Alison Burns

Alison Burns is a marketing, branding and communications professional whose career has spanned more than 30 years, and has been split between the UK and the US, focused increasingly on multinational brands. Before her current independent consulting stint, Ms. Burns spent ten years at WPP’s J. Walter Thompson from 2006 to 2016, as CEO of the firm’s flagship London office and then in New York, where she led several of the firm’s most prestigious and globally significant client accounts, including Rolex, Kelloggs, and Unilever haircare. Ms. Burns’ prior experience includes 5 years as President of Fallon from 1998 to 2003, where she led the Agency through a period of rapid growth and creative distinction, adding assignments from Starbucks, Pepsico, Georgia- Pacific and Viacom. From 1994 to 1998 Alison served as a senior global marketer for Pepsico based in Dallas and New York, helming International marketing for Pizza Hut and then domestic marketing for the Fountain Beverage Division. Other experience includes a decade in senior roles in UK Advertising firms, running accounts as diverse as political campaigns, confectionery, fashion and financial services. Ms. Burns has guest-lectured at Columbia and NYU, served on the Boards of both Hale and Hearty Soups and the International Advertising Association, and currently serves as a senior advisor to Powell Communications, a boutique public relations firm based in New York. Alison holds a BA in English and Politics from the University of York.