Edelman has announced the appointment of Naheed Mehta as new head of its global Government Communications department.
Mehta is a former civil servant at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. She will be responsible for expanding the agency’s international services for heads of state and government out of its UK office. She will work closely with Edelman’s teams in the UK, Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Mehta boasts over 35 years of experience working in government communications across a number of government departments. She has dealt with a range of issues including pensions, trade negotiations and, most recently, counter-terrorism. She has advised Secretaries of State, Ministers and Prime Ministers primarily on media relations, but is also a crisis management expert and was posted to Islamabad after 9/11 and to Baghdad straight after armed conflict in 2003. In 2004 she was awarded an MBE for her work in Iraq.
Stephanie Lvovich, global Chair of Public Affairs said, “Naheed’s experience and knowledge is truly unique in the marketplace; she has operated at the highest levels of government for decades and worked on some of the most sensitive policy issues. We are excited to welcome her to Edelman and have her lead our global Government Communications team. We know that she will add enormous value to our work in this growing space.”
Mehta commented on her appointment, “I am delighted to join the Edelman family and look forward to working on the Government Communications offer and adding value to the existing team.”
Gurpreet Brar, Managing Director Public Affairs in the UK said: “Every year at Edelman we launch our Trust Barometer and year after year we have seen trust in Governments declining. Challenges ranging from the Eurozone to the Wikileaks saga have time and again demonstrated that Government reputation is fragile.
“We are delighted that Naheed has decided to join Edelman. Her unparalleled understanding and experience of Government will be invaluable to clients and help drive the Government Communications offer.”