for their future.

On gaining the highest placement for a PR agency, Susan Eastoe, COO said:  “to be the highest placed PR firm in the top 100 is a tremendous achievement. It is even more gratifying to be recognized this year for our Living in Colour programme, as we continue to encourage staff to lead a culturally rich and rewarding life both in and outside of the work place”.

Among the general population technology, at 76% is most trusted sector, while telecommunications was fifth at 58%. Predictably, trust in banks and financial services were the lowest amongst industry sectors, with 47% and 43% respectively.

People’s trust in telecoms and technology brands can be linked to the critical role communications and technology are playing in every aspect of their personal and professional lives. For an emerging class of tech savvy individuals, it is the life blood for their creative and collective lives. Generation ME has focused on information sharing and digital entertainment as core products and come to rely on content and connectivity from technology and telecommunications companies to be their source of enjoyment as well as a core element of their employment going forward.

The intersection of content and communications

In addition to this the Trust Barometer shows that regular employees and everyday peers have emerged as a well trusted source. These findings mean that more than ever we should reach out to the public to encourage them to tell their stories for the world to see. Members of Generation ME are now the ideal spokespeople for brands and by appealing to them; businesses can create conversations and communities where before it was only possible to broadcast corporate messaging.

“As multi-platform content continues in its ascendancy, mobile is clearly the preferred channel for seamless sharing,” said Jon Hargreaves, managing director, Edelman Europe. “Trust is the critical issue the mobile industry must address.  In particular tackling the thorny the issues of privacy and security is vital to sustaining trust in mobile content and services.”

At the center of this new proposition is content, encapsulating videos and images, blog posts and social media. Edelman believes that every company can become a media company across multiple platforms to reach a much broader audience than ever before. Whether communicating through traditional media such as newspapers and their online equivalents, or through brands’ owned media and social networks, we can help navigate the complexity that has emerged through developments in technology.

Opportunities for Engagement

Content created across multiple screens (tablets, connected TVs, smartphones etc) is now regularly used by today’s media to bring insight where traditional means fall short. Technology has helped enfranchise millions of people and they are discovering increasingly innovative ways to create content from sending phones into near space or attaching professional lenses to shoot movie quality videos. The smartphone has quickly embedded itself as the most important electrical device available.

There is now an opportunity for brands to seize everything that makes a smartphone amazing in order to re-evaluate their proposition to their customers. By creating new services and new ways to engage with companies, brands can make themselves heard across an ever-broadening spectrum. There has also never been such importance placed upon building brand advocacy, as to not engage with the public is to hand significant advantage to competitors.

Through entering the conversation and playing on the same field as these digital natives, brands can both build their trust and be an authentic voice that is increasingly influential not just in pushing product but creating a lasting engagement with the individuals who like and want to know more about their brand. Technology, telecoms and trust are redefining brand opportunities and showing that all of these things are now closely intertwined, and demonstrating understanding of this new environment is critical to communicating beyond traditional means.