Margery Kraus

A globally recognized master storyteller and communications innovator, Margery Kraus is the founder and executive chairman of APCO, an international advisory and advocacy consultancy headquartered in Washington, DC. Kraus has expertise in providing strategic counsel on issue-based communication, crisis management, market entry, and corporate reputation.

Margery founded APCO in 1984 and transformed it from a company with one small Washington office to a multinational consulting firm. She has led the company through numerous transitions, including overseeing a management buyout in 2004, making it one of the world’s largest privately-owned consulting firms and the largest majority women-owned.

Before APCO, Kraus assisted in the creation of the Close Up Foundation, a civic educational organization. Today, she sits on its board of directors.

Throughout her illustrious career, Kraus has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards. Recent honors include PRWeek’s US Power List (2020-2024), the Multicultural Media & Correspondents Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2024), Women Elevating Women’s Communicate Pillar Award (2023), the 2021 IWEC Foundation Award, and the Enterprising Women of the Year Award (2019).

Kraus is a trustee of American University, the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation, and the Institute for Public Relations and serves as interim chair of the WAMU Board of Advisors. Additional board engagements include the Women Presidents’ Organization, Tikehau Capital, Univision Communications Corporate, Enterprising Women magazine, and Fortune Global Forum.

Kraus and her husband, Steve, have three children and nine grandchildren. She is the author of Roots and Wings: Ten Lessons of Motherhood That Helped Me Create and Run a Company.