Edelman Germany appoints Sebastian Kruse (38) as Head of Public Affairs as of 1 May 2021. In this role, Sebastian Kruse will report to Bärbel Hestert-Vecoli, Managing Director Corporate Reputation.
As a proven expert in public affairs, lobbying and integrated political communication, Sebastian will lead Edelman Germany's public affairs team as Executive Director from Berlin. His responsibilities will include political communications for corporate clients as well as campaign work for public sector clients. Sebastian and his team will work closely with Edelman's international public affairs network, with a particular focus on strengthening partnership between Berlin, Brussels and Washington D.C. and expanding the contact network to Beijing. With his expertise in the areas of healthcare, food and sustainability, Edelman aims to expand its know-how in these growth areas and strategically realign its public affairs advisory offering.
"I am very pleased that with Sebastian we are bringing on board a proven public affairs expert and excellent political consultant who stands for a modern and integrated understanding of public affairs. The demands on companies as political citizens have increased enormously, while global trust in governments is decreasing dramatically. This requires new public affairs strategies and a contemporary mindset.
In times of change, companies must competently negotiate the legal framework for sustainable growth in dialogue with politicians and represent their corporate interests in a highly complex stakeholder landscape. At the same time, customers, employees and stakeholders demand that companies, brands and executives take a stand on global issues of the future and actively shape society."
Bärbel Hestert-Vecoli, Managing Director Corporate Reputation.
Before joining Edelman, Sebastian held various communications roles at Burson Cohn & Wolfe and Burson-Marsteller. Most recently, he was Director of Healthcare and Food & Beverages Public Affairs at BCW, where he was responsible for strategic consulting and the development of complex public affairs client accounts. Through his previous work in Brussels as a policy advisor at European association level in the food sector, Sebastian also has relevant experience in EU policy. He holds a Master's degree in Political Science, History and German Studies from the University of Cologne.
"We live in highly politicised times and face enormous challenges, whether in health, environmental or even social issues. At the same time, we see more and more actors with increasingly diverse interests competing for elementary values such as trust and attention," says Sebastian Kruse. "I look forward to navigating clients through this highly complex and dynamic fabric, developing integrated political communications strategies with added value and bringing together Edelman's many strengths in research, creative and digital in the public affairs space."
