Burson names global digital and intelligence leadership team

More senior appointments have been announced for Burson, across its global digital and intelligence leadership team.

According to the agency, which launched in June from the merger of BCW and Hill & Knowlton, the bolstered leadership team will "drive the implementation of its digital, paid and intelligence components of the agency’s Innovation Portfolio globally." 

Appointments announced today include:

• Vikki Chowney, global head, influencer
• Vicky Lewko, global head, digital health
• Sama al-Naib, EMEA chief digital and innovation officer
• Allison Spray, EMEA chief data and intelligence officer
• Michael Beno, Americas chair, digital
• Kari Butcher, Americas chair, data and intelligence
• Joe Peng, APAC and greater China head of digital and intelligence

Grant Toups, global chief digital and intelligence officer at Burson, said: “The volume and velocity of online conversation has never been louder or faster, with AI-generated content being created and globalised essentially instantaneously.

“This substantially increases both opportunity and risk for organisations, requiring analysis of exponentially more data to uncover insights and devise strategies across paid, earned and owned to mitigate volatility and leverage opportunities. These leaders marshal the full power of Burson—our extensive industry expertise, world-class technology, innovative methodologies and global scale—to help clients allay risk, build reputation, grow and thrive.” 

“Businesses and organisations will continue to face unprecedented levels of complexity for the foreseeable future,” Toups added. 

“This team of high performers, recognised experts in their specialties and in their regions, is exceptionally well-suited to provide world-class counsel and drive value creation for clients across industries.”

Announced in January, the merger of BCW and Hill & Knowlton will likely see Burson become one of the world’s biggest PR networks with combined annual revenues of about $1.3 billion.