Burson-Marsteller has launched a global energy practice, pulling from the expertise of 100 of the firm’s international consultants.

Using oil issues in the Gulf of Mexico and the nuclear energy issues in Japan as examples, worldwide CEO Mark Penn said in a statement, “With energy demand anticipated to rise 40% in the coming decades and energy challenges becoming more extreme, strategic communications will be even more vital to success.”

The practice will be led out of B-M’s Beijing office. Leadership for the practice will include Bob Pickard in Asia Pacific, Mike Lake in North America, Ramiro Prudencio in Latin America, Bill Royce in Europe, and Stephen Worsley in the Middle East.

B-M launched a new tech practice, North of Nine, a couple of weeks ago.

David Bolger has joined Burson-Marsteller as MD of the firm’s U.S. public affairs practice. Bolger will be based in Washington D.C. and reporting to U.S. public affairs practice chair Mike Lake. Previously, Bolger was president of Executive Briefing, a consulting firm specializing in strategic comms, crisis management, media relations, and public policy communications counsel for U.S. and E.U. organizations.

Ame Wadler has joined Zeno Group as MD of health, strategic planning based in the New York office. She will focus on expanding the firm’s health practice, which has a list of clients including AstraZeneca and Symbicort. Previously, she was EVP and chief management officer at MWW Group. Read more