Potter Brings 30 Years of Advertising Experience to Edelman

HONG KONG, March 15, 2015 - Edelman today announced that it has hired Carol Potter as executive vice chairman, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APACMEA) effective August 1. Potter, outgoing president and CEO of BBDO and Proximity Greater China, will support David Brain, president and CEO, APACMEA and the regional team in building out Edelman's most diverse region as a member of the regional operations committee. The hire follows the move on March 1 by Cornelia Kunze, former vice chairman, APACMEA, to a similar role in Europe & CIS. Potter will be based in Dubai and report to Brain.

"Carol represents the gold standard of advertising and planning, and will bring with her the science and rigor of marketing to accelerate our evolution into becoming the region's first communications marketing agency," said Brain. "She is a leading brands thinker and will elevate our research, creative and content offerings across the region for the benefit of our clients."

Potter is one of the best known and respected women in global advertising. She arrived in Shanghai as CEO of BBDO China in 2006, before which she was a global business director at J. Walter Thompson in London. She started her career at Saatchi & Saatchi and has worked in Sydney, New York, Tokyo and London, marketing and advertising the world's most famous brands and Fortune 500 companies.

"Edelman has always been an impressive company to me and its evolution, which David is pioneering in the region, really ignited my interest," said Potter. "I see this as a wonderful opportunity to use my experience in new ways to pursue that same agenda."

Potter will have a particular remit to help develop Edelman's brand offer which encompasses social, digital, experiential, PR, analytics and research for clients throughout the region. Companies and brands she has worked with include Unilever, Pepsi, Visa, Kellogg's, Avis, Mercedes-Benz, Mars/Wrigley and Nivea; and between 2001 and 2004 she ran the De Beers account globally.

Carol is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a member of D&AD.  

About Edelman Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa
Edelman Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APACMEA) helps clients understand and be understood in the biggest, most diverse and fastest-growing region on earth. Edelman was named The Holmes Report's 2012 Asia-Pacific, 2014 Asia-Pacific Digital, 2013 Middle East and 2012 India Consultancy of the Year; Campaign Asia-Pacific's 2012 Greater China PR, 2013 Indonesia Digital, 2014 Australia/New Zealand PR and 2012 and 2013 South Asia PR Agency of the Year; and Marketing Magazine's 2014 Singapore PR Agency of the Year. We have more than 1,500 staff members in 24 cities across 13 countries with practice expertise in corporate communications, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, corporate social responsibility, sustainability and B-to-B and B-to-C brand marketing, and specialty expertise in strategic planning and creative execution, content marketing, research, social media, digital and traditional media relations. Visit www.edelman.com/regions/asia-pacific-middle-east-africa for more information.

© Press Release 2015