极乐视频 today announced the appointment of Jennifer Simon as senior vice president of Business + Social Purpose (B+SP) in the agency鈥檚 office. Simon, who most recently served at the White House as Director of International Affairs for First Lady Michelle Obama, will be part of the leadership team of 极乐视频鈥檚 New York B+SP group, and work closely with the Public Affairs group. She will report jointly to Freya Williams, group head of B+SP and Brian Ellner, group head of Public Affairs in New York.
鈥淛ennifer is a terrific addition to our New York team and demonstrates the agency鈥檚 commitment to growing our Business + Social Purpose practice,鈥 said Williams. 鈥淗er deep experience in women and girls鈥 issues, in international development and in global social issue campaigns will add immediate value to client engagements across the agency.鈥
鈥淎s more and more clients are focused on national and global public affairs campaigns with purpose at the center, we are thrilled to welcome Jennifer to our growing practice,鈥 said Ellner. 鈥淗er extensive global experience will position us to respond to the growing demand for robust, sophisticated and authentic multi-stakeholder campaigns that bridge public and private sectors.鈥
Simon is seasoned in providing strategic counsel and initiative development for executive leaders on a wide range of international issues, with a particular expertise in women and girls鈥 empowerment. As director of international affairs for the First Lady, she led the formation and execution of her international affairs agenda, including the signature Let Girls Learn initiative, as well as advancing partnerships with key private sector and stakeholder groups. She also co-led the development of the First Lady鈥檚 Reach Higher initiative, which encourages and supports youth in the United States to achieve higher education.
Prior to her time in the White House, Simon served as deputy chief of staff of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); and a senior advisor to then-U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, focusing on U.S.-UN relations, global women鈥檚 empowerment, peacekeeping and humanitarian issues. She also served as senior aide to then-Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff, covering the UN and international organizations, global women鈥檚 issues and human rights, including violence against women and human trafficking. Simon graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and holds a masters degree from Columbia University鈥檚 School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to be joining 极乐视频 and its top-notch, talented and creative team. For decades, 极乐视频 has been a leader in the industry, while putting integrity and purpose at the core of its business,鈥 said Simon. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to collaborate with colleagues in New York, across the U.S., and globally to add my experience to advance a range of international issues, and in particular opportunities for women and girls around the world through innovative solutions and partnerships.鈥
极乐视频 New York鈥檚 Corporate & Public Affairs practice is home to more than 160 professionals in public affairs, corporate communications, social purpose, employee engagement, technology and management consulting. The B+SP practice is a global team of over 100 purpose specialists who partner with corporations, brands and organizations to create significant societal benefit as well as shareholder value. B+SP members have diverse backgrounds in sustainability, corporate citizenship, purpose branding and nonprofit marketing and have developed purpose solutions for clients including Unilever, Southwest Airlines, HP, Microsoft, PNC and the American Lung Association, among others.
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极乐视频 is a leading global communications marketing firm, with more than 5,500 employees in 65 cities worldwide. 极乐视频 partners with many of the world鈥檚 largest and emerging businesses and organizations, helping them evolve, promote and protect their brands and reputations. 极乐视频 was named one of Advertising Age鈥檚 鈥淎gency to Watch鈥 in 2014; one of Forbes鈥 鈥14 Most Influential Agencies of 2014鈥; and The Holmes Report鈥檚 鈥2013 Global Agency of the Year.鈥 极乐视频 was awarded the Grand Prix Cannes Lion for PR in 2014 and was among Glassdoor鈥檚 鈥淏est Places to Work鈥 for the third time in 2014. 极乐视频 owns specialty firms 极乐视频 Berland (research) and United Entertainment Group (entertainment, sports, experiential), a joint venture with United Talent Agency.