Christine Heenan Joins Burson-Marsteller's Creative Council

NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations and communications firm, today announced that Christine Heenan has joined the firm as a member of its U.S.-based Creative Council. Heenan is a Boston-based communications strategist and organizational leader with experience in corporate, academic, non-profit and government settings. The firm's Creative Council comprises creative and highly experienced executives from a range of settings and backgrounds who bring new thinking and new approaches to client opportunities.

Heenan currently serves as Senior Communications Adviser at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where she works with the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Communications Officer and the U.S. programs team on strategy and communications, U.S. education initiatives and other program priorities. She also serves as an advisor to the President of Harvard University on speechwriting and strategy as well as messaging for special initiatives.  Heenan founded and is President of the Clarendon Group, an award-winning communications, government relations and public policy consulting firm.

Heenan previously served for seven years as Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications for Harvard, leading communications, government relations, community relations and community programming for the university. Before joining Harvard, Heenan led Clarendon Group for a decade, after running government relations and teaching public affairs and communications at Brown University. Earlier in her career, Heenan was a Senior Policy Analyst serving on the White House Domestic Policy Council staff during the first term of the Clinton Administration, working at the intersection of policy formulation and communications and public affairs. She focused primarily on health reform and women's issues.

"Christine Heenan is an exceptional talent who offers deep insights across a wide range of specialized areas, including executive visibility, issues advocacy, public policy and corporate social responsibility," said Michael Law, U.S. CEO, Burson-Marsteller, to whom Heenan will report. "Her relationships and experience at the highest levels of business, government and academia will be of tremendous value to our clients. I'm delighted to welcome her to Burson-Marsteller's Creative Council."

Added Donald A. Baer, Worldwide Chair and CEO, Burson-Marsteller, "Christine and I worked together in the Clinton White House, and I have always found her to be one of the most intelligent and professional colleagues I have ever known. Her deep experience with an amazing range of roles makes her an ideal addition to our team of strategic counselors who bring our clients smart solutions and great opportunities.  I cannot wait to start working with Christine again and for our clients to benefit from her expertise."

"I'm thrilled to be joining Burson-Marsteller's Creative Council," said Heenan. "The chance to work alongside a network of the greatest strategists and creative thinkers is an incredible opportunity, and I look forward to bringing my perspective to Burson-Marsteller's global client community."

Heenan earned a B.S. in journalism from Boston University.

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 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 WPPGY, the world's leading communications services network. For more information, please visit www.burson-marsteller.com.

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SOURCE Burson-Marsteller