Richard Edelman is CEO of Edelman, the world’s largest independent communications firm, with more than 6000 employees across 66 offices in 28 countries. Since becoming CEO in 1996, Richard has led the firm’s transformation into a global leader in digital, creative, performance marketing and advisory. Under his leadership, Edelman has earned top industry honours, including multiple Lions, PRWeek’s Global Agency of the Year, and Ad Age’s Standout Agency. Richard also created the Edelman Trust Barometer, the industry’s leading study on trust in institutions, now celebrating its 25th anniversary. A trusted advisor to Fortune 100 CEOs, governments and NGOs, he has steered organisations through high-stakes challenges and transformation. Recognized as a Hall of Fame inductee by PRWeek, the Arthur W. Page Society, and the American Advertising Federation, Richard is widely considered one of the most influential figures in modern communications.