Gemma Hudson appointed CEO of Burson Group ANZ

Gemma Hudson has been appointed CEO of Burson Group Australia and New Zealand (AUNZ), effective immediately.

Hudson will oversee the agency's operations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, including its government relations firms, Hawker Britton and Barton Deakin. She is based in Sydney and reports to APAC CEO HS Chung.

Hudson joins Burson from Johnson & Johnson, where she was Director, Communications & Public Affairs, AUNZ. In that role, she oversaw internal and external communications, including brand communication, public affairs and corporate reputation.

She has more than two decades of experience in healthcare, brand and consumer, corporate and public affairs, and technology communications.

Before Johnson & Johnson, Hudson spent 11 years at WE Communications, including three years as Executive Vice President, APAC and EMEA, for its International Health practice. She earlier spent eight years at the firm building its Australia and New Zealand business, including three years as CEO.

"Australia and New Zealand are strategically important growth markets for Burson, rich with expertise and scaling potential," said Chung.

"We are thrilled to welcome Gemma to lead our AUNZ business as we accelerate our growth ambitions and continue to expand our offering.

"Gemma brings a valuable client-side perspective and deep sector experience which will bolster our healthcare practice and elevate the unique 'culture to cabinet' positioning in AUNZ - supporting clients across consumer and brand, advocacy and influence, corporate affairs and government relations."

'Full spectrum'

"I'm excited to be returning agency side and joining Burson at such a significant time for the communications industry," said Hudson.

"Today's geopolitical environment has made it more important than ever for organisations to navigate culture, reputation and policy. I'm delighted to be joining a business that brings together the capabilities to support clients across that full spectrum."

Hudson has led multidisciplinary teams across both in-house and agency roles.

"AUNZ is a dynamic market full of opportunity, and I am looking forward to unlocking that potential with an exceptional team," Hudson said.

"Burson's enviable data and tech stack will underpin everything we build in Australia, helping us deliver smarter, more impactful solutions for clients as they navigate an increasingly complex communications landscape."

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