Michael Holland

"Michael Holland is the Managing Director of Ocean Elders and has extensive experience in public affairs, international relations and strategic communications. Over the course of his career, the programs and campaigns that he has led have won nearly 100 awards.

"Previously, Michael was an Executive Vice President in Edelman’s Corporate and Public Affairs practice where he worked with a broad range of clients including Bloomberg Philanthropies, GE, The Parker Foundation, the Robin Hood Foundation and the UN Global Compact. Michael has also worked with more than 200 senior leaders to prepare them for speeches, public appearances and media interviews, including Prime Ministers, Nobel Laureates, CEOs, U.S. and foreign government officials as well as foundation and non-profit leaders.

"Prior to returning to Edelman in 2009, Michael was Director, Honeywell Hometown Solutions, where he led Honeywell’s corporate social responsibility initiatives across the company’s four business units and 115,000 employees in more than 100 countries. He also led humanitarian relief efforts to provide support to communities devastated by natural disaster, including: the Asian tsunami; U.S. Gulf Coast hurricanes; Pakistan earthquake; Oman cyclone; and Juarez flooding. For his work, he was named the 2006 Communications Executive of the Year by the American Business Awards and the 2005 Community Relations Executive of the Year by PRNews.

"Michael began his career with the American Chamber of Commerce (UK) where he managed the Chamber’s efforts to support the Irish Peace Process following the IRA’s ceasefire through coordinated economic development efforts with the U.S. and U.K. governments.

"Michael is a dual citizen of the United States and the Republic of Ireland. He holds an M.A. from King’s College of the University of London and a B.A. from Boston College. Michael is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, and an Emeritus Board Member of Mission Blue: the Sylvia Earle Alliance."