Andrew Roberts portrait

Andrew Roberts Departs Burberry for Communications Role at Linklaters

Roberts to oversee global corporate affairs at the international law firm

Andrew Roberts has joined the international law firm Linklaters as chief communications and corporate affairs officer after nearly a decade at Burberry. The position is a new addition at Linklaters, and Roberts began in the role earlier this month.

Based in the firm’s London office, Roberts is tasked with managing Linklaters’ global communications and corporate affairs operations. He will report directly to Aedamar Comiskey, senior partner and chair, and Paul Lewis, firm-wide managing partner.

Comiskey said Roberts’ “expertise in strategic communications and corporate affairs will be invaluable in driving the delivery of our strategy and strengthening our profile as one of the world’s leading global law firms.”

Roberts left Burberry last month, concluding his time as senior vice president of corporate relations and engagement. He first joined the British fashion brand in 2016.

During his tenure, Roberts worked on internal communications and corporate policy. He supported the leadership team in handling external interactions, including press relations, public messaging, and market communications. Over nine years, he served under four chief executive officers: Christopher Bailey, Marco Gobbetti, Jonathan Akeroyd, and most recently Josh Schulman, who took over in 2023.

His time at Burberry included periods of organizational restructuring and strategic change, along with external disruptions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company redirected manufacturing to produce personal protective equipment for the National Health Service. The brand also faced the impacts of Brexit and the loss of tax-free shopping in the U.K., both of which affected luxury retailers.

Roberts was also involved in overseeing Burberry’s protocol obligations following Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022. As a Royal Warrant holder, the company adhered to specific guidelines and delayed its spring 2023 runway show during the national mourning period.

Before joining Burberry, Roberts was a journalist covering the luxury sector. At Bloomberg’s Paris bureau, he led international reporting on the fashion and beauty industries, particularly in France. Prior to that, he worked in Milan with WWD, and reported for the Associated Press in both Milan and Rome.

Roberts is a graduate of the University of Oxford and began his professional career at WPP in London.