Singapore – Edelman Global Advisory (EGA), a boutique firm providing government affairs and business advisory services as part of Daniel J. Edelman, Inc. (Edelman), has announced that it will be expanding its capabilities and geographic reach through the acquisition of Landmark Public Affairs (Landmark), a global public affairs and strategic communications agency. 

Landmark helps clients engage effectively with decision-makers, stakeholders, opinion formers, and the media to achieve strategic business objectives. It boasts a team of experienced consultants that come from over 20 countries, speaking more than 20 languages and bringing a broad range of talent, capabilities, and reach throughout APAC markets. 

According to EGA, the acquisition will build upon its strong capabilities in APAC by combining EGA’s global vision and best-in-class government affairs and business advisory capabilities with Landmark’s regulatory insights and policy expertise. EGA’s APAC network spans Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Mainland China, Australia, India, Indonesia, and Singapore. 

“This acquisition adds to the strong bench of senior public affairs and government relations regulatory analysts that EGA has assembled in the Asia Pacific region. It enables us to expand our presence into the regional hub of Singapore, where Landmark based its Asia headquarters for over a decade and where clients are increasingly engaging us for our advisory support in the Southeast Asia sub-region and the wider Asia Pacific region,” said Leigh Wedell, chief operating officer of EGA. 

Meanwhile, Richard Andrew, Landmark’s managing director for Asia, who will serve as EGA Co-Chair of Asia Pacific, commented, “We are thrilled to be entering this partnership with EGA, which will enhance our pan-APAC work with clients, bringing them expanded offerings, broader networks of regional and global expertise, and even greater success.” 

“This move will also provide our talented teams with expanded opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work across new sectors and challenges in Asia – home to three of the world’s top five economies,” he added. 

Andrew, based in Singapore, leads a team serving multinational clients across diverse issues and sectors in Asia. He and his team advise several highly regarded pan-Asia industry and trade associations. 

With experience that spans 2 decades, Andrew has worked at Asia’s intersection of business, government, and civil society. For the new leadership arrangement, Andrew will be joining EGA’s Gracie Sun, who will serve as co-chair of Asia Pacific, and EGA’s Ian McCabe, who will serve as executive chair for the Asia region. 

In the past months, the flagship Edelman agency has also made a few fresh appointments for APAC. 

Ex-Straits Times Warren Fernandez was named as Edelman’s new CEO for the region, whilst the company has newly appointed Jenny Granger as its APAC head of strategy for the health-focused practice. 

Australia – Edelman Global Advisory (EGA), the newly established public affairs and government relations arm of global communications firm Edelman, has appointed Peter Fraser to be its new senior advisor and head of the Australia unit.

Fraser, who most recently served as chief of staff to former Minister of Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, the Honorable Andrew Gee MP, has had a long career in Australian politics at the national, state, and local levels. He has also advised industry groups, including the Minerals Council of Australia, educational institutions, including Charles Sturt University, government agencies, and companies on the development and implementation of their communications, advocacy and issues management strategies.

Moreover, Fraser brings to EGA a strong background in policy formulation and delivery in both economic and social policy portfolios, where he has actively shaped policy outcomes at both the state and federal levels in Australia. 

Commenting on his appointment, Fraser said, “I am delighted to be joining the EGA team and look forward to working with new and existing clients to help navigate the increasingly complex government and public affairs ecosystem in Australia and throughout the APAC region.”

Meanwhile, Deborah Lehr, EGA’s global chief executive officer, noted, “Peter’s unique blend of service at the highest levels of Australian government and his long experience as a counsellor to senior corporate and public sector executives makes him uniquely suited to lead EGA’s efforts in a country with a regulatory environment that is watched closely by governments around the world. He will be an important addition to our global network of senior counsellors.”