Russian Tax Specialist, Blake Marshall, joins ITIC as a VP

The International Tax and Investment Center (ITIC) announced that Blake Marshall, a leading specialist on Russia and Eurasia, has joined its senior management team as Vice President. Marshall will direct policy and programs for ITIC’s initiatives in 85 countries, led by professionals in 12 offices around the globe. Marshall will also spearhead ITIC’s expansion into new markets such as Brazil.

Founded in 1993, ITIC is a Washington-based nonprofit research and educational organization promoting tax reform and public-private efforts to improve the investment climate in transition and developing economies. The organization works closely with ministries of finance and tax authorities in non-OECD countries, as well as international financial institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank. ITIC’s analytic agenda and capacity-building efforts are supported by more than 100 corporate sponsors.

In announcing the appointment, ITIC President Daniel A. Witt remarked, “I am thrilled to have someone of Blake’s caliber join ITIC – our organization continues to grow, and Blake brings to ITIC the breadth and depth of experience needed to help us achieve our next-level objectives. Our Board shares my enthusiasm, and we are excited about 2015 and beyond.”

Prior to joining ITIC, Mr. Marshall was Senior Vice President and Managing Director of PBN Hill+Knowlton Strategies, a strategic communications firm specializing in the markets of Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, where he advising Western companies on their investment strategies in Russia and the former Soviet Union, and assisted Russian/CIS firms in expanding their businesses into global enterprises. Mr. Marshall’s advisory work primarily focused on government relations, public affairs, crisis management, business strategy, and market entry.

Previously, Mr. Marshall served as Executive Vice President of the U.S.-Russia Business Council, a Washington-based trade association representing the interests of 300 American companies operating in the Russian market. In this capacity, he authored numerous Council policy statements on trade and investment concerns faced by member companies, managed the Council’s policy agenda and lobbying initiatives with both the U.S. and Russian governments, and directed the day-to-day operations of the organization.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Marshall served as Director of Graduate Admissions and Assistant Director of Graduate Studies at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, where he also taught international relations undergraduate policy seminars. His previous experience also includes positions as Senior Editor of the Journal of International Affairs and Research Associate at the Commission on U.S.-Soviet Relations.

The author of various articles and book chapters on political and economic developments in Russia, Mr. Marshall has testified before the U.S. Congress and in Executive Branch hearings related to Russia and U.S.-Russian relations. He regularly provides both background briefings and for-attribution statements to members of the press in both the U.S. and Russia, with broadcast appearances on networks such as CNN, C-SPAN and CNBC, and commentary appearing in print outlets such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Moscow Times, and The Washington Post.

Mr. Marshall received his undergraduate degree in political science from Swarthmore College, and he did his graduate work in Soviet politics and international affairs at the University of Essex (England), as well as Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and Harriman Institute. His professional affiliations include the Council on Foreign Relations and The Atlantic Council of the United States.