Burson Cohn's guest appearances

Burson Cohn

The PRovoke Media Podcast

PRmoment Podcast

Freitags Franky

Asad Dhunna

Francis Ingham

Mitch Kaye

Jim Hawker

Gerry Hopkinson

Alex Grier

Dan Glover

Torod Neptune

Barbara Bates

Andrew Bloch

Weber Shandwick

Lord Chadlington

Chris McCafferty

Tom Doctoroff

Tim Sutton

OwlTail

Stadt, Land, Pferd. Was für die meisten nach einer Entweder-oder-Entscheidung klingt, ist für den BCW-Chef gelebter Alltag. Seit 2016 wohnt er mit seiner Familie auf einem kleinen Resthof und ist zugleich Kopf einer der erfolgreichsten Agenturgruppen in Deutschland.

Stadt, Land, Pferd. Was für die meisten nach einer Entweder-oder-Entscheidung klingt, ist für den BCW-Chef gelebter Alltag. Seit 2016 wohnt er mit seiner Familie auf einem kleinen Resthof und ist zugleich Kopf einer der erfolgreichsten Agenturgruppen in Deutschland.

"5 Fragen an..." Wolfgang Lünenbürger-Reidenbach, BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe)

Scott Wilson

This week, in the latest of our life stories podcast, I’m interviewing Scott Wilson, president Europe and Africa at Burson Cohn &amp; Wolfe (BCW).Scott started his career in journalism, before becoming head of media at Porter Novelli and then managing director of consumer at Weber Shandwick.Scott then moved to Cohn &amp; Wolfe to become UK CEO and later MD of EMEA. And when Cohn &amp; Wolfe and Burson Marsteller merged one year ago he got the nod for the president Europe and Africa job at Burson Cohn &amp; Wolfe.BCW global revenues are estimated at $700m and it has approximately 4,000 employees globally.Thanks to our PRmoment podcast sponsors PRCA.Here is a flavour of what Scott and I discussed:[00:01:15] As an ex-jouno turned PRO – why has public relations worked out for Scot when it hasn't for so many journalists who attempt to make the same move?[00:02:48] Did Scott move to PR from journalism because it paid more? [00:03:29] Why the head of media role is a good bridging job for a journo looking to get into public relations[00:05:30] Why his time at Weber Shandwick was such an important job in the story of Scott's career.[00:06:13] How Scott moved from a corporate role at Porter Novelli to a senior consumer role at Weber Shandwick.[00:07:46] How Scott grew Weber's UK consumer practice from circa £1m to £5m during his time there. [00:08:49] Why the pressure of not having to hold on to something, with the emphasis on the forward momentum of a business, can be liberating.[00:09:25] Scott reveals the state of the UK office of Cohn &amp; Wolfe when he joined as UK CEO in 2010. [00:11:05] Why Scott joined Cohn &amp; Wolfe with a combination of excitement and terror – and worried whether he was the person who would be able to turn it around.[00:11:26] How Scott turned Cohn &amp; Wolfe from a £5m business in the U.K in 2010 to a £20m pre-merger in 2018.[00:11:38] What are the lessons from that time on how to turn a PR firm around? [00:12:35] Why pulling an agency out of a period of ongoing decline it is really the most difficult (agency) job of them all. [00:12:46] What the classic death spiral of a failing agency looks like.[00:13:59] How you can develop a degree of momentum in a turnaround if you haven't been given a cheque book to hire new talent.[00:14:54] How when Scot joined Cohn &amp; Wolfe in 2010 there were not any practice managing directors left.[00:15:33] Why it can be dangerous when you join a firm as a leader to bring too many people in quickly from the outside. [00:16:05] How Scott takes the risk out of recruitment.[00:18:13] Why for any global agency London tends to be the second biggest office after New York. [00:18:47] Why his professional relationship with Donna Imperato will probably define Scott's career.[00:20:48] Can BCW still be a challenger brand when it is the third biggest PR firm in the world? [00:21:49] How a modern international holding PR company today is different from what it was a decade ago. [00:21:57] Hear Scott talk about how, during this incredibly successful professional time in his professional life, he's had to deal with huge personal tragedy. His daughter Edie was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and after a long and brave battle passed away in May last year. [00:22:16] Scott pays a tribute to his daughter Edie and describes the impact her illness and passing has had on his personal and professional life.[00:26:36] How Scott allowed Edie's illness to become part of his everyday professional life and would talk about it with colleagues. [00:28:02] How as a pare

