NEW YORK & SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations and communications consultancy, today announced that it has appointed Margaret Key as its new Market Leader in Korea. With more than a decade of experience working in the Asia-Pacific region, Key joins the firm from Edelman, where she served as its Managing Director in Japan. In her new role as the Market Leader for Korea, she will report to Burson-Marsteller Asia-Pacific CEO and President Bob Pickard.

Key has led communications efforts for leading multinational enterprises in Asia and globally. As the head of Edelman’s Tokyo operation, she oversaw one of the largest offices in the firm’s Asia-Pacific network. She was responsible for the growth of its client base and for recruiting and mentoring talent in key practice and service areas.

Key has a well known expertise in healthcare communication. Earlier in her Edelman career, she served as Director of its regional Asia-Pacific healthcare practice. Before then, as General Manager of Edelman Korea in Seoul, she led the market’s premier healthcare communications practice. With extensive experience in executive media coaching as well as crisis and issues management, Key also created Korea’s first medical communications training program and has trained over 300 medical professionals across the country.

“Margaret Key is one of Asia’s foremost PR professionals and one of the region’s great healthcare communications strategists,” said Pickard. “Korea is a key strategic growth market for B-M and her PR experience of the country is unrivaled. I worked with her for years at Edelman Korea and experienced first-hand how Margaret inspires colleagues, clients and communities by setting the standard for excellence.”

“For several decades, Burson-Marsteller has been one of the most respected communications consultancies in Asia,” said Key. “I look forward to working alongside such a professional and talented team to help our clients achieve their communications objectives in Korea and around the world.”

Key will take over from Philip Raskin, who is currently exploring other opportunities in the firm.

Prior to joining Edelman, Key worked as the Assistant International Relations Manager at Hyundai Development Company and Assistant PR Manager at Hyundai Motor Company supporting the firm’s first international public relations team.

After graduating from Wofford College with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Sociology, she completed her Master of Arts in International Relations from Yonsei University Graduate School of International studies in Seoul, Korea and global business studies at Duke University.

Key is currently a writer for Nikkei Women Online, and she was previously a regular contributor to one of Korea’s leading general dailies, Hankook Ilbo. She has also written for Korea’s top medical trade publication, Korea Doctor’s Weekly.

About Burson-Marsteller

Burson-Marsteller (www.burson-marsteller.com), 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, advertising and web-related services. The firm’s seamless worldwide network consists of 70 offices and 60 affiliate offices, together operating in 85 countries across six continents. Burson-Marsteller is a part of Young & Rubicam Brands, a subsidiary of WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY), one of the world’s leading communications services networks.

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