CEOI MEMBER SINCE 2017

Richard Edelman is the CEO of Edelman, a global communications firm, and chairman of DJE Holdings, the firm’s holding company. Founded in 1952 by his father, Dan, the company remains independent and family owned, with more than 6,000+employees in 66 offices across 28 countries. Now in his 26th year as CEO, Richard Edelman is one of the longest-tenured agency leaders in the marketing services industry. Under his leadership, the company’s revenue increased 11.5 times, enabling it to become the world’s largest communications firm, surpassing $1 billion in revenue. DJE Holdings’ revenue increased 14 times during that same period, making it the largest independent communications holding company. Mr. Edelman has advised senior executives through significant disruptions within their organizations, including Samsung, Starbucks, and United Airlines, and worked on history’s largest professional services merger, that of Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young & Co. As the creator of the annual Edelman Trust Barometer, Mr. Edelman has become one of the foremost authorities on trust. In 2022, Richard Edelman was inducted into the American Advertising Hall of Fame, the first PR executive to ever earn this honor. He serves on the board of directors of the Ad Council, the Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP), the Atlantic Council, Project HOOD, P33, the Gettysburg Foundation, and the 9/11 Museum. He is a member of the civic committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, World Economic Forum, and PR Seminar.