Weber Shandwick has appointed three regional leads as part of the new Business & Society Futures group: Carolyn Devanayagam in APAC, Greg Prager in EMEA, and Peter Carson in North America.
Last month, The Weber Shandwick Collective (TWSC) launched Business & Society Futures to offer clients “a single point of access to the industry’s most accomplished strategists and counselors.” The offering additionally provides differentiated AI and technology-backed insights and advisory expertise across communications, public affairs, and management consulting the company said.
Business & Society Futures is comprised of the Collective’s advisory brands, Powell Tate, United Minds, KRC Research, and Weber Shandwick’s Corporate Affairs and Public Affairs practices.
Carson has helped build and grow Powell Tate, the public affairs unit of TWSC in Washington, DC – now a key part of Business & Society Futures. He brings more than two decades of experience in public affairs and communications.
“Today, competing pressures from internal and external stakeholders present great challenges to executive decision-making and brand reputation. This constant swirl of information makes it difficult to understand what matters – and what is simply noise. We’re eager and equipped to take on these new business challenges,” said Carson.
Devanayagam has worked in Asia and the U.S. During her tenure with the firm, with some of its largest corporate clients. Her expertise in managing multi-market clients and teams across regions has been vital for the firm’s regional and global clients, said Weber Shandwick.
“This expanded offering – and our connectivity as a group – brings an incredible opportunity for streamlined, strategic counsel when and where clients need it most,” said Devanayagam.
“We’re now in the unique position to assess where client needs are shifting across the world and work with our colleagues to evaluate those regional market differences and sensitivities, bringing tools from one part to another.”
Greg Prager, currently Managing Director of Switzerland and Chair of the EMEA Corporate Practice, will focus full-time on building and growing the Corporate Practice in the region. He brings over 11 years with Weber Shandwick, having led some of the company’s largest clients.
“As a firm, we pride ourselves on being data driven and human led,” said Prager. “Clients are looking for intelligence and insights informed by data to define their narrative, combat misinformation and shape the environment in which they operate. We’re built for this.”
Speaking on the new appointments Chris Deri, Weber Shandwick’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and President of The Weber Shandwick Collective’s Business & Society Futures group, said:
“All three will ensure we have the talent, expertise and insights within each of their regions to protect and promote our client’s corporate reputation. Peter, Greg and Carolyn will also work alongside their global colleagues to provide our clients with integrated senior counsel across corporate positioning, public affairs and organizational effectiveness.”
