Brian Ellner

Brian is a leader and innovator in the interconnected worlds of politics, government, media and communications. He leads Public Affairs for WPP in the U.S. And counsels clients on purpose driven corporate communications at BCW. Brian is a strategic counselor to CCOs, CMOs and senior decision makers at global corporations, nonprofits and foundations. He builds culture change campaigns. Brian was lead strategist for the Human Rights Campaign's successful effort to win marriage equality in New York. He launched New Yorkers for Marriage Equality, a communications campaign featuring iconic New Yorkers -- from Julianne Moore and Michael Bloomberg to Barbara Bush and Michael Strahan -- expressing support for equality. Brian created HRC's Americans for Marriage Equality campaign and provided strategic counsel on the 2012 marriage wins in Maryland, Minnesota, Maine and Washington. He also built a global campaign to focus the world's attention on Russia's anti-gay laws during the Sochi Olympics. Brian also led the recent effort to secure support for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) from 93 corporations across the U.S. It marked the first time that corporate American came out for the ERA. Brian was a senior aide in the administration of Mayor Bloomberg, working to transform public education. Brian worked with Chancellor Joel Klein to build the Education Equality Project, focused on eliminating the racial and ethnic achievement gap. Brian worked with Senator Bob Kerrey at MacAndrews and & Forbes growing the company’s education holdings and he was a member of the Technology Venture Group. Brian is an attorney and practiced with Paul Weiss and O'Melveny & Myers. He represented media and fashion clients including Ralph Lauren and Viacom. Brian's pro bono work included representation of a class of statewide plaintiffs challenging New York's school financing system. He also co-authored an amicus brief in the historic Supreme Court case of Lawrence v. Texas. Brian is an advocate for those things he is passionate about, which include civil rights, wildlife conservation, the environment, art, film, sports, politics and changing the world (not always in that order) and enjoys connecting others with big ideas.