This week, in the latest of our life stories podcast, I’m interviewing Scott Wilson, president Europe and Africa at Burson Cohn &amp; Wolfe (BCW).Scott started his career in journalism, before becoming head of media at Porter Novelli and then managing director of consumer at Weber Shandwick.Scott then moved to Cohn &amp; Wolfe to become UK CEO and later MD of EMEA. And when Cohn &amp; Wolfe and Burson Marsteller merged one year ago he got the nod for the president Europe and Africa job at Burson Cohn &amp; Wolfe.BCW global revenues are estimated at $700m and it has approximately 4,000 employees globally.Thanks to our PRmoment podcast sponsors PRCA.Here is a flavour of what Scott and I discussed:[00:01:15] As an ex-jouno turned PRO – why has public relations worked out for Scot when it hasn't for so many journalists who attempt to make the same move?[00:02:48] Did Scott move to PR from journalism because it paid more? [00:03:29] Why the head of media role is a good bridging job for a journo looking to get into public relations[00:05:30] Why his time at Weber Shandwick was such an important job in the story of Scott's career.[00:06:13] How Scott moved from a corporate role at Porter Novelli to a senior consumer role at Weber Shandwick.[00:07:46] How Scott grew Weber's UK consumer practice from circa £1m to £5m during his time there. [00:08:49] Why the pressure of not having to hold on to something, with the emphasis on the forward momentum of a business, can be liberating.[00:09:25] Scott reveals the state of the UK office of Cohn &amp; Wolfe when he joined as UK CEO in 2010. [00:11:05] Why Scott joined Cohn &amp; Wolfe with a combination of excitement and terror – and worried whether he was the person who would be able to turn it around.[00:11:26] How Scott turned Cohn &amp; Wolfe from a £5m business in the U.K in 2010 to a £20m pre-merger in 2018.[00:11:38] What are the lessons from that time on how to turn a PR firm around? [00:12:35] Why pulling an agency out of a period of ongoing decline it is really the most difficult (agency) job of them all. [00:12:46] What the classic death spiral of a failing agency looks like.[00:13:59] How you can develop a degree of momentum in a turnaround if you haven't been given a cheque book to hire new talent.[00:14:54] How when Scot joined Cohn &amp; Wolfe in 2010 there were not any practice managing directors left.[00:15:33] Why it can be dangerous when you join a firm as a leader to bring too many people in quickly from the outside. [00:16:05] How Scott takes the risk out of recruitment.[00:18:13] Why for any global agency London tends to be the second biggest office after New York. [00:18:47] Why his professional relationship with Donna Imperato will probably define Scott's career.[00:20:48] Can BCW still be a challenger brand when it is the third biggest PR firm in the world? [00:21:49] How a modern international holding PR company today is different from what it was a decade ago. [00:21:57] Hear Scott talk about how, during this incredibly successful professional time in his professional life, he's had to deal with huge personal tragedy. His daughter Edie was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and after a long and brave battle passed away in May last year. [00:22:16] Scott pays a tribute to his daughter Edie and describes the impact her illness and passing has had on his personal and professional life.[00:26:36] How Scott allowed Edie's illness to become part of his everyday professional life and would talk about it with colleagues. [00:28:02] How as a pare

Scott Wilson, president Europe and Africa at Burson Cohn & Wolfe, on the PRmoment podcast

Paul Holmes and Arun Sudhaman discuss the dramatic takeover of Burson-Marsteller by Cohn &amp; Wolfe, exploring what it means for  both firms, their leadership and the broader industry in general.  Show Notes: 'The Big Prize Is Revitalising Burson': PR Industry Responds To Blockbuster Merger WPP Creates 3rd Largest PR Firm With Burson Cohn &amp; Wolfe

Paul Holmes and Arun Sudhaman discuss the dramatic takeover of Burson-Marsteller by Cohn &amp; Wolfe, exploring what it means for  both firms, their leadership and the broader industry in general.  Show Notes: <a href="https://www.holmesreport.com/latest/article/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">'The Big Prize Is Revitalising Burson': PR Industry Responds To Blockbuster Merger</a> <a href="https://www.holmesreport.com/latest/article/wpp-merges-burson-marsteller-cohn-wolfe-into-one-mega-size-agency" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WPP Creates 3rd Largest PR Firm With Burson Cohn &amp; Wolfe</a>

Burson Cohn &amp; Wolfe (Ep. 109)