Warren Fernandez named APAC CEO of Edelman

Edelman has appointed Warren Fernandez as APAC CEO, effective October 25. Fernandez was most recently the editor-in-chief of The Straits Times, Singapore’s SPH-owned English news title. He replaces Stephen Kehoe who left the firm in June this year. Dave Samson, global vice chairman of corporate affairs, has served as interim APAC CEO since Kehoe’s departure.

In his new role based in Singapore, Fernandez will oversee the region’s 21 offices and more than 1,300 employees. He will also join the firm’s global executive leadership team and report to global president and chief operating officer Matthew Harrington.

Fernandez joined The Straits Times as a political reporter in 1990 and went on to serve as news editor as well as foreign editor and deputy editor. In 2008, Fernandez left to join Royal Dutch Shell as a global manager for its Future Energy project, working with its scenario planning and communications teams in London and the Hague. He returned to the paper in 2012 as its top editor.

Currently, Fernandez is also president of World Editors Forum (WEF), a global network for print and digital editors of news organisations around the world. Simultaneously, he is a member of numerous boards including the Singapore Press Holdings (Overseas), SPH (Americas) Pte, Heritage Media Pte, Asia News Network (ANN), Singapore Symphony Group (SSO), National Arts Council, and chairman of The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. He also served a term as the president of the Institute of Public Relations Singapore in 2009.

“I’m very excited to join a firm that I have admired and worked with, as a client and partner, over the years,” said Fernandez in a statement. “I believe there is enormous potential to continue to expand upon the vital thought leadership, as well as media, brand and strategic communications advice we provide to our clients.”

Harrington added: “Warren’s deep understanding of the news and media ecosystem—and his experience transforming a news outlet into an integrated multi-media content platform—will be a tremendous value-add to clients and our own insights and capabilities. Additionally, our organisation will benefit from Warren’s longstanding professional and academic interest in politics and foreign policy amid today’s dynamic geopolitical landscape.”

Edelman recently made several additions to its APAC leadership group including Pully Chau, Greater China president; Julia Wei, CEO of Edelman Singapore; Tom Robinson, CEO of Edelman Australia; Ashish Pathak, executive creative director of Edelman India; Jamshed Wadia, vice chair of Digital and Jason Leow, vice chair of Edelman Smithfield.