Washington, DC, United States, July 2025 – Colleen Ferrell has stepped into the role of Chief People Officer, Americas at Burson, expanding her leadership mandate to now cover the United States, Canada, and Latin America. In this newly elevated position, Colleen will drive a bold, people-first culture across the region while partnering with leadership to shape the future of work and organizational transformation for the firm.
Colleen has been with Burson for nearly four years, most recently serving as US Chief People Officer, where she led initiatives to strengthen talent acquisition, DE&I, and organizational development across the U.S. Her influence has been instrumental in aligning the people strategy with business objectives in a high-growth, purpose-led environment.
Previously, she held the role of Chief People Officer, North America at BCW Global, where she played a vital role in people and culture strategy during a time of rapid transformation, with a focus on employee engagement, strategic planning, and M&A integration across the region.
Before that, Colleen served as Senior Director, Global People Operations & Transformation at AKQA, where she oversaw global HR operations and transformation programs with a strong emphasis on DE&I, talent strategy, and global organizational development.
Earlier in her career, she held progressive HR leadership roles at IBTS, Digitek Imaging Products, Fair Labor Association, and Stir Crazy Inc, developing expertise in performance management, change leadership, and compensation strategy. Colleen holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Georgetown University.
About Burson
Burson is a global leader in strategic communications and reputation management, dedicated to helping clients harness the power of reputation as a competitive advantage. With a legacy rooted in purpose and innovation, Burson partners with organizations around the world to lead through change, shape public perception, and build enduring value. The firm combines deep industry knowledge, global scale, and strategic advisory expertise to help its clients lead with confidence now and into the future.
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