Edelman group director for corporate & public affairs Nic Jarvis departs to start new PR agency
Edelman’s group director for corporate and public affairs, Nic Jarvis, has departed the agency to start his own PR company, Jarvis Counsel.
Jarvis was in his previous role at Edelman for over nine years, joining in December 2007.
Jarvis said he had gone from one of the biggest agency’s to one of the smallest
Speaking to Mumbrella, Jarvis said it was the right time to leave Edelman so he could take the time to reassess what skills he could bring to the table, to benefit clients and help further develop his career.
“While I might get that experience at an agency like Edelman, I am more likely to get it in my own agency,” he said.
“You might say why would you leave a firm like Edelman with a good salary? The fact is you’ve got to reinvent yourself and see where it goes.
“What clients want, especially at the very senior level in today’s disrupted world, is they want people who have long term experience and are going to be available to them when they need it.”
Jarvis Counsel has three areas of specialisation: issues and crisis management, public affairs and mergers and acquisitions.
Leaving Edelman and opening Jarvis Counsel doors on March 30, Jarvis said he is currently working with two clients – which he cannot name at this stage – on issues management: an international airline that fly’s into Australia and a not-for-profit.
Looking to the future Jarvis said he would would like to have three of four other senior professionals at Jarvis Counsel in a couple of years time.
“I am basically a startup, but there is a gap in the market and the response so far has said to me that there is that gap, and I don’t want to be a 100 person agency,” he said.
“The industry is changing. There’s always a place for the big agencies but there is much more room for more collaboration, you are going to have people with specific skills working for other agencies and other individuals to deliver to the client and that’s where it’s going to move.
“Big clients need big agencies sometimes but they are going to be more selective about who they use.”
It is unclear who will be replacing Jarvis in the group director role at Edelman.
Edelman Australia CEO, Steven Spurr, told Mumbrella: “As you know Nic had been with Edelman for almost 10 years in a number of different roles, and we wish him every success in his future endeavours. We have an exceptionally talented corporate affairs team covering corporate communications, public affairs, issues and crisis, employee engagement and financial services and will continue to invest in, and hire, great talent to deliver client results.”
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Good luck Nic! I’m sure you’ll do just fine!
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