Former Weber Shandwick CEO Andy Polansky joins Page Center advisory board
April 15, 2024 • Jonathan McVerry
Andy Polansky, who over the course of the past three decades has served as a strategic communications counselor to C-suite executives while helping to build Weber Shandwick into an industry-leading firm, has joined the Page Center’s advisory board.
Polansky is well-known and admired for his people-centric leadership style and the impact he has had in developing talent and in focusing on cultivating relationships across the public relations world.
Before retiring as chairman and chief executive officer of IPG DXTRA and Executive Chairman of Weber Shandwick in 2022, Polansky served as CEO of Weber Shandwick from 2012 to 2019. Four of those eight years with Polansky at the helm, Weber Shandwick was named PR Week’s Global Agency of the Year. It was also named Agency of the Decade by PRovoke Media.
Polansky said helping colleagues and clients navigate the industry and address the challenges they may face in their careers– especially young people – is something he has always found rewarding. He embraces the opportunity to lead and mentor whenever possible.
In recognition of his accomplishments and contributions to the industry, Polansky received the Larry Foster Award for Integrity in Public Communication at the 2022 Page Center Awards. This year, he joins the Center as one of its two newest board members.
“The Page Center’s focus on integrity and ethics couldn't be more important,” Polansky said. “That's something that's always impressed me about the Center, and it’s what attracted me to the opportunity to serve on the board.”
It’s no secret that the polarization of society has impacted how corporations, governments and various constituencies operate. Polansky hopes to be part of the campaign that increases civility in discourse and limits the divisiveness that plagues open, truthful communication. He says open and honest communication strengthens the relationships that can rebuild trust in the institutions that are integral to society.
Polansky says the ingredients needed to adapt to industry changes can be found in the Page Center’s mission. He said research, education and outreach that drive communicators toward the truth and help them operate with integrity is essential.
“Developing trust and meaningful relationships are core to success, not just in communications but in business and society as well,” he said. “While new technologies will continue to have a profound effect on how our craft is evolving, it’s the underlying core principles of authentic, truthful communications that drive engagement and important outcomes.”
Prior to leading IPG DXTRA, a global collective of marketing services and public relations firms, Polansky held several global leadership positions at Weber Shandwick and became its CEO in 2012. He has served on numerous corporate, industry and nonprofit boards during his career, including the Advertising Council, the Institute for Public Relations, Page, and The College of New Jersey Foundation at his alma mater.
Polansky joins Aimee Rinehart, senior product manager of AI strategy for the Associated Press, as the Page Center’s newest board members.
“Andy built a long career on integrity, respect for others and strong communications,” said Denise Bortree, Page Center director. “We are thrilled that he has joined our advisory board, and we look forward to hearing his insights and perspective.”
Since its 2004 founding, the Page Center has become an international leader in research on ethics and integrity in public communication. Over the past 20 years, the Center has funded nearly 300 scholars and awarded more than $1 million in research funding. The Center’s advisory board consists of 15 members that represent decades of leadership in education, business, journalism, non-profit and public relations.