Burson-Marsteller today named Bennett Freeman as Managing Director for Corporate Responsibility in the firm's U.S. Corporate and Financial Practice. Based in Washington, D.C., Mr. Freeman will lead the fast-growing specialty area that advises the firm's corporate and institutional clients on corporate responsibility policies, stakeholder engagement strategies, and international standards and initiatives that address human rights, labor rights, the environment and sustainable development.
A former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Mr. Freeman, 45, has two decades of combined government and private sector experience on sensitive domestic and global issues faced by multinational corporations. At Burson-Marsteller, he will assist clients develop company principles and codes of conduct, undertake project and country risk assessments, build relations with NGOs, manage multi-stakeholder dialogues, and assess corporate responsibility reporting and assurance frameworks.
Mr. Freeman will play a key role on Burson-Marsteller's global corporate responsibility team that takes an inter-disciplinary approach to addressing the growing needs of multinational corporations based here and abroad. The cross-Practice team offers clients integrated expertise in government and public affairs, corporate reputation management, crisis communications, media relations, branding and marketing - all areas in which B-M is recognized as an industry leader.