Michelle Hutton
Michelle Hutton is the CEO of Edelman Australia and Vice Chair of Edelman Asia Pacific. Having recently returned to Australia, Michelle has taken on this dual role having previously held global leadership positions while based in London with Edelman as Managing Director, Global Client Strategy, COO of Europe and Chair of the agency’s global consumer business.
Michelle was the President of the PR Jury at the 2019 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. She has served on other global creative and effectiveness juries including Eurobest and the Effies. Whilst abroad, Michelle has been advising global companies and brands on how to navigate the changes in media, emerging technologies and the increasing distrust of news and opinion. Her counsel is sought after by senior leaders in businesses building their company’s brand and reputation in this time of ‘crisis in trust’ and fake news.
Michelle and her teams have been producing award-winning campaigns for some of the firm’s largest relationships including GSK, Samsung, KFC, Unilever and HP. She also has an interest in exploring people’s relationships with brands and business and she was responsible for the creation of Edelman’s Earned Brand Series of research that is now launched each year in Cannes.
Prior to joining Edelman in 2010, Michelle led Hill and Knowlton Strategies in Australia and ran the agency’s consumer marketing practice across Asia Pacific, where she particularly enjoyed driving campaigns taking a stand on cultural or societal issues. Before relocating to the UK with her husband and two children, Michelle ran Edelman’s operations in Australia. Prior to Edelman, Michelle was the Chief Executive, Australasia of Hill and Knowlton Strategies and ran the agency’s consumer marketing practice across Asia Pacific.
Earlier in her career she worked for independent communication agencies in Australia. She has a keen interest in supporting female leaders in the creative industry. Michelle is an active member of Edelman’s Global Women in Leadership program was a founding Board Member of the Global Women in PR network and was previously a Board Director of The Communications Council in Australia serving on its Diversity and Inclusion Committee.