13 Facts About Bob Leaf

Robert Stephen Leaf was an American public relations executive.

Bob Leaf is best known for creating the international network of offices which made Burson-Marsteller the world's largest public relations firm in the 1980s, where he eventually rose to be international chairman.

At college, Bob Leaf developed a keen interest in history and international relations and, after receiving his bachelor of journalism degree with honors in 1952, he received an MA with honors in history in 1954.

Bob Leaf moved back to the United States in 1956 and went to live with his widowed mother in New York, while searching for a job.

Bob Leaf then obtained an interview with a small PR firm called Burson-Marsteller which was looking for its first trainee, and got the job.

Bob Leaf joined Burson-Marsteller on July 1,1957, alongside its then six executives.

Bob Leaf appointed Leaf head of international operations and, in 1965, he was sent to Brussels on a one-year assignment.

Bob Leaf signed a partnership agreement with the Chinese government in the Great Hall of the People to establish the first official Chinese Government PR firm.

Bob Leaf launched the first international PR firm in the Middle East and started Burson-Marsteller offices throughout Europe, Asia, South America and Australia.

Bob Leaf is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World, Debrett's People of Today.

In 2012, Bob Leaf published his memoirs, The Art of Perception.

Since the publication of the book, Bob Leaf has been spending his time talking at conferences and lecturing at leading business and journalism schools in the UK and the US.

Bob Leaf is a founder of the Public Relations Consultants Association.