Brian
Ellner

Brian Ellner is a business leader who guides prominent corporations, nonprofits and brands through the interconnected worlds of politics, government, media and communications. He is the managing director of APCO’s New York office, combining a lifetime of knowledge of the city, its corporations and its political leaders with deep expertise in business, the issues of today and the challenges of tomorrow.

Prior to joining APCO, Brian was President of One Strategy Group. He was previously head of Public Affairs in the U.S. for WPP where he focused on building the company’s reputation in the United States with an emphasis on civic engagement in New York. He also led corporate communications for BCW, now Burson, WPP’s global corporate communications and public affairs advisory firm. Brian previously led Public Affairs & Issues Advocacy at Edelman, advising clients in the finance, government, education, nonprofit, philanthropic, professional sports and transportation spaces.

Brian also helped shape the strategy for the Respect for Marriage Act, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and the Equality Act, recruiting top American corporations to support their passage. Previously Brian led strategy for Human Rights Campaign’s successful effort to enact marriage equality in New York and he created the Americans for Marriage Equality campaign while providing strategic counsel on the successful ballot marriage wins in Maryland, Minnesota, Maine and Washington State. Brian was a senior aide in the administration of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, working with the Department of Education to transform public education. He started his career as an attorney and practiced with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and O’Melveny & Myers.

Brian was recognized as a Top Communicator in New York in 2025 by City and State, and a 2023 Notable Leader in Advertising, Marketing & PR by Crain’s New York Business. Brian has been named by City & State New York as one of the top 15 key players in the world of New York politics and government, one of the 50 most powerful New Yorkers in communications, and he was awarded ADCOLOR’S Advocate of the Year. Brian serves on the Board of Directors of Feeld, a dating app focused on Gen Z and he serves on the Board of Athlete Ally. Brian is also a Founding Board Member of the 5BORO Institute, a policy think tank dedicated to New York City’s revival and he serves on the Board of Advisors for Applecart.

A graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, Brian is a native New Yorker who grew up in Stuyvesant Town and attended New York City’s public schools.