Edelman appoints Robert Holdheim as country head – India

Edelman has appointed Robert Holdheim as managing director and country head for India, effective July 1, 2009. He is the current head of Edelman New York’s Corporate Communications Group. He has also worked at Edelman Frankfurt and London.
Holdheim will succeed Roger C B Pereira who has been promoted as global vice chairman. He will have a two-month transition period with Pereira, starting May 1, 2009. Pereira will continue to be closely associated with key clients in India as non-executive chairman for Edelman in India. 
“With his experience in Europe and North America, as well as his practice experience in Corporate and Technology, Rob is the perfect person to lead our business in India through its next phase of growth,” said Alan VanderMolen, president, Asia Pacific.  “His appointment further underscores the firm’s confidence in emerging Asian markets broadly, and India specifically.”  

Holdheim will be supported in India by the firm’s line-up of market heads, practice specialists and communications veterans including Roma Pereira (Healthcare, Consumer and Lifestyle), Sachin Talwar (Corporate) and Allwyn Fernandes (Media, Crisis and Social Engagement) as well as Ophira Samuel (Mumbai Head) and Amit Misra (Delhi Head).  He will be based at the firm’s office in Gurgaon.