International communications counsel
Toronto, Canada Area
- Past
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- President, North Asia; Representative Director, Japan at Edelman
- Managing Director, Korea at Edelman
- Executive Vice President & Founding Partner at Environics Communications
- Vice President at Hill & Knowlton Canada
- Education
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- Queen's University
- Guest lecturer at universities and colleges in the U.S., Japan, Canada, Korea, and Hong Kong
- Travel to 40 nations and all 50 US states
- Recommended
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24 people have recommended Robert - Connections
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500+
connections
- Industry
- Public Relations and Communications
- Websites
Robert Pickard’s Summary
An international public relations executive with two decades of experience focused on providing communications counsel for senior decision-makers. Co-founder and leader of successful award-winning hypergrowth public relations consultancies (offices and practices) in four countries: the United States, Japan, Canada, and South Korea. Enjoys a global reputation in the PR industry for business-building entrepreneurialism and mastery of the commercial dimensions of the profession by inspiring top talent who deliver superior quality.
Robert Pickard’s Specialties:
Corporate, crisis, and change communications; strategic PR counsel for the c-suite; stakeholder relationship management; social networks; corporate social responsibility; executive communications coaching and media training; environmental PR; public affairs and government relations. Developing and sustaining a worldwide network of relationships with key opinion leaders and journalists.
Robert Pickard’s Experience
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President, North Asia; Representative Director, Japan
Edelman
(Privately Held; Public Relations and Communications industry)
August 2004 — June 2008 (3 years 11 months)
Grew Edelman’s North Asia revenues ten times larger in a very hands-on way during six fiscal years, representing a plurality of the entire Asia-Pacific region’s non-acquired growth during that time. In 2005 - with continued responsibility for Edelman Korea - founded Edelman Japan, the global firm's first successful subsidiary in the world's second-largest economy. The Tokyo operation grew from nothing to 30 people within two years (in the operating black after year one). In a 50 office international network, Tokyo and Seoul were two of the agency's top 10 offices for quality as scored by clients (2007). Personally provided senior client counsel to leaders at AstraZeneca, Boston Scientific, Goldman Sachs, Merck, Microsoft, Nissan, Pfizer, sanofi-aventis, Standard & Poor’s.
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Managing Director, Korea
Edelman
(Privately Held; Public Relations and Communications industry)
July 2002 — August 2004 (2 years 2 months)
Led the Korean operation to record revenues (+309%) and profits (38%), taking it from being one of the smallest offices in Edelman's Asia-Pacific region to the largest within two years. During his term, the Korean operation was twice named Edelman’s ‘Office of the Year’ and won ‘Consultancy of the Year’ at the Asia-Pacific PR Awards (2004). Personally led and managed the Kia Motors Corporation global account from Seoul. Appeared across a full spectrum of national media outlets, covered and quoted on television and radio, newspapers and magazines. Recruited, trained and mentored a successor who continued the organization's winning ways.
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Executive Vice President & Founding Partner
Environics Communications
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Public Relations and Communications industry)
August 1994 — May 2000 (5 years 10 months)
Co-founder of one of Canada's premier communications consultancies (1994 at Toronto). Led the establishment of the first Canadian-owned PR agency in the United States market as founder and general manager of the firm's New York-area office (1996 at Stamford, CT). Focused on banking, energy and advanced technology clients.
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Vice President
Hill & Knowlton Canada
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; WPPGY; Public Relations and Communications industry)
September 1990 — August 1994 (4 years )
Based in Toronto, founded the agency's technology practice in Canada and led the firm's largest account team (Microsoft). Specialized in international communications, including client projects in Brazil (at the United Nations Earth Summit) and South Korea (global PR via satellite at Seoul for a major energy sector announcement).
Robert Pickard’s Education
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Queen's University
BA , Political Studies , 1984 — 1988
- Activities and Societies:
- Prime Minister, Queen's Model Parliament
Member of Queen's Debating Union
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Guest lecturer at universities and colleges in the U.S., Japan, Canada, Korea, and Hong Kong
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Travel to 40 nations and all 50 US states
Additional Information
Robert Pickard’s Websites:
Robert Pickard’s Interests:
World travel, social networks, politics, technology, maps, public speaking, science fiction, hockey, psychology, the environment and the outdoors. Antique radio collector. Film noir aficionado.
Robert Pickard’s Groups:
Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan; American Chamber of Commerce in Japan; Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan; Tokyo American Club; and, The Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy. Host ot ITV Japan's advertising and marketing program.
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Hill & Knowlton Employees, Past and Present -
International Networking Speakers and Coaches Assoc -
The Korea Society -
Renewable Energy Network -
Queen's University Alumni -
Social Media Marketing -
Network of PR Professionals -
Corporate Communications Executive Network -
Public Relations and Communications Professionals -
Past & Present Edelman Employees -
The Unofficial Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan
Robert Pickard’s Honors:
Certificate of Commendation, Public Relations Society of America (1993); Award of Merit, Canadian Public Relations Society (1993); Consultancy of the Year (Asia-Pacific), PR WEEK magazine (2004); and, Edelman Office of the Year (2004 & 2005).
Speaker on new media at the 2008 University of Southern California Global Conference; CSR panelist at the 2007 World Economic Forum meeting in Tokyo; speaker to the International Bankers' Association on "Building Stakeholder Trust Through Modern Communications" (2007); panelist at the Economist Intelligence Unit's "Corporate Communications – Blogs, PR, Advertising and the Media" corporate network meeting (2006); addressed the APEC Symposium & Workshop: "CSR for the Global Business" (2005); and, Member of the Canadian Delegation to the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
