# Matt Reid

> Matt Reid is the Washington-based U.S. CEO of Burson Buchanan and Global Corporate and Public Affairs Lead for Burson Group. Across three decades in political campaigns, technology policy, financial communications, litigation, cybersecurity and crisis counsel, he has specialized in the moments when a company’s words can alter its reputation and value. His current brief is both operational and advisory: expand Burson Buchanan in the United States while helping global organizations navigate consequential change.

- **Role:** U.S. CEO, Burson Buchanan; Global Corporate and Public Affairs Lead, Burson Group
- **Organizations:** Burson Buchanan, Burson Group, H/Advisors Abernathy, Sard Verbinnen & Co., BSA | The Software Alliance, WE Communications, FleishmanHillard, GCI Group, Institute for Corporate Counsel
- **Education:** Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, University of Nevada, Reno
- **Known for:** Built and led Waggener Edstrom’s global public affairs practice and later founded its corporate responsibility practice., Led global communications and government relations for BSA | The Software Alliance., Co-led the Los Angeles office of Sard Verbinnen & Co. and later led H/Advisors Abernathy’s Los Angeles office.

## Career timeline

- **Early career** — Worked in senior roles on high-profile political campaigns in California, including a Los Angeles mayoral race and Kathleen Brown’s gubernatorial campaign.
- **Before 2007** — Held corporate communications and public affairs roles at agencies including GCI Group and FleishmanHillard.
- **Before 2013** — Spent six years at Waggener Edstrom, where he founded its global public affairs practice, later led its corporate practice and founded its corporate responsibility practice.
- **Before 2013** — Served as Senior Vice President, External Affairs at BSA | The Software Alliance, overseeing global communications and government relations.
- **2013-2021** — Worked at Sard Verbinnen & Co., becoming Managing Director and co-head of its Los Angeles office.
- **2021-2024** — Led H/Advisors Abernathy’s Los Angeles office and its cybersecurity and litigation communications practices as Managing Director.
- **2024-12** — Joined Burson Buchanan as U.S. CEO, effective December 2, with responsibility for expanding the business in the United States.
- **2026** — Serves as both U.S. CEO of Burson Buchanan and Global Corporate and Public Affairs Lead for Burson Group.

## Achievements

- Built and led Waggener Edstrom’s global public affairs practice and later founded its corporate responsibility practice.
- Led global communications and government relations for BSA | The Software Alliance.
- Co-led the Los Angeles office of Sard Verbinnen & Co. and later led H/Advisors Abernathy’s Los Angeles office.
- Led H/Advisors Abernathy’s cybersecurity and litigation communications practices.
- Was appointed U.S. CEO of Burson Buchanan in December 2024 to expand the firm’s American business.
- Added the role of Global Corporate and Public Affairs Lead for Burson Group.
- Provided pro bono litigation communications support for Jarvis Masters.
- Served on the Board of Governors of the Institute for Corporate Counsel.

## Latest updates

- **2026-01** — Was quoted in Burson’s Global Reputation Economy research on the reputational value of how companies manage AI-driven workplace change.
- **2025-08** — Co-authored guidance for companies facing meme-stock volatility, urging transparent, responsible and strategy-led communication.
- **2025-04** — Published communications guidance for companies navigating shifting U.S. tariff policy and market volatility.
- **2025-03** — Expanded Burson Buchanan’s U.S. leadership team by appointing Claire Doan in San Francisco and Jake Yanulis in New York as managing directors.
- **2024-12** — Joined Burson Buchanan as U.S. CEO, effective December 2, with a mandate to expand the firm in the American market.

## Links

- Website: https://bursonbuchanan.com/experts/matt-reid/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reidmatt

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/matt-reid
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-22