Global public relations and communications firm Burson-Marstellar is opening a new division, Burson Campaigns, that will be based in Memphis.

It’s a new corporate issues management unit of the firm that will help corporations manage issues around corporate reputation, business operations and development. And the firm has tapped former FedEx PR exec Maury Lane to run it.

Lane most recently was director of issues, crisis and public affairs at FedEx. Before that, he was a corporate communications strategist for the Memphis-based package shipping company.

Before coming to FedEx, Lane was president and principal at Hill Country Communications, a full-service agency serving telecommunications, public affairs, manufacturing, high-tech and media companies. During Lane’s extensive PR career, he also worked as the key strategist and lobbyist for Westinghouse Corp. in its acquisition of CBS and Infinity Broadcasting.

Lane began his career in Washington, where he worked as a legislative assistant for former U.S. Rep. Beverly Byron and former U.S. Sen. Donald Riegle. He also served as communications director for U.S. Sen. Ernest Hollings and as executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Caucus for the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee.

Burson-Marsteller was established in 1953. Its worldwide network consists of 69 offices and 80 affiliate offices that together operate in 107 countries across six continents. The company’s CEO is Mark Penn, who was widely known during the 2008 presidential campaign as a longtime confidante of Hillary Clinton.