Edelman makes global leadership changes

Longtime Edelman high-level executive Matthew Harrington is changing roles, becoming executive vice chairman, effective October 13.

Harrington, currently global president and COO, will concentrate on strengthening relationships with Edelman’s largest global clients and serving as senior counselor to C-suites and boards, according to an agency statement. He will report to global CEO Richard Edelman.

Harrington will be replaced by Mainardo de Nardis in both roles on October 13, with a focus on driving client growth across the portfolio, guiding global strategy and “ensuring consistency and excellence” across Edelman’s worldwide network, according to a company statement. 

"I’ve always engaged with clients, many of which have been long-term relationships, and I’m looking forward to focusing my energy exclusively on the heart of our business,” said Harrington in an emailed statement. “Clients are navigating an extraordinary moment of transformation from technology shifts to rapidly changing dynamics across geopolitics and society, and I welcome the opportunity to support them at this time. I also look forward to bringing insights from client engagements back to the firm to help inform our strategy for the future.”

The changes come after Edelman reported a second consecutive year of revenue decline in 2024, posting a 5% drop to $986 million globally and an 8% decrease to $588 million in the U.S., according to PRWeek’s Agency Business Report 2025. 

The agency made the executive changes to accelerate its strategic agenda, said Richard Edelman.

“Edelman is back on offense,” he said. “I am pleased with how we are back playing on the side of the field where we are scoring points.” 

De Nardis’ remit will include strengthening the firm’s operating model to support sustainable, profitable growth while extending Edelman’s cultural and industry impact, according to an agency statement. 

De Nardis said he has four priorities for the next 24 months: global quality and consistency, clients and talent, ensuring Edelman has the right offerings for clients and a major focus on profitable growth.

“The agency has been successful for many decades, but agencies don't grow in a linear way,” said de Nardis. “It’s always in waves. Now we are at the beginning of a new wave of success for Edelman, and I look forward to this new round.”

For the past five years, de Nardis has been a member of Edelman’s board of directors. He previously served as executive vice chairman of Omnicom Media Group and CEO of OMD Worldwide at Omnicom, global CEO of Aegis Media and CEO of MEC at WPP.

The firm has also appointed Brian Buchwald as president of global transformation and performance, effective next Monday. In the newly created role, Buchwald will report to de Nardis. 

Buchwald is currently Edelman’s global chair of artificial intelligence and product. He said that role will not be filled, but he will continue to oversee Edelman’s AI and product teams. 

“We see AI and tech and data as central to our transformation effort, so it sits in the center of these efforts as a catalyst,” said Buchwald.

The top-level executive appointments are part of a series of leadership changes at Edelman.

Last month, Edelman named Amanda Edelman to lead the firm’s Chicago office, replacing Alison Borgmeyer, who left the firm. Other recent leadership changes at Edelman include hiring Golin alum Ginger Porter as COO for Edelman U.S. in May; adding Eduardo Tavares as global health executive director in July; naming Ben Verley as global head of predictive intelligence for Edelman Data & Intelligence; and appointing Tristan Roy as president of integrated solutions and delivery.