Martin Roll, the Danish brand expert based in Singapore, has joined Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations and communications firm, as Senior Adviser to the firm’s Global Strategy Team. Martin Roll joins along with Hoh Kim, one of Asia’s leading authorities on crisis communications.
Martin Roll, author of Asian Brand Strategy, brings more than 20 years of experience in the international advertising and consulting industry. Roll is a frequent guest lecturer at INSEAD, Nanyang Business School, CEIBS and several other global business schools and a sought-after public speaker. Hoh Kim has provided guidance and counsel to Asian and global multinationals and columnist for leading Korean business publications. Their complementary skills in reputation development and protection provide Burson-Marsteller with additional sector-specific expertise.
“Martin and Hoh’s experience make them welcome additions to the strong talent we have already brought together on our Global Strategy Team,” said Burson-Marsteller Worldwide CEO Mark Penn. “Their insights from working with boards and top management will add crucial perspectives to our worldwide and regional engagements, providing our clients with exceptional advice.
Roll and Kim will be the first Asian-based members of Burson-Marsteller’s Global Strategy Team. Members of the Global Strategy Team come from roles as senior advisers to Presidents and CEOs. As a group and as individuals, they offer clients critical insights and creative advice from some of the world’s most accomplished communications strategists in the fields of corporate marketing and communications, politics, government and academia.
Martin Roll is a recognized international authority on leadership, strategy and branding. Based in Singapore, Roll advises senior executives, corporate boards and management teams from the largest companies in Asia and on the Fortune 500 on connecting business and brand strategies to create value, increase shareholder returns and strengthen market position. Roll has particular expertise on brand strategy and communication in an Asian context. His book on the topic was listed among the best business books of 2006 by strategy+business magazine.
Hoh Kim is the founder and head coach of THE LAB h, a Korean consultancy that provides leadership communication coaching and crisis counsel to senior executives and government officials. In his fourteen years of experience providing strategic communications counsel, Kim has worked with a wide range of clients, including Korean non-profit organizations, healthcare and consumer electronics companies, and multinational finance institutions. Formerly Managing Director of Edelman in Korea, Kim is co-author of the best-selling “Cool Apology”, a scientific approach to corporate and leadership apologies, which was included in the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s‘Books of Excellence’ List for 2011.
“Asia’s importance as a global catalyst for growth is well-known. Its export strength is being matched by growing domestic demand, which fuels the need for brand positioning and reputation management,” said Don Baer, Worldwide Vice Chairman/Chief Strategy Officer, who leads the Global Strategy Team. “The combined experience of Martin and Hoh positions Burson-Marsteller to offer experienced, senior counsel to our global client network with a focus on brand reputation and crisis communications in Asia.”
“At the same time that Western multinationals are investing more of their international public relations resources in the East, the rising multinationals of Asia are making increasing use of PR to build a global image for the very first time,” said Asia-Pacific CEO Bob Pickard. “Hoh and Martin bring to the Global Strategy Team an in-depth understanding of the expectations of the region’s stakeholders as well as state-of-the art thinking about how to get Asia right from the start at a critical time in the region’s rise.”
