Matt Buchanan to Join Burson as Chief Operating Officer for EMEA

London, June 30, 2025 - Burson, the global communications leader purpose-built to create value for its clients through reputation, today announced that Matt Buchanan will join the agency as Chief Operating Officer (COO), EMEA. The appointment is effective from late July, and he will be based in London.

Buchanan will work closely with Burson’s EMEA Executive Management Team and be responsible for leading operational excellence, effectiveness and continuous improvement of the business across all the agency’s 22 markets in the region.

Buchanan joins Burson from Ogilvy, where he spent more than six years, most recently as Global & EMEA President, Ogilvy PR, leading global clients and the agency’s EMEA region. Before Ogilvy, Buchanan was with Havas-owned One Green Bean for seven years, initially as Australian Managing Director ahead of returning to London to launch its UK business as Managing Director. An experienced client and operational leader, Buchanan has worked across diverse sectors, with clients such as The Coca-Cola Company, L’Oréal, Google, TJX Europe and Pfizer to name just a few. He has been a member of the PRCA Board and is a regular industry awards judge, including having been a juror for the Cannes PR Lions.

“Clients today face highly complex, fast-moving challenges and opportunities,” said Jon Hughes, EMEA CEO, Burson. “And Burson’s strength lies in rapidly deploying talent, tools and tech to help them succeed. I can’t think of a more experienced person than Matt to champion and further build our operational approach, so we can best help our clients cut through, reach their audiences and build their reputations.”

Buchanan said, “Burson has a clear and ambitious vision and the breadth and depth of the Burson offer in EMEA - from consumer and brand to health, corporate reputation and advisory - makes this a very exciting and career defining opportunity.  I’m thrilled to join Burson and work alongside Jon and the leadership teams to further Burson’s evolution, cultivating a dynamic, innovative, and purposeful agency culture to drive real impact and advantage for our clients.  And, of course, have some fun along the way!”