FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ashley Duncan September 30, 2015 [email protected] 202-530-4553

Luke Albee and John Murray Join Direct Impact as Senior Advisors Former Warner and Cantor Aides to Guide Strategic Growth and Help Strengthen Client Relationships

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 30, 2015 – Direct Impact (DI), a leading national grassroots public affairs, public education and corporate reputation firm and a wholly owned subsidiary of Burson-Marsteller, announced that Luke Albee and John Murray have joined the firm as Senior Advisors. Albee and Murray will work closely with senior leadership to build strategic business, plan future growth and strengthen client relationships.

“Luke and John are tremendous additions to our team, bringing impressive breadth and depth of experience on both sides of the aisle,” said Connie Partoyan, President of Direct Impact. “They know D.C inside and out, and bring invaluable insights into how to leverage our grassroots focus to grow business in Washington and across the country.”

Albee has more than 25 years of experience working in both the public and private sector in the nation’s capital. Deemed the “Dean of the Senate Chiefs of Staff” by POLITICO, Luke most recently served as the top aide to Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) during his entire first term in office (2009-2015). A Vermont native, he also served for 11 years as Chief of Staff to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) from 1993 to 2004.In between Senate stints, Luke worked for Ricchetti Inc., a political consulting firm, where he represented private sector clients on issues such as patent reform, health care, education, energy and several mergers and acquisitions.

Murray, who also will provide counsel to Burson-Marsteller, has two decades of experience at the highest levels of government, communications and politics. He is the founder of JAM Strategies, a strategic communications, public affairs and public policy advocacy consulting firm. Before launching his own firm, John oversaw strategy and fundraising for the YG Network, a 501c(4) issue advocacy organization while also acting as an outside communications advisor to then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA). Murray earlier served as Deputy Chief of Staff during Cantor’s tenure as Republican Whip and later House Majority Leader. During his time as Whip Office Communications Director John oversaw the strategy and rollout for Young Guns: A New Generation of Conservative Leaders by Eric Cantor, Kevin McCarthy and Paul Ryan which outlined a policy and political vision for retaking the House Majority in 2010. John has also spent time in leadership roles at a range of trade associations, corporations and public affairs firms including America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufactures of America (PhRMA), Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) and Freddie Mac.

About Direct Impact Founded in 1988, Direct Impact (www.directimpact.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Burson-Marsteller and a member of the WPP family. DI is a premier grassroots public affairs, public education and corporate reputation firm, offering a complete range of services essential to conducting successful grassroots outreach and education, public relations and localized community mobilization. DI specializes in using a campaign-style approach integrating on- and off-line strategies to engage targeted audiences, including engagement and activation of key opinion leaders, social media channels, local media and influential community organizations.

About Burson-Marsteller Burson-Marsteller, established in 1953, is a leading global public relations and communications firm. It provides clients with strategic thinking and program execution across a full range of public relations, public affairs, reputation and crisis management, advertising and digital strategies. The firm’s seamless worldwide network consists of 73 offices and 85 affiliate offices, together operating in 110 countries across six continents. Burson-Marsteller is a part of Young & Rubicam Group, a subsidiary of WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY), the world’s leading communications services network. For more information, please visit bm.com. ###