NEW
YORK, Nov. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York
Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA-NY) has
announced that Jon Iwata, IBM
marketing and communications veteran and founding executive
director of the Yale School of Management Data & Trust
Alliance, is the 2023 recipient of the Harold Burson Award, sponsored by BCW. Iwata
will receive the honor at the 2023 Big Apple Awards gala at Tao
Downtown in New York City on
November 15.
The Harold Burson Award is
PRSA-NY's first and only individual award dedicated to a non-agency
practitioner for excellence in communications. The award recognizes
a communications pioneer who demonstrates a best-in-class approach
to communicating with precision, conviction and transparency; who
has a track record of working to eliminate mis-, dis- and
mal-information; who has demonstrated innovative or outstanding
contributions to the communications industry as a whole; and who
demonstrates an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity and
inclusion.
"I have known John Iwata for
nearly 20 years and believe he truly embodies everything that
Harold Burson stood for in
communications, notably that actions must be the foundation for
everything you choose to say," said Corey duBrowa, Global CEO, BCW.
"I had the benefit of working alongside Jon during his time at IBM
as well as his time chairing the Arthur Page Society Board and,
like Harold, I see him as one of the greatest practitioners and
leaders to ever work in this field. I am so proud that my friend
and mentor Jon has been named the 2023 Harold Burson Award
recipient."
Iwata is being recognized for his groundbreaking career and
exemplary ability to influence change and shape brand purpose and
identity through communications. During a distinguished 35-year
career at IBM, Iwata served as Senior Vice President, Chief
Brand Officer, and leader of the
company's global marketing, communications, and citizenship
organization. He reported to three IBM CEOs across two decades of
significant transformation. He was chairman of IBM's corporate
strategy committee and established the company's values and policy
committee. According to Interbrand, IBM became the second most
valuable brand in the world during Iwata's tenure.
Iwata is also Founding Executive Director of the Data &
Trust Alliance, a not-for-profit organization that brings together
leading businesses to develop and adopt responsible data and AI
practices. Its first initiative, announced in 2021, was the
development of algorithmic anti-bias safeguards for workforce
practices, adopted by its member companies including American
Express, CVS Health, GM, Humana, Mastercard, Meta, Nike and
Walmart.
"Jon's commitment to expanding the communications role and using
technology to combat bias in the workplace, makes him the ideal
choice for this honor in Harold's memory," said Carmella Glover, president of PRSA-NY.
A co-inventor of a U.S. patent for a nanotechnology and process
for atomic-scale semiconductors, Iwata is Chairman of the Board of
Trustees of Cooper Hewitt,
Smithsonian Design Museum; a director of the Ladies
Professional Golf Association and chair of its nominating and
governance committee; and serves on the advisory board of
Responsible Innovation Labs. Iwata is an inductee of the B2B
Hall of Fame, the Marketing Hall of Fame and the CMO Club Hall
of Fame. He was named a Brand Genius by Adweek. In 2023 he was
awarded the Larry Foster Award for
Integrity in Public Communications by the Page Center at
Penn State University. He holds a
BA from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at
San Jose State University.
ABOUT THE PRSA-NY BIG APPLE AWARDS
The New York
Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America established the
Big Apple Awards program in 1988 to encourage excellence in public
relations. The program has evolved to keep pace with a rapidly
changing industry and continues to celebrate the exciting and
innovative successes of talented professionals working in the heart
of the communications universe. Today, a Big Apple Award is known
as one of the highest honors bestowed in public relations, and in
recognition, submissions will be open to the work of PR
practitioners across the US from this year forward. Learn more
here.
ABOUT PRSA-NY
The New York Chapter of the Public
Relations Society of America is the best-established and
influential group of public relations professionals in the
New York area. Operating for 75
years, the New York Chapter of the Public Relations Society of
America is one of the oldest, largest, and most prominent public
relations Chapters in the country. Located in the media capital of
the world, PRSANY offers to its members top-level career
development and education, networking, mentoring, and award
programs. PRSA-NY serves communications decision-makers at
agencies, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and public and
private institutions. For more information about PRSA-NY's
upcoming events, mentorship program, jobs boards, volunteer
opportunities, and membership details, go to prsany.org.
About BCW
BCW is the global communications agency
built to move people. BCW partners with clients in the B2B,
consumer, corporate, crisis management, healthcare, public affairs,
purpose and technology sectors to set strategic direction for all
communications and create powerful and unexpected ideas that earn
attention. BCW uses earned media, paid media, creative technology,
data, AI and an expanding suite of innovative capabilities to move
people with power and precision to move its clients
forward. BCW is a part of WPP (NYSE: WPP), a creative
transformation company. For more information,
visit www.bcw-global.com.
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