Edelman has appointed Pooja Rawat as its new Chief Strategy Officer for Asia-Pacific, marking a significant leadership move as the firm accelerates its regional transformation. With 18 years of strategic leadership across India, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and China, Rawat brings a powerful combination of brand-building acumen, cultural insight, and marketing effectiveness capabilities critical to Edelman’s next phase of growth.Her appointment arrives at a pivotal moment for Edelman APAC, where brands are navigating cultural complexity, digital acceleration, and heightened expectations for integrated, insight-driven communications. Rawat’s experience in building impactful brand strategies across diverse markets positions her to elevate the firm’s consulting depth and strategy-led storytelling approach.
Why This Matters
APAC is one of the world’s most dynamic communication landscapes:
- Rising digital maturity across markets,
- Increasing demand for culturally nuanced brand narratives,
- A shift toward data-driven, integrated communication models, and
- Heightened expectations for business-impact outcomes.
Edelman is sharpening its APAC transformation agenda to address these shifts. Rawat’s arrival signals a deeper push into:
- Strategy-first brand building,
- Culture-anchored creativity,
- Data-led insights,
- Integrated earned-led solutions, and
- Consulting capabilities that drive measurable marketing effectiveness.
Her appointment strengthens Edelman’s trajectory toward becoming APAC’s most insight-driven, culturally intelligent communication partner.
Leadership Perspectives
Pooja Rawat, APAC Chief Strategy Officer, Edelman
“I’m delighted to join Edelman and shape strategy across diverse markets while partnering with some of the world’s most dynamic brands. Edelman’s commitment to creativity, data-driven insights, and cultural relevance aligns strongly with my passion for building meaningful brand connections. I look forward to collaborating with talented teams to deliver bold, integrated solutions that create real impact.”
Rakesh Thukral, CEO – Asia Pacific, Edelman
“Pooja’s appointment strengthens our strategic consulting capabilities across the region. Her analytical rigor, creative vision, and cultural instinct will help us deliver greater value to clients. This is a moment of transformation for Edelman APAC, and Pooja’s leadership will shape how we show up for our clients and our people.”
Strategic Implications
With Rawat stepping into the APAC CSO role, Edelman is poised to:
- Strengthen regional strategic consulting,
- Drive culture-informed, insight-led creative thinking,
- Deepen its data and analytics integration,
- Build consistent strategy frameworks across diverse Asian markets,
- Unlock higher marketing effectiveness for clients, and
- Evolve into a consulting-led communication powerhouse.
Her leadership introduces a refined balance of strategy, creativity, cultural fluency, and business impact the core pillars of Edelman’s future-facing model.Pooja Rawat’s appointment marks more than a leadership update it reflects Edelman APAC’s commitment to building a strategy-first, insight-powered, transformation-centric communication ecosystem. With her regional expertise and proven brand leadership, Edelman is poised to strengthen its position as the most culturally attuned, strategically grounded partner for modern brands across the Asia-Pacific region.A transformational leader for a transforming region and a strategic inflection point for Edelman’s APAC evolution.
