Former New York Times CEO joins Fleishman-Hillard’s board

Janet Robinson the former CEO of the New York Times who surprised the industry when she stepped down in December has taken her first board job and is to join the Omnicom-owned Fleishman-Hillard’s International Advisory board.

Robinson, who oversaw the introduction of the New York Times paywall before she left said: “the communications landscape is changing almost daily. That translates into potential challenges and opportunities for companies and organizations trying to increase their visibility and burnish their brand and reputation”.

Here’s the full release from Fleishman-Hillard:

Janet Robinson Joins Fleishman-Hillard’s International Advisory Board

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Janet Robinson, until December president and CEO of The New York Times Company, has joined the International Advisory Board (IAB) at Fleishman-Hillard International Communications, the firm announced today.

“As I’ve seen during my tenure at The New York Times Company, the communications landscape is changing almost daily,” Robinson said. “That translates into potential challenges and opportunities for companies and organizations trying to increase their visibility and burnish their brand and reputation. I’m very pleased to join some of the best communications professionals in the world to help clients navigate that complex landscape. A key factor in my decision to join Fleishman-Hillard is the firm’s reputation for quality and high ethical standards.”

At The New York Times Company, Robinson was responsible for overseeing and coordinating all of the company’s operations and business units and for working closely with the chairman to chart the future direction of the company. She began her career at the company in 1983 and served as the CEO for the past seven years.

“Janet Robinson has devoted nearly 30 years to working with one of the most influential and sophisticated media organizations in the world,” said Dave Senay, Fleishman-Hillard president and CEO. “Janet has a deep, firsthand understanding of the forces that are affecting the business of the media, particularly how traditional publishing and broadcasting have been transformed by a convergence with emerging digital technologies. That makes her an extraordinary asset to our clients and to Fleishman-Hillard’s global network of counselors, who are continuously seeking new ways to navigate the profound changes in the way we must communicate in the 21st century.”

In addition to her long experience in publishing, Robinson served as the chairwoman of the Advertising Council, the chairwoman of the American Advertising Federation, and a member of the Advisory Board of New York Women in Communications. She has also served on the board of New England Sports Ventures, the Leadership Committee of Lincoln Center Consolidated Corporate Fund and Liberty Science Center. She is currently the chairwoman of the Presidential Board of Trustees of Salve Regina University and a Trustee of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Fleishman-Hillard’s IAB is made up of renowned experts from the private and public sectors. Unlike other industry boards, the IAB provides direct-to-client counsel on a wide range of disciplines, industries and audiences.

Robinson will join other distinguished members of the board, including Andy Card, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, Dr. David Kessler, Mickey Kantor, former Gov. Tom Ridge, Adm. Vern Clark, John Onoda, David Byrne, Keki Dadiseth, Shoichiro Irimajiri and Guenter Verheugen.

Robinson will work closely with Martha Boudreau, president of the Mid-Atlantic region, and Jack Modzelewski, president of the Americas, in her role of advising Fleishman-Hillard clients.