San Francisco, November 30th, 2020 AxiCom, member of the BCW Group of companies and WPP’s technology public relations specialty agency, today announced the appointment of Steve Kerns as Executive Vice President and Managing Director of North America. In this newly created role, Kerns will focus on advancing the growth of AxiCom in North America, promoting a culture where people can grow and thrive, and enhancing client services in a complex business operating environment. Steve Kerns is a 20-year San Francisco and Silicon Valley agency veteran and executive leader with corporate, product and integrated communications skillsets, a diverse technology background, and global client leadership experience. He has extensive knowledge of enterprise, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets and has also represented venture-backed startups. Most recently, Kerns was the General Manager and Senior Vice President of WE Communications San Francisco, where he transformed the business, instilled a strong office culture, and nurtured career advancement for his staff. Prior to WE Communications, Kerns’ agency experience included Text100 and Bite Global (now Archetype), Edelman, FleishmanHillard, SparkPR and Ogilvy Public Relations. “AxiCom is an agency that is built to inspire growth. We look for three core qualities in our people: intelligence, integrity, and initiative," said Katie Huang Shin, President of AxiCom North America. "Steve is a proven change agent, an authentic and transparent leader, and a passionate business development partner. As AxiCom continues to build on its technology communications strengths, Steve's anticipated contributions will add valuable energy for realizing the agency's full potential. Our team is thrilled to have Steve join AxiCom at this important juncture for the agency." Headquartered in San Francisco with operations in Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Portland, San Diego, and Washington DC, AxiCom North America consists of corporate and technology communications consultants made up of in-house global corporate communications experts, former writers and journalists, technology specialists, and business management professionals. For more than two decades, the agency has represented a select group of business and consumer technology and service companies, spanning cloud computing, cybersecurity, emerging technology, semiconductor, and telecom and mobile segments. The North America team added more than a dozen business-to-business and health technology clients in 2020."The intersection of AxiCom's impressive technology communications legacy and recent PR industry shifts creates an opportunity for the agency to reimagine its value proposition," said Kerns. "I look forward to working with Katie and the team, our WPP partners, and our existing, new and future clients to navigate this brand journey and to manifest a vision that combines great work, good people and collective success." Kerns has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is based in San Francisco and reports to Katie Huang Shin, President, AxiCom North America. About AxiCom Axicom translates technology, making deep technology human, and turning complex industry innovations into stories that inspire audiences around the world. Founded in London in 1996, the agency has delivered communications campaigns for the world’s most innovative technology companies working with clients in the Enterprise Computing, Telecoms, Consumer, FinTech, Media Technology, and Business Applications sectors. With 18 offices across the U.S., Europe, and over 200 employees, AxiCom designs, builds, and delivers ground-breaking and thought-provoking campaigns for our clients. As part of the global communications agency BCW Group and the wider WPP Group, AxiCom provides unparalleled reach and access to a vast range of additional marketing competencies.