Edelman Australia today announced the appointment of Natasha Brack as head of technology and Danny Cowan as director, corporate. They will join the Australian Leadership Team in growing trust and loyalty for Edelman’s portfolio of clients.
Michelle Hutton, CEO of Australia, and vice chair of Asia Pacific said: “There couldn’t be a better time to deepen Edelman’s senior expertise within the technology and corporate practices. If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that tech has kept us working and connected, in new and surprising ways, and a trusted corporate reputation is essential to successful operations. We know that great thinking and new approaches benefit our clients, our team and our results, which is why we’re thrilled to welcome Natasha and Danny.
“They bring deep experience navigating complex communications challenges some of the world’s biggest tech and consumer brands, developing integrated communications strategies that spark conversation and drive brand salience. I’m confident each will be a valuable partner to our clients, while also serving a mentor to our teams, as we continue to evolve our offering in Australia.”
Brack joins Edelman from Microsoft, where she served as the tech company’s consumer communications and marketing lead for Australia, and has previously held roles at Activision, Burson-Marsteller, 20th Century Fox and Quiksilver. A seasoned communications leader, she brings more than 15 years’ experience in helping global organisations deliver communications programs that drive business outcomes to her new role. Her passion for storytelling across B2C and B2B clients has made her instrumental in the creation of corporate initiatives such as Diversity & Inclusion country plans and Corporate Mental Health campaigns for Microsoft Australia. Having held regional roles developing programs in ANZ, Japan and South East Asia, Brack also has significant experience in navigating both the challenges and opportunities across the region to build, launch and nurture brands.
“I’m thrilled to join the Edelman team and contribute to growing their technology practice at an incredibly exciting time, given the high innovation within big tech and the opportunities for us to support incredible brands across Australia,” Brack said.
Cowan re-joins Edelman after four years leading corporate affairs initiatives for Starbucks across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. There, he led a multi-national team that was responsible for promoting and protecting the brand and across 43 countries. He oversaw communications strategy and integration across a network of company-operated and licensed businesses, focused on proactive, brand-building reputational initiatives across media, government, customer, employee, investor, and other stakeholder audiences. He is particularly focused on creating integrated programs that seek to earn public trust on behalf of business. Cowan will also work with the global and regional teams to bolster Edelman’s existing issues and crisis communications offer.
“When my family decided to relocate to Australia and I began looking for an exciting new role, Edelman was my very first call. I’ve always been a strong believer in the firm’s point of view on trust – it sits at the core of everything we aim to do in the communications field. It’s an incredible privilege to work alongside such an experienced and talented team that is charting the future of communications in Australia – and with an enviable client roster. I’m looking forward to the impact we will make in shaping how brands and businesses connect with their many audiences in a market that continues to innovate ahead of most others,” Cowan said.