NEW YORK — Andrew Silver, the former head of Edelman’s global Samsung business, has joined MSLGroup as managing director of its New York office. 

Since 2010, Silver was the global client relationship manager for the Edelman's Samsung business, managing the account across 14 countries and multiple practice areas. An Edelman spokesperson said EVP Greg St. Claire is now GCRM for Samsung.

“I’ve held a number of leadership roles that has prepared me to run the New York office,” Silver said, also pointing to his stints as executive director for Edelman China, the North American practice leader for Cohn & Wolfe, group head of consumer marketing at Ogilvy PR and being GM for Edelman’s Shanghai office. “I want to bring a global mindset and for [MSLGroup’s New York office] to be a global hub for clients.

The lead position in MSLGroup’s 180-person New York’s office has been vacant since Joel Curran left in November 2013 to become vice chancellor of communications and public affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Amid the search for Curran’s replacement, MSLGroup’s North American head Renee Wilson stepped down to become the firm’s chief client officer — compelling the agency to shift its focus on appointing a new regional head. Paul Newman was named president of North America for MSLGroup in late February 2014. Silver reports into Newman. 

During the interim, MSLGroup’s North American executive management team — based in New York — oversaw the office. New York in the firm’s largest office in North America and among its top offices worldwide. Clients like Netflix, Procter & Gamble and TruGreen are run out of New York, which has traditionally leaned towards consumer marketing clients, as well as digital and social media assignments.

Silver said his plan includes delivering a more integrated offering across practice areas and deploying the right talent to do so.

“It starts with the client leader on the account — that person becomes an orchestrator and integrator for the client experience,” Silver said. “That’s where the walls really come down.”