PR News
Burson to welcome new Corporate Affairs Head

Burson to welcome new Corporate Affairs Head

Jonty Summers (pictured) will start a new role at Burson as Head of Corporate Affairs in Dubai at the end of June. He joins from Hanover, where he spent ten years as Regional Managing Director, establishing and running Hanover's advisory business in the Middle East.

“We are thrilled to welcome a leader of Jonty’s calibre to our team,” said Fouad Bou Mansour, CEO, MENAT, Burson.

“In a region as dynamic and fast-paced as the Middle East, clients require senior counsellors who combine a deep, nuanced understanding of the region with a proven track record of delivering results. Jonty embodies this. He has over 20 years of experience providing strategic, C-suite-level counsel to top-tier organisations, helping them navigate challenges, growth, and transformation. His expertise will be a tremendous asset, and I am confident he will play a pivotal role in continuing to elevate our corporate offering and helping our clients win in this complex environment.”

Jonty's career includes senior leadership roles at Edelman, where he was Senior Vice President for corporate practice across the Middle East. Prior to this, Jonty was Managing Director at Bladonmore in London, before transferring to Abu Dhabi in 2009. He began his career as a journalist and then worked in publishing in London.

"Having spent my career helping organisations build and protect their reputations through periods of transformation, growth and change, I am excited to join Burson as it continues to grow and evolve its offering across the Middle East,” said Jonty.

“This is one of the world’s most dynamic and strategically important regions, and organisations here face both extraordinary opportunities and increasingly complex operating environments. Burson's sector expertise, global reach and local relevance position it exceptionally well to help clients navigate, lead and grow in this breathtakingly disruptive landscape." 

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Praytell has expanded into the Asian market and set up a new office in Singapore. Leading the new operation is industry veteran Debbie Chin, who joins the agency as Executive Vice President (EVP), Asia.

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"Joining Praytell at this moment of global growth is an incredible opportunity," said Debbie. "Singapore sits at the crossroads of global business, and brands today are looking for deep local insights paired with world-class innovation. I’m thrilled to bring Praytell’s global centres of excellence to Asia, and to combine our best-in-class capabilities with genuine regional fluency to drive smart, culture-first impact for our clients."

Debbie also joins Praytell’s recently launched Global Impact Team. This specialised leadership group includes CEO Beth Cleveland, President Katelyn Driscoll, CFO Akash Desai, EVP and Australia Lead Zoe Watson, EVP and Travel Practice Lead Jamie Simpson, and Project Chief Growth Officer Charles Robinson, who work collectively to support Praytell’s overarching global growth and cross-border connectivity.

The launch of Praytell Singapore is designed to create an integrated collaboration point within the Project Worldwide alliance, which is aimed to help brands build meaningful brand experiences by connecting expertise across marketing, communications, entertainment, strategy, and innovation. Based within Project Hub at The Concourse in Singapore, Praytell will unite its creative communications capabilities with the regional strengths of sister agencies including global experience marketing agency George P. Johnson and cultural brand experience agency DARKHORSE.

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