Peter Debreceny
Arthur W. Page Society Distringuished Award Winner, 2010
I discovered that curiosity was a good skill to have. Being curious about the world, what makes it tick, the economic and societal factors impacting the business you work for consult to – that’s an important perspective to bring to the communications solution that you’re going to propose.
I realized that it was a big world outside the one that I knew when I was growing up and studying – so travel and experiencing other cultures and economies was a big help to my career. Particularly today, with the world that is globalized and where the momentum lies with countries like China and India, having a worldview is essential.
And I enjoyed being an early adopter of technology – each new technological advance made what we do easier and more powerful – and the earlier I learned the more it was a help. Today the technological advances of the Internet and social media are revolutionizing our world and every practitioner – whether one has been in the profession for a long time, or is just starting out – needs to seize the opportunity that revolution enables.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1964-1967 New Zealand Ministry of Foreign – Foreign Affairs Officer
1967-1970 New Zealand Radio and Television – Current Affairs Reporter and Producer
1970-1973 Media Consultants Ltd. – Managing Director
1973-1979 Industrialized Building Systems Ltd. – Executive Director, responsible for PR and marketing
1979-1983 Blue Skys Advertising Ltd – Executive Director and Head, PR Department
1983-1989 Fay, Richwhite & Co. Ltd Investment Bank – Executive Director, marketing
(Associated Position, 1985-1989 New Zealand America’s Cup Challenge, Director, Marketing & Promotions)
1989-1992 Public Relations and Marketing Consultant (Based in U.S.)
1992-1994 Consultus New Zealand – Managing Director
1994-1996 Managing Director, Edelman Melbourne; National Director, Corporate & Financial, Edelman Australia
1996-1998 Senior Vice President and Group Head, Corporate and Financial Groups, Edelman Chicago
1998-2207 Allstate Insurance Company – Vice President, Corporate Relations
2007-Current Gagen MacDonald – Consultant