Gudjon Arngrimsson

Icelandair

VP Corporate Communications

Gudjon Arngrimsson has been vice president of corporate communication at Icelandair since 2005. He joined the airline in 2000 as the public relations manager, having previously been the governments millenium commission programme director. His background is in Icelandic print and TV journalism, as well as advertising and PR. He has also written several historical books.

Patrick Jephson

Former Chief Of Staff To Princess Diana

International Reputation Expert, New York Times Bestselling Author & Consultant, Netflix's "The Crown"

Patrick is a consultant, journalist, broadcaster and New York Times and London Sunday Times bestselling author, based in Washington DC.  His byline has appeared in every major UK newspaper and international titles as varied as TIME magazine, People, The Spectator, Paris Match, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and the National Catholic Reporter.  He is a published authority on corporate and personal branding, addressing conferences worldwide as well as events at the US State Department, the American University and the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. 

He also writes, presents and advises on factual and drama programs, appearing on every major US network as well as British and international platforms.  His two decades of news and current affairs assignments have included on-screen conversations with figures such as David Frost, David Dimbleby, Barbara Walters and Larry King. 

He is founding partner in JephsonBeaman, a boutique communications consultancy specializing in international high-profile, sensitive and UHNW services.  With more than twenty-five years’ experience in the government, luxury and family office sectors, Patrick’s portfolio has included Ferrari, Harrods, Beretta and Hawker Beechcraft as well as national agencies and NGOs.  He has also worked on reputation and legacy briefs with European, Middle Eastern and Asian families, including royalty. 

Patrick owes much of his practical communications experience to Princess Diana, who chose him to be her equerry and only private secretary/chief of staff.  He served the Princess for eight years (1988-96), responsible for every aspect of her public life, worldwide humanitarian initiatives, and private organization.  Under relentless media scrutiny, his tenure covered the period of Princess Diana’s greatest popularity as well as the constitutional controversy of her separation from Prince Charles.  In recognition of his service, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II appointed him a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order.

Patrick was born and raised in Ireland and holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science from Cambridge University.  As an officer in the British Royal Navy he served all over the world before being selected for royal duty.  In March 2015 he became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

Colleen Harris

Former Press Secretary To Princes Charles, William And Harry

Former Adviser, World Health Organization, Elton John Aids Foundation

With more than 25 years’ experience ranging from the British Royal Household, via Downing Street, to international NGOs, Colleen Harris has a strong track record of working in high-profile media and communications roles. This professional experience is complemented by a broad portfolio of trusteeships and non-executive director roles in the arts, education and health. Colleen held a senior communications position in the Prime Minister’s Office before being appointed Press Secretary to HRH the Prince of Wales, and was the first Black member of the Royal Household. She handled the media for The Prince of Wales during some of the most turbulent years, and also media-managed the emergence of Princes William and Harry into the public eye. Her career has included senior posts in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, and the Cabinet Office as well as in non-departmental Public Bodies. She has worked in Britain and abroad as a consultant with private companies, non-profit organisations and UN agencies, including the World Health Organisation. Colleen’s work in a wide variety of contexts has taught her about managing individual reputations, as well as how to use brand-development techniques to help clients identify and take full advantage of their strengths and skills – equipping them to define their own public profiles, and achieve personal and business success. Colleen’s board-level and executive experience has given her a good appreciation of how to inspire and lead teams, as well as insight into the qualities that CEOs and boards look for in high-level executives.

Harlan Loeb

Edelman

Global Chair, Crisis & Risk Practice

With more than 25 years of experience in reputation risk and crisis advisory services, Harlan Loeb is the Global Chairman of Edelman’s Crisis & Reputation Advisory Group and a global expert on the most vexing high profile organizational challenges. His client work includes some of the largest MNCs in the world including Samsung, GE, Mitsubishi, BASF, Chevron, and Unilever. Mr. Loeb works across all industry sectors counseling both boards and executive leadership teams using proprietary tools to facilitate dynamic decision making and stronger performance cultures. He also teaches at Northwestern Law School and with the Kellogg School of Management Risk Lab program.

Matt McKenna

Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Greenbrier

Former Senior Advisor to President Clinton

For over 7 years, Matt McKenna served as spokesperson and senior adviser to President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Family, and the Clinton Foundation. He also ran Communications for Uber North America and has advised diverse corporate and philanthropic organizations such as The Carlyle Group, lululemon athletica, and WilliamsWorks on a range of issues including, executive communications, crisis management, acquisitions, lawsuits, and the hiring and firing of CEOs. Prior to joining the Clintons, Matt worked on several statewide political campaigns, most recently serving as communications director for U.S. Senator Jon Tester -- both in his successful U.S. Senate campaign in and his first term in the U.S. Senate. Matt has also worked in various capacities for Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana, Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia, Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Gov. Tony Knowles of Alaska. Two years ago, Matt co-founded Greenbrier to help individuals and corporations avoid, manage and recover from crisis. Greenbrier provides strategic advice and tactical execution to clients facing complex image, marketing, branding, media, legal and political challenges. A native of Bozeman, Montana, Matt is an avid mountain and road cyclist. He lives between Montana and San Francisco with his dog, Pablo.

Rob Rehg

Edelman

Chairman of U.S. Public Affairs

Rob Rehg, Chairman of U.S. Public Affairs, has worked in public relations, journalism, politics and public affairs for more than 30 years.  With Edelman, Rob has worked in reputation management, corporate communications, crisis and issues management, mergers and acquisitions, as well as coalition programs in a wide range of industries.

Rob’s clients have included the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, the American Petroleum Institute, the American Red Cross, AT&T, Boeing, Business Roundtable, Chevron and Exxon, GE, S.C. Johnson, Samsung, Toyota and Nissan, US Airways, Wal-Mart and Wells Fargo. He managed the Edelman teams handling rollout of reports for the 9-11 Commission and Iraq Study Group, and has led international programs for the Panama Canal Authority and the governments of South Korea, India, Panama, Chile, Colombia, Portugal, Angola and Malawi.

In addition to his work at Edelman, Rob has served as director of communications for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, working with the National Conference of Catholic Bishops where he coordinated media activities for Pope John Paul II's visit to Denver as part of World Youth Day.  At Edelman, he worked with The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints for 12 years. In politics, he was chief of staff for Michigan Rep. Bill Schuette and director of communications and policy for Michigan Rep. Dave Camp.

As a journalist, Rob worked as a congressional correspondent for Hearst Newspapers' Washington Bureau, writing for newspapers in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, Texas, Michigan, Illinois and Florida. Prior to joining the Washington Bureau, Rob was an editor, political columnist and reporter for Hearst Newspapers in Michigan and Illinois, and a radio reporter for stations in St. Louis, Mo. 

Rob has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from Southern Illinois University.  He was an adjunct professor for the University of Virginia’s professional education program, teaching courses in reputation management, media relations and public relations for several years.