Michael J. Echter

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BIOGRAPHY

Michael J. Echter is a distinguished communications and marketing executive with a career spanning several decades, marked by strategic leadership and innovative contributions to the public relations industry. A magna cum laude graduate of Fordham University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and American Studies, Echter has consistently demonstrated a profound understanding of integrated marketing and communications, establishing himself as both a strategic thinker and a hands-on creator.

In his role as Director of Global Corporate Communications at MSL from 2015 to 2019, Echter was a pivotal member of the Global Executive Committee, reporting directly to the Global CEO. He adeptly managed the global reputation of the agency, overseeing more than 100 offices across 40 countries with a dedicated team of six professionals. His responsibilities encompassed external and internal communications, brand narrative development, agency web presence, awards strategy and activation, thought leadership research publications and events, employer branding, crisis and issues management, and annual agency rankings. Notably, Echter led the global rebranding of the company from MSLGROUP to MSL, crafting a new brand narrative and visual identity that reflected the agency’s transformation. He also played a crucial role in the development and launch of MSL Fluency, an influencer service, and collaborated with Publicis Media to introduce the Conversation2Commerce platform, leveraging programmatic media solutions for earned media.

Prior to this global role, from 2011 to 2015, Echter served as the Director of Communications & Marketing for MSLGROUP in North America. As a member of the North America Executive Team, he was instrumental in building and strengthening the agency’s reputation across the region. He led thought leadership initiatives, developed compelling written and video content, and managed media relations. Under his guidance, the agency’s external awards program became one of the most successful in the industry. He directed the award strategy and entry development for the acclaimed P&G Always #LikeAGirl campaign, which garnered numerous accolades, including the Cannes Lions PR Grand Prix and PRWeek’s Campaign of the Year in 2015. Echter also enhanced the agency’s brand engagement through the development and dissemination of thought leadership studies on topics such as Artificial Intelligence in PR, Wired Women, Viral Humor, Millennials in the Workplace, and Social Activism, leading to a dominant share of voice at industry events like SXSW.

Echter’s tenure at MS&L from 2005 to 2011 as the Director of New Business for the New York office was marked by significant achievements. As the first individual to hold this position, he generated nearly $15 million in revenue from new clients, including prominent names like Outback Steakhouse, Match.com, United Technologies Corporation, Mass Mutual, Heidrick & Struggles, Allergan, and P&G FemCare. He established new business processes, managed and organized the pipeline, oversaw pitch strategies, created pitch content, and led a team of three. Additionally, he organized office-wide new business training programs, including a partnership with The Moth on storytelling, to enhance the team’s capabilities.

Earlier in his career, Echter held various agency roles at esteemed firms such as Burson-Marsteller, Edelman/PR21, Gillespie/McCann, NW Ayer, and Stratis KPR. In these positions, he managed significant client accounts, including a $2 million Roche oncology portfolio, and led marketing public relations efforts for major brands like GE Appliances and Du Pont Flooring Systems. He also served as the day-to-day manager for the U.S. Army Reserve’s national awareness campaigns, organizing award-winning communications support and supervising recruitment marketing programs in support of the iconic “Be All You Can Be” advertising campaign.

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