NEW YORK, March 13, 2024 – BCW and Hill & Knowlton, which will merge as of July 1, 2024, to form Burson, today announced that Allison Cirullo will join the agency to become Global Chair of Consumer and Brand, Burson. She will also serve as North America Chair, Consumer and Brand, for the agency and will join effective April 15th. She will start with BCW until the Burson transition is complete.
Cirullo has more than 20 years of experience creating multi-channel strategies that solve business problems, shift reputation and build resilient brands. Across her career she has advised brands in the automotive, consumer packaged goods, food and beverage, financial services and insurance industries, among many others. She has expertise across corporate brand purpose, brand positioning, reputation, digital transformation, data and measurement, talent management, business planning, P&L management and global leadership.
“The core components of building brands – demonstrating value, building trust and connecting with all stakeholder audiences – are inextricably linked to enhancing reputation,” said Corey duBrowa, Global CEO, BCW, who will become CEO of Burson upon completion of the merger. “Allison has considerable experience across a variety of industries helping clients drive reputation, from purchase to purpose and everything in between. Her exceptional client experience and commitment to building and mentoring high-performing teams make her a formidable addition to the Burson team.”
Cirullo joins the agency from Edelman, where she spent the past 16 years. Most recently she served as Chief Operating Officer for the agency’s global brand practice, responsible for driving growth and operational effectiveness, including overseeing the strategic vision, go-to-market strategies, global offerings, intellectual property, external marketing, new business and counseling C-suite clients.
Before this role, she had been Managing Director, U.S. Brand, Edelman and, earlier, Managing Director of its Chicago Brand Practice where she oversaw more than 30 accounts. She was also part of GWEN (Global Women's Edelman Network) and Edelman's Aspire Mentorship program.
Earlier in her career, Allison helped launch a start-up marketing agency Alpaytac, Inc., and also worked at Publicis, the Chicago Bulls and Celtic Insurance Company.
"Brands today have to manage a complex stakeholder ecosystem and know how and when to earn consumer attention that not only creates buzz but has a lasting impact on reputation,” said Cirullo. “I’m looking forward to joining this strong team that is committed to future-proofing brands and exceeding client expectations at every turn."
On January 25th, WPP announced it would merge its two largest communications agencies, BCW and Hill & Knowlton, to form Burson, a powerhouse delivering modern communications leadership at scale to clients across the world. The merged company will become an industry-leading, full-service communications agency focused on building and protecting reputation. Burson will be operational as of July 1, 2024.
