Bob Knight Named as New CEO of Harrison Edwards
(Armonk, New York: September 8, 2021)—Harrison Edwards, a regional leader in integrated marketing and strategic PR, and the national leader in broadband marketing, has a new CEO. Bob Knight took the reins of the award-winning company on September 1, 2021 after serving as its COO and Executive Vice President for the past six years. In his new role, Knight will lead Harrison Edwards through an immense marketplace transformation, while continuing and building on the remarkable legacy created by Carolyn Mandelker, who founded the firm in 1987.
“We are beyond excited for Bob, our company and our clients,” noted Mandelker, who will remain with Harrison Edwards in a consultative role. “He is the right person at the right time to lead Harrison Edwards into the future.” She noted that Bob “has the perfect combination of qualities” in a leader. “First, he has tremendous vision for the future, he spots trends early and capitalizes on every opportunity. Second, he has a real passion for excellence and teambuilding. Keeping a sharp eye on providing a great client experience also is central to his thinking.”
As CEO and Managing Partner, Knight will direct the company as it expands its key sectors which include: broadband/wireless, real estate/economic development, government relations, healthcare, crisis communications and entertainment. Since its founding in 1987, Harrison Edwards, Inc. has continually evolved into a dynamic, nimble and award-winning integrated marketing agency. The Armonk-based firm is well-known for its effective marketing campaigns, working with media on the local, regional, and national levels, and developing incisive strategies for its clients. In 2021, the firm received the dual designation as Facebook Business Partner and Google Partner.
Knight commented: “I’m thrilled to assume the leadership role at Harrison Edwards and am equally excited for the many opportunities ahead for our firm and in our industry. Our people are dynamic and smart, and I’m fully dedicated to bringing out the best in each of them and in every one of our clients. It’s a privilege to build upon Harrison Edwards’ strategic foundation, forged by Carolyn Mandelker over the past 35 years, and to ensure the agency’s continued success.”
Bob Knight joined Harrison Edwards in 2005. He was named COO/Executive Vice President in 2015 and became Partner in 2018. He is widely considered the nation’s leading expert in community and stakeholder engagement for fiber-broadband projects and works with clients in the public and private sector to advance high-speed connectivity. In the public sector, he is serving his sixth term as an Economic and Community Development Commissioner, Town of Ridgefield, Connecticut. He also serves Ridgefield’s Deputy Recovery Coordinator and sits on the State of Connecticut Region 5 (Pandemic) Long-Term Recovery Committee for Business and Jobs. He also is a state committee member of the Regional Plan Association of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Knight is co-chair of the Fiber Broadband Association’s Public Officials Group in Washington, DC, representing 150+ cities, towns and counties across 33 states; a founding member of the National Fiber Coalition; and is a 2021 Chairman of the Broadband Communities Summit in Houston, TX. He is a past Board Chair of the Westchester Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless and served as Board Vice President for the Public Relations Society of America’s Westchester/Fairfield Chapter.
Earlier in his career, Bob was a top-rated radio air personality and programmer. Notably, in 2000, he replaced Ryan Seacrest at K101 in San Francisco, then served as Director of Operations and Programming for NextMedia Chicago where he co-hosted “The Morning Beat with Jeff and Bobby.” A Westchester native, Bob now lives in Ridgefield, Connecticut with his wife and two school-aged children.
