Edelman announced the appointment of Stefan Borst as CEO of its business in Brussels. Stefan joins Edelman from Avisa Partners, the economic intelligence, global advocacy, and cybersecurity firm, where he was Partner and responsible for its public affairs business – advising business leaders, international trade bodies, and investment funds on EU affairs.
Prior to this, he founded IDA Group, a boutique political communications, public affairs, and trade consultancy which was bought by Avisa Partners in 2019. Until 2021, Stefan also advised the CEO and board of LANXESS AG on EU-related matters and represented the specialty chemicals company towards the EU institutions. He began his career as a journalist and was previously the EU correspondent for Focus Magazine, one of Germany’s largest weekly magazines.
Stefan Borst will succeed Gurpreet Brar who will move to work as Chief Operating Officer in the organization’s global public affairs team and to lead some of Edelman’s largest global clients.
Gurpreet Brar, Global COO, Public Affairs said, “Excited to continue my Edel-journey and welcoming Stefan Borst as our new General Manager. After four great years in the regulatory capital of the world, I look forward to creating pioneering public affairs tools, services, and products, and to partnering with our talent across the globe."
Edelman Brussels has grown exponentially, showing double-digit growth year-on-year for the last four years, as well as deepening its expertise in the key public affairs areas of health, sustainability, and food & nutrition. The firm has also successfully built out core Edelman services of media, digital, creative, and data analytics, but importantly with a unique public affairs approach to each.
Ed Williams, President, and CEO, Edelman EMEA said, “Recovering from COVID, tackling climate change, addressing societal inequalities, and charting a path for effective technology regulation, are critical tasks for government and business alike. It means that European politics and regulatory affairs couldn’t be more important. Edelman Brussels has established itself as a trusted partner to our clients and Stefan’s deep sector knowledge and EU experience, will ensure that we remain at the forefront of helping businesses navigate the ever-evolving Brussels legislative agenda.”
Stefan Borst said: “I am thrilled to be joining Edelman and the great team in Brussels at a unique point in time. The EU has put forward a massive legislative agenda for the coming years. The European Green Deal alone will be a game-changer for businesses of all sectors. I will leverage my experience and knowledge to ensure the success of our client’s interest in Brussels, expand our reach into new sectors and lead the EU business of Edelman into its next phase of growth.”
