WASHINGTON: Former Burson-Marsteller US CEO Dave DenHerder has joined FP1 Strategies as a partner and one of the firm’s public affairs leaders, effective immediately.
DenHerder confirmed that he will retain his role as a senior counselor at Burson and parent company WPP and the holding company’s client lead for Ford Motor Company.
At FP1 Strategies, DenHerder will work with other partners to boost its public affairs and issue advocacy client roster, the firm said in a statement.
More specifically, he said he can draw on his experience to help clients understand "the changing landscape [and the] connection and the relationship between corporations, political parties, and groups trying to make a difference at the grassroots level."
Fellow Iowa native and FP1 founding partner Terry Nelson spoke with DenHerder about taking the role, he said. DenHerder added that he worked with several FP1 partners on campaigns for former President George W. Bush.
DenHerder had served as Burson’s US CEO since 2012 before stepping down last month. Then-US president Michael Law was tapped to replace him at the start of September, with DenHerder moving to a senior counselor role for Burson and WPP.
Before Burson named him US CEO, DenHerder led Direct Impact, the firm’s grassroots subsidiary. He also served as regional political director for the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign and worked as White House liaison and special assistant to the Secretary of Labor. He has also worked as a congressional aide.
