Burson-Marsteller is expected to name pollster Mark Penn its CEO.

Mark Penn

Penn, 51, who is known as President Clinton's pollster, is founder of Penn Schoen & Berland in New York. It was purchased by B-M's parent company, WPP Group, in '01.

B-M reps would not comment on Penn's appointment.

PS&B also advised British Prime Minister Tony Blair, New York Senator Hillary Clinton and New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. On the corporate front, PS&B has repped Microsoft, American Express, BP and Coca-Cola.

B-M, in July, announced that CEO Tom Nides was leaving the firm. Nides decided to rejoin mentor, John Mack, at Morgan Stanley.

PSB will become a stand-alone division of Burson-Marsteller, reporting to Penn.