# Richard Edelman

> Richard Edelman joined his father's six-million-dollar public relations firm in 1978 on what was supposed to be a one-year trial, became CEO in 1996, kept the company independent, and helped grow it into a global communications business with more than 6,000 employees and roughly $1 billion in revenue. Along the way, he created the annual Edelman Trust Barometer and became a persistent public voice on business, media, technology, and institutional credibility.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer of Edelman and Chairman of Daniel J. Edelman Holdings
- **Organizations:** Edelman, Daniel J. Edelman Holdings, Zeno Group, Edelman Trust Institute
- **From:** Chicago, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Secondary education, Phillips Exeter Academy, Bachelor of Arts, Harvard College, Master of Business Administration, Harvard Business School
- **Known for:** Kept Edelman independent and family owned while guiding its expansion to more than 6,000 employees in 66 offices across 28 countries., Oversaw an 11.5-fold increase in Edelman revenue after becoming CEO, taking the firm beyond $1 billion according to its official biography., Created the annual Edelman Trust Barometer, now in its 26th year and widely cited in business, media, and academic discussions of institutional trust.

## Career timeline

- **1978** — Joined Edelman's Chicago office as a 23-year-old account executive after accepting his father's one-year offer to try the family business.
- **1979** — Moved to New York after about seven months to learn public affairs under former New York City deputy mayor Dick Aurelio.
- **1981** — Won a PRSA Silver Anvil for work for ContiCommodity, including crisis communications during the Hunt brothers' silver-market episode.
- **Early 1980s** — Took charge of the New York operation in his late twenties and helped expand its consumer and pharmaceutical business.
- **Before 1996** — Led Edelman's U.S. operations and served as regional manager of Europe.
- **1996** — Succeeded his father Dan as CEO when Edelman had about $85 million in revenue.
- **2000** — Launched the annual Edelman Trust Barometer after the 1999 anti-globalization protests in Seattle prompted questions about trust in NGOs and institutions.
- **2004** — Began publishing his weekly 6 A.M. blog.
- **2014** — Inducted into the Arthur W. Page Society Hall of Fame.
- **2019** — Named PRWeek's PR Agency Professional of the Past 20 Years and inducted into its Hall of Fame.
- **2022** — Became the first public relations executive inducted into the American Advertising Hall of Fame.
- **2026** — Presented the 26th annual Edelman Trust Barometer, focused on the rise of insularity and shrinking trust across difference.

## Achievements

- Kept Edelman independent and family owned while guiding its expansion to more than 6,000 employees in 66 offices across 28 countries.
- Oversaw an 11.5-fold increase in Edelman revenue after becoming CEO, taking the firm beyond $1 billion according to its official biography.
- Created the annual Edelman Trust Barometer, now in its 26th year and widely cited in business, media, and academic discussions of institutional trust.
- Led the firm's expansion into digital, creative, performance marketing, and advisory services.
- Inducted into the American Advertising Hall of Fame in 2022, the first public relations executive to receive the honor.
- Inducted into PRWeek's Hall of Fame in 2019 and the Arthur W. Page Society Hall of Fame in 2014.
- Received PRSA's Silver Anvil in 1981 for work connected to ContiCommodity.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Published a summer reading list on LinkedIn spanning German history, the United States at 250, Russian novels, and the Middle East.
- **2026-08** — Wrote about news creators as trusted sources rather than merely distribution channels.
- **2026-07** — Commented on the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2026 and changing patterns of news consumption.
- **2026-04** — Spoke at the TIME100 Summit about business leadership and trust as institutional confidence erodes.
- **2026-01** — Released and presented the 26th Edelman Trust Barometer, which described a shift from grievance toward insularity.

## Links

- Website: https://www.edelman.com/people/richard-edelman
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-edelman-8647306
- Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/EdelmanPR
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edelman
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edelman
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edelman

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