Peter Debreceny

Debreceny_PeterSCHRANZ LECTURER 2008

Peter Debreceny is an independent public relations consultant, based in Chicago, IL. He recently retired as Vice President of the Corporate Relations Department of Allstate Insurance Company responsible for internal and external communications for the Allstate Corporation and its subsidiaries. Peter has had more than 30 years’ experience in all aspects of public relations and integrated communications, and has practiced in New Zealand, Australia and the United States. Prior to being appointed to his position at Allstate in September 1998, he held the position of Senior Vice President, Corporate and Financial Relations at Edelman Worldwide, Chicago.

Peter began his career as a current affairs journalist in radio and television, and since entering public relations has concentrated on providing strategic communications advice, primarily in the corporate and financial areas. He has been extensively involved in external reputation management, investor and financial communications, and crisis and issues management. He has broad integrated marketing communications experience, in particular through a variety of sponsorship activities in sports and the arts.

Peter has a degree in political science and public administration, and is a two-time Silver Anvil award winner of the Public Relations Society of America. He is Chair of the Institute for Public Relations, and a Vice President of the Arthur W. Page Society. Peter is past chair of the Communications Committee of the Insurance Information Institute, co-chair of the Communications Committee of the Executives’ Club of Chicago and a member of the Economic Club of Chicago. He is active in community affairs, serving on the Boards of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, the Metropolitan Planning Council of Chicago, the Chicago Opera Theater, and the Leadership Gifts Committee of the Chicago Children’s Museum. Peter and his wife, Jane, reside in Wicker Park, Chicago.