Burson-Marsteller Appoints Matt Burns as Southwest Public Affairs Market Leader

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Burson-Marsteller, a leading public relations and communications firm, announced today that it has appointed Matt Burns as Southwest Public Affairs Market Leader and Managing Director in its U.S. Public Affairs Practice. Throughout his career, Burns has served as a trusted counselor for senior corporate executives, major political organizations and government agencies. Burns will be based in Dallas and report to Nate Tibbits, Chair of the U.S. Public Affairs Practice.

“Matt’s experience bridges the gap between the public and private sector, and his insight and leadership strengthens our public affairs capabilities”

“Matt’s experience bridges the gap between the public and private sector, and his insight and leadership strengthens our public affairs capabilities,” said Tibbits. “Burson-Marsteller has always had one of the strongest networks in the Southwest region. Under Matt’s leadership, I believe our history of excellence in public affairs will continue.”

Prior to joining Burson-Marsteller, Burns was director of corporate communications for UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement, a UnitedHealth Group business, where he led public relations and the alignment of communications activities with internal communications, legal, government affairs, regulatory, marketing and sales functions. He advised C-suite executives on strategic business and public relations initiatives, planned and oversaw a strategic partnership with the National Council on Aging and led media relations around business mergers and acquisitions. Burns also served as the lead spokesperson for UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement, working with national, regional and online media outlets.

Before working with UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement, Burns operated Compelem Strategies, a firm counseling non-profit, corporate and political clients.

Burns also served as director of communications for the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. He acted as the convention’s chief media strategist and spokesperson, leading a team of 200 veteran communicators that generated 2,600 surrogate media interviews and unprecedented online engagement through strategic partnerships with Google, Microsoft and Ustream.TV.

From 2005-2007, Burns was Press Secretary for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs during the Bush administration, where he was principal spokesman for the 235,000-employee agency and the cabinet secretary. As press secretary, he developed the agency’s strategic messaging, prepared the cabinet secretary and other officials for congressional hearings and directed crisis communications.

Burns obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Monmouth University in New Jersey, and he is an executive MBA candidate through IE Business School and Brown University.

About Burson-Marsteller

Burson-Marsteller, established in 1953, is a leading global public relations and communications firm. It provides clients with strategic thinking and program execution across a full range of public relations, public affairs, reputation and crisis management, advertising and digital strategies. The firm’s seamless worldwide network consists of 73 offices and 83 affiliate offices, together operating in 108 countries across six continents. Burson-Marsteller is a unit of WPP, the world’s leading communications services network. For more information, please visit bm.com.