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Burson-Marsteller Names Bennett Freeman to Lead Corporate Responsibility Unit in U.S.
Burson-Marsteller Names Bennett Freeman to Lead Corporate Responsibility Unit in U.S.
Published 05-19-03
Submitted by Burson-Marsteller
A former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Mr. Freeman, 45, has two decades of combined government and private sector experience on sensitive domestic and global issues faced by multinational corporations. At Burson-Marsteller, he will assist clients develop company principles and codes of conduct, undertake project and country risk assessments, build relations with NGOs, manage multi-stakeholder dialogues, and assess corporate responsibility reporting and assurance frameworks.
Mr. Freeman will play a key role on Burson-Marsteller's global corporate responsibility team that takes an inter-disciplinary approach to addressing the growing needs of multinational corporations based here and abroad. The cross-Practice team offers clients integrated expertise in government and public affairs, corporate reputation management, crisis communications, media relations, branding and marketing ? all areas in which B-M is recognized as an industry leader.
"We see corporations facing growing pressures and expectations from diverse stakeholders around the world," said Judi Mackey, chair of Burson-Marsteller's U.S. Corporate and Financial Practice. "These groups have set new agendas and even new rules of the conduct of business. Bennett will bring our clients global expertise and credibility as a recognized leader and innovator on corporate responsibility and human rights."
Mr. Freeman added: "Burson-Marsteller has a respected track record in working with senior executives of leading global corporations in the development and communication of corporate responsibility strategies. I look forward to working with my new colleagues in the U.S. and abroad to build a world-class corporate responsibility practice in what is already the best-in-class firm. Our goal is -to help clients manage risk and create competitive advantage, and contribute positively to the challenges of globalization at the same time."
Mr. Freeman was formerly the Principal of Sustainable Investment Strategies, where he advised global companies, international institutions and NGOs on corporate responsibility and political risk issues. In 2001 he co-authored a Human Rights Impact Assessment for BP's Tangguh natural gas project in Papua, Indonesia, the first conducted for a major energy project in the world. As Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor from 1999 to early 2001, he was responsible for the State Department's bilateral human rights diplomacy, and for international labor diplomacy for part of that period as well.
He led the year-long multi-stakeholder dialogue that brought together the U.S. and UK governments with major oil and mining companies and human rights NGOs to develop the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. Announced in December 2000 and carried forward by the Bush Administration, the Voluntary Principles are widely recognized as the leading human rights standard developed for the extractive sectors, and the first for companies operating in zones of conflict in any sector.
Previously in the State Department, Mr. Freeman served in 1997 and 1998 as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs Stuart Eizenstat, for whom he directed the Department's diplomatic strategy and historical research on Holocaust-era assets. From 1993 through 1996, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and chief speechwriter for Secretary of State Warren Christopher. Prior to government service, he worked from 1985 to early 1993 on government relations, public affairs, corporate reputation, and business ethics issues as Manager-Corporate Affairs for General Electric. He conceived and helped implement the Defense Industry Initiative on Business Ethics and conduct launched in 1986, still the ethical and procurement compliance standard for the U.S. defense industry.
The author of many published articles on corporate responsibility and sustainable development, Mr. Freeman speaks frequently on these topics at conferences, universities and think tanks in North America and Europe. He serves on the Board of Directors of Oxfam America and on the Business and Economic Relations Group of Amnesty International USA. He earned an A.B. in History at the University of California at Berkeley, and an MA in Modern History at Oxford University, where he was a Churchill Scholar at Balliol College.
About Burson-Marsteller
Burson-Marsteller (www.bm.com), established in 1953, is a leading global public relations and communications counseling firm. It provides clients with strategic thinking and program execution across a full range of public relations, public affairs, advertising and other communications services.
The firm's seamless global network is designed to deliver premium, integrated services through 46 wholly-owned offices and 51 affiliate offices, together operating in 57 countries across six continents. In 1979, the firm joined the Young & Rubicam family of companies, which in October 2000 was acquired by WPP Group plc (NASDQ: WPPGY), one of the world's leading communications services groups.
