Matthew Harrington is the U.S. president and chief executive officer of the world’s largest independent public relations firm. Matthew, a 20-year Edelman veteran, has responsibility for the firm’s U.S. business, which includes more than 1,600 employees and 2008 revenue of $294M, representing approximately 65% of the firm’s worldwide revenue.

Edelman was recently named PRWeek’s “Agency of the Year 2009,” and for the third time in four years was named PRWeek’s “Large Agency of the Year.” The firm was ranked #2 on Advertising Age’s “A-List 2008: The Ones to Watch.”

Matthew formerly served as president of Edelman’s Eastern Region including the Atlanta and New York offices. Previously, he was president of Edelman’s Western Region and also served as general manager of the San Francisco office. In 2005, Matthew led Edelman’s firm-wide initiative to introduce a Code of Conduct; a first among PR firms.

Matthew is a specialist in corporate positioning and reputation management. His expertise includes crisis communications, merger and acquisition activity, initial public offerings, and the establishment of investor relations programs for companies in a variety of industries.

Currently, Matthew provides corporate and/or issues management counsel to a range of clients, including, General Electric, Swiss Re, Charles Schwab & Company, Getty Images, Samsung, and Starbucks.

In 1996, he managed crisis communications for Odwalla, Inc. during a recall of their apple juice throughout seven states and British Columbia. Based on the work for Odwalla, Matthew was awarded the Silver Anvil for Crisis Communications from the Public Relations Society of America. This program also received the Silver Anvil for “Best Communications Program for 1996” and the International Public Relations Association’s Golden Award.

Prior to joining the San Francisco office, Matthew was vice president and director of Investor Relations in Edelman’s New York Corporate and Financial Communications divisions. Prior to joining Edelman, he was a vice president with an international financial communications consultancy where he managed investor relations and corporate communications programs for U.S. and non-U.S. companies, including Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, The Zweig Funds, Alliance Capital and Nestle.

Matthew holds a Bachelor of Arts (English literature) from Denison University and is a member of the National Investor Relations Institute and the Public Relations Society of America. He is a board member of the New York Harbor Conservancy and the Classic Stage Company. He and his family live in Bronxville, New York.

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