LONDON — Tim Sutton has taken on a senior advisory role at DJE Holdings, PRovoke Media has learned, which will see the Weber Shandwick veteran advise CEO Richard Edelman on aspects of his international operations. 

As of counsel, the part-time role calls on Sutton to report directly to Edelman, focusing on Edelman Asia, which is aiming to return to growth, along with sister DJE firm Zeno's international operations.

He takes on the position 12 months after leaving Weber Shandwick, upon concluding a 16-year career with the Interpublic Group firm that included leadership of its operations across Asia-Pacific and EMEA.

Sutton will work with regional president Stephen Kehoe on Edelman Asia, and global CEO Barby Siegel on Zeno. The latter firm was yesterday named PRovoke Media's North American Agency of the Year, after reaching $86m in global fee income, but Edelman told PRovoke Media that it is now focused on "the next $100m", which is likely to require considerable expansion in EMEA and Asia. 

In addition, Sutton will work with Edelman and global vice chairman Russell Dubner on the upcoming launch of Edelman's 'Trust Institute'.

"He's superb, and I'm lucky to have him as of counsel," Edelman told PRovoke Media. "He's a good guy and he's smart and he knows the business."

Edelman is expected to return to growth for its 2021 fiscal year, which concludes in June, after declining 5.8% in 2020 to $840m. Sutton's leadership of Weber Shandwick included consistent growth across Asia-Pacific and EMEA, often at industry-leading levels, and led to multiple Agency of the Year honours in both regions.

“I’m proud of my previous 16-year association with Weber Shandwick," added Sutton. "But I have known Richard personally for well over a decade and have always admired him and his firm’s achievements. I feel privileged and flattered that he should ask for my counsel and look forward to making a real contribution to the business."

After joining Weber Shandwick as chairman of EMEA in 2004, Sutton moved to Hong Kong in 2007 to oversee Asia-Pacific before returning to London in 2015 as A-P & EMEA chairman of CMG, the Interpublic unit that houses its PR, sports and event marketing agencies. 

Prior to his career with Weber Shandwick, Sutton was chairman of Orpheus Group and chairman of BSMG Worldwide’s European operations. Before that, he was CEO of UK PR firm Charles Barker.