Joseph Kessler

Joseph Kessler is a partner of SS+K (Shepardson Stern + Kaminsky), a New York-based strategic marketing and communications agency that is partially owned by Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Based in Los Angeles, Kessler has responsibility for developing and overseeing client service, operations and business development across the west and providing corporate issues, strategic public relations and marketing counsel to a wide range of clientele. Prior to joining SS+K in 2004, he held a series of senior management positions Weber Shandwick, the world’s largest public relations and marketing communications agency and a subsidiary of Interpublic Group (IPG). These positions included President of Weber Shandwick California and President of the firm’s Global Technology Practice. Earlier, at BSMG Worldwide, he was President of the US Western Region and Senior Managing Director in BSMG’s Corporate Practice in New York. Also, he served on the firm’s Operations, North American Executive, and Corporate Practice Steering Committees. BSMG was acquired by Interpublic Group (IPG) during Kessler's tenure there.

In 1988, Kessler co-founded the successful boutique communications agency River Communications of Irvington, NY, which specializes in professional and financial services communications and marketing. Earlier, he became the youngest partner in the history of Rubenstein Wolfson & Company, a New York public relations agency that was later acquired by Shandwick PLC, where he focused on crisis communications, corporate issues and reputation management. Kessler graduated from Boston University College of Communication with BS in Journalism and Political Science. He served as a legislative aide to U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey (MA). He began his career as a Capitol Hill journalist and later, as Press Secretary for US Representative Ted S. Weiss (NY) in Washington, D.C.

During his career, Mr. Kessler has provided strategic corporate communications counsel to a diverse group of clients in several industries. A sample list includes:

• American Express
• Cisco Systems
• Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC)
• Fox Cable Networks
• GE/NBC
• Hewlett–Packard
• Interactive Digital Software Association
• Lehman Brothers
• Los Angeles World Airports
• Mattel Corporation
• Merck Pharmaceuticals
• News Corporation
• Prudential
• RJR Nabisco
• Samsung Electronics
• Sempra Energy
• Toshiba America Information Systems
• Unisys
• Univision
• US West
• Venetian Resort Hotel Casino
• Wellpoint

Currently, Mr. Kessler is a Visiting Lecturer at the USC Annenberg School of Communications and serves on the Advisory Board of the USC Annenberg Center for Strategic Public Relations. Also, he sits on the executive board of the Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program, and on the Advisory Board of media company Big Moving Pictures based in Los Angeles.