Brussels 21 November 2011 – Matthias Lüfkens will join Burson-Marsteller on 1 February 2011 to lead the Digital Practice across Europe, Middle-East and Africa (EMEA). Lüfkens has been the Head of Digital media at the World Economic Forum (WEF) since 2004. In addition to designing and implementing the WEF’s digital strategy, Matthias has advised a wide range of Fortune 500 companies as well as non-profit organisations on social media. He is a columnist on mastering social networks for French-Swiss business magazine Bilan, and a frequent speaker at major technology events such as LeWeb in Paris, Lift in Geneva, the Next Conference in Berlin, SIME in Stockholm and TedxZurich.

Jeremy Galbraith, CEO of B-M EMEA comments: “Digital communications is integrated into everything we do for clients. Matthias is joining a dynamic and award-winning digital team, whose creative work has been widely recognised this year. Matthias' experience will make our digital offering even stronger across EMEA and I look forward to working with him.”

“I am very happy to bring my knowledge and expertise to Burson-Marsteller. Social media are completely changing the way people and communities communicate between themselves and how reputation is built and managed. Whether at the individual or corporate level, social media allow users to reach new audiences in a very direct manner. I look forward to working with Burson-Marsteller’s exceptional network to deliver these benefits to clients across EMEA”, said Matthias Lüfkens.

He will be based in Geneva and oversee the Burson-Marsteller digital teams across the region to develop integrated communications strategies, online reputation and business management, interactive design, and mobile marketing. The Practice works across a wide range of clients from associations and government agencies to corporations and consumer brands.

About Burson-Marsteller 

Burson-Marsteller, established in 1953, is a leading global public relations and communications firm. It provides clients with strategic thinking and program execution across a full range of public relations, public affairs, reputation and crisis management, advertising and web-related strategies. The firm’s seamless worldwide network consists of 68 offices and 81 affiliate offices, together operating in 109 countries across six continents. Burson-Marsteller is a part of Young & Rubicam Group, a subsidiary of WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY), the world’s leading communications services network. To learn more about Burson-Marsteller visit www.burson-marsteller.com.

Contact: 

Valerie von Eberhardt 

Tel:  +32.2.743.66.43

Email: valerie.voneberhardt@bm.com