Donald A. Baer

In a career that has spanned media, communications, and public service, Don Baer has been a leader in business, law, journalism, government, politics and the non-profit sector.

For more than a decade starting in 2008, Don was a top executive at Burson-Marsteller, one of the world’s largest strategic communications firms, representing clients in all sectors, especially leading technology, media, and telecommunications companies. From 2012 – 2018, he was the firm’s Worldwide Chair and CEO, then, until 2020, Global Chair of its successor firm BCW. In 2021, he joined the strategic advisory firm Brunswick Group as a Senior Partner to help clients around the world navigate their most critical issues.

From 2011 – 2021, Don served on the PBS Board of Directors and as its Chair for seven years, making him the longest-serving PBS Board Chair in its 50-year history. He continues as a member of the PBS Foundation Board of Directors. From 2014 until its sale in 2021, Don was a member of the Board of Directors of the publicly traded media company Meredith Corporation. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the Planet World Board of Directors and NewsGuard Technologies’ Advisory Board.

Don received a B.A. from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Phi Beta Kappa), a Master’s in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (Rotary Fellowship) and a J.D. from The University of Virginia School of Law.