Randa Stephan Takes on Chief Strategy Role at Burson

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Global communications agency Burson has announced that Randa Stephan, its Global Chief Brand Officer, is assuming additional duties as Chief Corporate Strategy Officer, effective immediately.

In her expanded role, Stephan will oversee the agency’s enterprise strategy and the continued development of global capabilities designed to strengthen Burson’s client offering and competitive edge.

“Randa is an ideal choice to drive enterprise strategy for Burson,” said Corey duBrowa, Global CEO of Burson.

“Her career progression across advertising, digital media, influencer marketing, brand transformation and communications has given her a 360-degree view of our industry. Her sharp eye for market analysis, stakeholder management and creative storytelling will guide our next chapter of growth.”

A seasoned industry leader, Stephan has spent over two decades at the intersection of communications, marketing, and brand transformation.

Since Burson’s formation in January 2024—following the merger of Hill & Knowlton and BCW—she has served as Global Chief Brand Officer, shaping the agency’s  positioning and positioning across markets.

Before Burson, Stephan was Global Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Hill & Knowlton, where she steered global brand strategy and corporate communications.

Prior to that, she held a series of senior leadership roles at Weber Shandwick, most notably as EVP and Global Head of Marketing and Brand, where she revamped the agency’s positioning and go-to-market strategy.

In 2021, Stephan led the launch of The Weber Shandwick Collective, unifying the agency’s network of specialist firms under one brand and establishing a new service architecture for integrated communications. Earlier in her tenure, she led Weber’s Integrated Digital Group in New York, managing cross-discipline engagements for top consumer and healthcare clients.

Stephan’s background also spans media and publishing. As Executive Director at The Wall Street Journal, she launched WSJ Custom Studios, the paper’s first integrated content marketing unit. Prior to that, she held leadership positions at Federated Media, where she helped develop early influencer and digital media campaigns, and began her career in advertising at Ogilvy & Mather and Saatchi & Saatchi.

Commenting on her new role, Stephan said: “It’s an honor to take on this responsibility and work with our teams to deliver solutions that help clients build reputation, resiliency and relevance in a media era unlike any other. Burson’s talent and communications technology create a powerful platform for transformational impact—and I’m excited to help scale that further.”

The appointment comes as WPP—Burson’s parent group—continues to strengthen its global network through innovation, AI-led solutions, and strategic growth.

Recent wins for brands such as Mastercard, Electronic Arts, and Heineken highlight the group’s momentum and the success of its proprietary marketing AI platform, WPP Open.