NEW YORK: Edelman has appointed former McGraw Hill EVP Ted Smyth as vice chair and chief of staff to global president and CEO Richard Edelman, the firm said Tuesday.
Reporting to Edelman, Smyth will also work closely with global COO Matthew Harrington and the firm’s executive committee on coordinating companywide goal-setting and progress assessment. He joined Edelman this month, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Smyth is replacing Glenn Engler as chief of staff. The agency said Engler left to pursue other opportunities.
In the role, Smyth will serve as a senior strategist in the food and beverage and financial sectors. He is also charged with driving the risk and compliance program for Edelman and overseeing the firm’s global citizenship function.
Most recently, Smyth served for six years as McGraw Hill Financial’s EVP of corporate affairs. While in that role, he led the naming, rebranding, and marketing campaign for McGraw Hill Financial after its $2.4 billion sale of McGraw-Hill Education to Apollo Global Management in 2013, according to a statement from Edelman.
He departed McGraw Hill in May, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Previously, he worked at HJ Heinz as chief administrative officer for 21 years, leading the development of senior talent and communications plans as Heinz expanded globally. At both McGraw Hill and Heinz, Smyth helped the companies plan and execute major corporate restructurings, Edelman’s statement said.
Earlier in his career, Smyth was a senior Irish diplomat, serving as head of press and information in the Embassy of Ireland in London.
Edelman’s Edible Inc. food and beverage specialist agency started work this month for the Florida Department of Citrus after winning a contract worth up to $8 million.
