Robin Sears
Encyclopedia
Robin Sears is a veteran communications, marketing and public affairs advisor with experience on three continents for public and private sector clients. Sears joined Navigator as a partner in strategic communications in 2004. Since then he has led Navigator client teams in healthcare, financial services, and in the film and television industry, amongst others.
Sears has worked on public policy issues and public affairs issue management since the late 1970s. As national director of the New Democratic Party
(1974–81), Sears focused on improving the party’s policy making, and policy promotion infrastructure, creating its first popular issues publication, its first external review of economic and then security policy, and its first national policy outreach campaigns.
He launched the party’s first nation-wide qualitative research programmes and its first national direct marketing projects. He served as national campaign director, and executive producer of the radio and TV campaigns for the three most successful national election campaigns in the party’s history.
From 1981-85, he was Deputy Secretary General of the Socialist International
, the world’s largest organization of political parties, under former German Chancellor
Willy Brandt
. In that role he was responsible for communications, administration, as well as Asia
, Africa
, and the Caribbean
. Sears worked with world leaders in the Middle East
, Central America
, and Southern Africa
. He also edited the policy journal of the organization, Socialist Affairs.
From 1985-90, Sears served as Chief of Staff to Ontario New Democratic Party
leader Bob Rae
. During the 1985-87 “Accord” government period, he managed the complex relationship between the David Peterson
cabinet and the NDP, stewarding the legislative and political agenda of the two parties. He was appointed Ontario’s senior diplomatic representative to the Asia Pacific in 1990.
As Agent-General, he was based in Tokyo
and managed a network of seven trade and investment offices from Korea
to India
, promoting trade, investment, cultural and tourism exchange. He worked on behalf of leading Canadian corporations in every major market in the region, focusing on telecommunications and finance. Clients included Nortel
, TVOntario
, Ontario Hydro
, Manulife, and Teleglobe Canada.
In 1994, Sears joined Korn/Ferry
, the world’s leading executive search firm. Named partner in less than two years, he managed several regional and global practices for the firm over a decade, first in Tokyo then in Hong Kong
and Toronto
. He launched and was the first Asia president of the firm’s internet subsidiary, Futurestep, for two of those years.
Following the resignation of Luc Lavoie, Sears has acted as spokesman for Brian Mulroney
.
Sears began his career as News Editor under Moses Znaimer
at the launch of CITY-TV
in Toronto
in 1972. He attended Trent University
, but left to pursue his political career before graduation. He is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business AMP program. He is married to Dr. Robin Harris and father to one son, Matthew. His father Val Sears
was an editor of the Toronto Star
. Colin Cameron M.P., his maternal grandfather, was a founder of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
party.
Sears has worked on public policy issues and public affairs issue management since the late 1970s. As national director of the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
(1974–81), Sears focused on improving the party’s policy making, and policy promotion infrastructure, creating its first popular issues publication, its first external review of economic and then security policy, and its first national policy outreach campaigns.
He launched the party’s first nation-wide qualitative research programmes and its first national direct marketing projects. He served as national campaign director, and executive producer of the radio and TV campaigns for the three most successful national election campaigns in the party’s history.
From 1981-85, he was Deputy Secretary General of the Socialist International
Socialist International
The Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
, the world’s largest organization of political parties, under former German Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm , was a German politician, Mayor of West Berlin 1957–1966, Chancellor of West Germany 1969–1974, and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1964–1987....
. In that role he was responsible for communications, administration, as well as Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. Sears worked with world leaders in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, and Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
. He also edited the policy journal of the organization, Socialist Affairs.
From 1985-90, Sears served as Chief of Staff to Ontario New Democratic Party
Ontario New Democratic Party
The Ontario New Democratic Party or , formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party. It was formed in October 1961, a few months after the federal party. The ONDP had its...
leader Bob Rae
Bob Rae
Robert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
. During the 1985-87 “Accord” government period, he managed the complex relationship between the David Peterson
David Peterson
David Robert Peterson, PC, O.Ont was the 20th Premier of the Province of Ontario, Canada, from June 26, 1985 to October 1, 1990. He was the first Liberal premier of Ontario in 42 years....
cabinet and the NDP, stewarding the legislative and political agenda of the two parties. He was appointed Ontario’s senior diplomatic representative to the Asia Pacific in 1990.
As Agent-General, he was based in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and managed a network of seven trade and investment offices from Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, promoting trade, investment, cultural and tourism exchange. He worked on behalf of leading Canadian corporations in every major market in the region, focusing on telecommunications and finance. Clients included Nortel
Nortel
Nortel Networks Corporation, formerly known as Northern Telecom Limited and sometimes known simply as Nortel, was a multinational telecommunications equipment manufacturer headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada...
, TVOntario
TVOntario
TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO , is a publicly funded, educational English-language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario...
, Ontario Hydro
Ontario Hydro
Ontario Hydro was the official name from 1974 of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario which was established in 1906 by the provincial Power Commission Act to build transmission lines to supply municipal utilities with electricity generated by private companies already operating at Niagara...
, Manulife, and Teleglobe Canada.
In 1994, Sears joined Korn/Ferry
Korn/Ferry
Korn/Ferry International, headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world's largest executive search firm, and the largest publicly-traded search firm in the United States, with 76 offices in North America, Europe, Asia/Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and South Africa. Since the firm's...
, the world’s leading executive search firm. Named partner in less than two years, he managed several regional and global practices for the firm over a decade, first in Tokyo then in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He launched and was the first Asia president of the firm’s internet subsidiary, Futurestep, for two of those years.
Following the resignation of Luc Lavoie, Sears has acted as spokesman for Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
.
Sears began his career as News Editor under Moses Znaimer
Moses Znaimer
Moses Znaimer, M.A., O.Ont is a co-founder and former head of Citytv, the first independent television station in Toronto, Canada, and the current head of ZoomerMedia.-Early life and career:...
at the launch of CITY-TV
CITY-TV
CITY-DT, Channel 57 , is a television station based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada owned and operated by Rogers Media...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1972. He attended Trent University
Trent University
Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.The enabling legislation is the Trent University Act, 1962-63. The University was founded through the efforts of a citizens' committee interested in creating a...
, but left to pursue his political career before graduation. He is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business AMP program. He is married to Dr. Robin Harris and father to one son, Matthew. His father Val Sears
Val Sears
Val Sears is an eminent Canadian journalist. Widely recognized of one of the most important political journalists of his day, he has long experience as reporter, editor, Ottawa Bureau Chief and foreign correspondent in London, England and Washington, D.C. for the Toronto Star...
was an editor of the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
. Colin Cameron M.P., his maternal grandfather, was a founder of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
party.