Brunswick Group U.S. head Susan Gilchrist was named global CEO while Johannesburg partner Rob Pinker was tapped as COO in a revamp of the firm’s top leadership.
Clockwise from top: Parker, Pinker, Gilchrist. |
Both report to executive chairman and founder Alan Parker, who the firm said is being “freed up to take on increasing external and client facing roles.”
Last year, U.K. reports indicted Brunswick partners were considering a plan to distribute 40 percent of shares to its more than 80 partners, a sign Parker was preparing to cede control of the 25-year-old firm he founded.
Gilchrist was a London partner at the firm who moved to New York in 2010 to run its U.S. operations, which includes four offices. Pinker operates out of London and Johannesburg.
As part of the shuffle, Michael Buckley, who started the firm’s San Francisco office, was named U.S. managing partner to take over Gilchrist’s previous role. Mark Palemer was promoted to lead Dallas/Fort Worth and Itumeleng Mahabane to lead Johannesburg.
The firm is also opening a Sao Paolo office, its 20th worldwide, under partner Thomas Kamm. Ana Paula Pessoa, CFO of Brazilian media company Infoglobo, is joining that outpost, as well.
Brunswick was the No. 1 M&A PR advisor for the U.S. in Q1 by deal value, handling 21 transactions worth $32.5B, according to mergermarket.