GAINESVILLE, FL —Björn Edlund will receive the Institute for Public Relations’ (IPR) Alexander Hamilton Medal for contributions to public relations practice and effective use of research, Nov. 21 at the Annual Distinguished Lecture & Awards Dinner in New York City. Edlund, chairman, Europe, Middle East and Africa for Edelman, will be the first Hamilton Medal recipient from outside the U.S.
Tables and tickets to the IPR event can now be purchased at https://instituteforpr.org/events/distinguished/.
IPR’s highest practitioner award is named for Hamilton in recognition of the planned strategies used to gain the acceptance and adoption of the U.S. Constitution. The medal is bestowed each year to honor a person whose exemplary efforts have demonstrated the power of effective public relations, especially when research-driven.
“Björn is a perfect choice as the first non-American winner of the award,” said Richard Edelman, President & CEO of Edelman. “He has been a pioneer in cross-border public relations, from corporate reputation management to building strong partnerships with civil society. We are proud to have him on our senior team.”
Edlund is the former executive vice president, communications of Royal Dutch Shell. He has supported 11 CEOs as head of communications for Shell, Sandoz AG and ABB Ltd. He created Edlund Consulting after retiring from Shell and also serves as non-executive chairman, Europe, Middle East and Africa for Edelman.
“This recognition is a great honor. PR, as any business activity, is a team effort – so this award is really for all the great people I have worked with in the past, and for those I work with today in Edelman,” said Edlund. “It is great to be able to share a lifetime of experience with clients and colleagues, and I am grateful to Edelman for having me on the team.”
Edlund became a business communicator after a 12-year career as a news agency reporter, bureau chief and regional news editor with UPI and Reuters in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. He is a senior visiting fellow at Henley Business School, a trustee of the Institute of Human Rights and Business, and a former trustee of IPR. In 2003, while at ABB, he co-founded the Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights, and he is currently involved with initiatives promoting freedom of speech and quality journalism.
Edlund studied political science and history in Sweden and was graduated as a teacher in Switzerland. He and his wife Veronika live near Basel, Switzerland.
###
Contact:
Jenn Moyer
Foundation Operations Manager
Institute for Public Relations
jmoyer@jou.ufl.edu
352-392-0280
