Edelman Names Mackreath Head of Corporate Affairs
The newly created North American role oversees Edelman's corporate affairs business across the United States and Canada.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in People
Edelman has named Melissa Mackreath head of corporate affairs, North America, a newly created role overseeing the firm's corporate affairs business across the US and Canada. Mackreath joins Edelman from Teneo.
Why it matters
The appointment consolidates corporate affairs leadership for the region under a single executive as clients seek help with reputation, policy and risk. Mackreath brings nearly 20 years of experience advising CEOs and senior executives.
Mackreath has nearly 20 years of experience advising CEOs and senior executives, and the new role spans two countries, the United States and Canada. The announcement did not disclose the size of the team or the commercial terms of the role.
The players
Edelman
Edelman is a global communications marketing firm known for its annual Trust Barometer research on public trust in institutions.
Melissa Mackreath
Melissa Mackreath is a corporate affairs executive with nearly 20 years of experience advising CEOs and senior executives on reputation and policy.
The details
The role is newly created and covers corporate reputation, policy, risk, workforce and stakeholder engagement. Mackreath, based in New York, will work with leaders across the firm to strengthen those capabilities.
Timeline
November 2, 2026: Edelman announces Mackreath's appointment as head of corporate affairs, North America.
Market Landscape
Corporate affairs has become a distinct leadership function as firms treat reputation, regulation and stakeholder trust as board-level concerns. Dedicated regional corporate affairs roles like this one signal how agencies are reorganizing to compete for that work.
For companies seeking reputation and regulatory counsel in the US and Canada, the appointment signals a single point of accountability for corporate affairs work. Clients evaluating agency partners may see more consistent strategy across both markets.
The takeaway
Organizations reviewing their reputation and policy functions can consider whether one leader should own corporate affairs across a multi-country region. Clear accountability tends to simplify decisions when stakeholder issues span borders.
Further reading
For more on leadership moves across the industry, explore People coverage in business.
