Leadership Appointments at Burson Announced: Chad Latz, Grant Toups, and Chris Kief to Lead Innovation, Digital, and Technology Functions
Burson, a new communications firm set to launch this summer through the merger of BCW and Hill & Knowlton, has announced key leadership appointments in the areas of innovation, digital, and intelligence and technology.
Chad Latz, currently BCW’s global chief innovation officer, will continue in that role at Burson. He will be responsible for leading the firm’s innovation and product development efforts, as well as building and managing a team focused on artificial intelligence across data, technology, and academia.
Grant Toups, currently Hill & Knowlton’s global chief technology officer, will serve as Burson’s global chief digital and intelligence officer. In this role, he will oversee the delivery of client-facing digital services and manage a global team offering digital and social communications, reputation enhancement and defense, technology and AI advisory, and advanced intelligence platforms.
Chris Kief, BCW’s global chief technology officer, will also retain his title at Burson. He will lead the firm’s enterprise technology strategy, including investments, deployments, and governance of technology offerings, as well as oversee engineering teams to accelerate product development.
BCW global CEO Corey duBrowa, who will continue in the same role at Burson, emphasized the importance of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in the communications industry. He highlighted existing tools such as Decipher and Sonar that help clients predict and prevent the spread of misinformation and develop precise messaging informed by data and analytics.
The leadership team at Burson will also include AnnaMaria DeSalva as chairman, Kristine Boyden as Americas CEO, and Craig Buchholz as U.S. CEO. The agency plans to announce additional appointments as part of the integration process.
With more than 6,000 employees in 43 markets worldwide, Burson aims to establish itself as one of the largest global firms in the industry. Despite challenges in the PR division, including a 3.3% revenue decline in Q1 2024, the firm is optimistic about delivering innovative and effective communications solutions for clients.