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Jack Martin Taps HKS Veterans for Global Leadership Posts in Energy and Crisis

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Jack Martin Taps HKS Veterans for Global Leadership Posts in Energy and Crisis

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Company veterans will fill senior positions in the energy and crisis practices at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, the global communications firm announced today. Global Chairman and CEO Jack Martin has promoted Chris Gidez to be the new global head of the firm’s energy practice and Bill Coletti to be the new global co-lead of the firm’s crisis practice.

“We need elite talent in these positions, and I found it within the Hill+Knowlton Strategies family,” Martin said. “Each of these promotions demonstrate how we find, develop, support and push our own talent toward the best possible work for our clients — and how their successes are rewarded here. I have full confidence that each of these leaders will inject even more energy into the terrific momentum we are building in 2013.”

Both will be based in the U.S. and are effective immediately.

  • Chris Gidez will be the new global head of the firm’s energy practice. In consultation with Gidez, regional presidents and key energy team members, the firm will appoint a co-lead outside of the U.S. for this important role. Gidez has been global head of the firm’s crisis practice. He has extensive experience counseling senior executives on and managing litigation communications, media relations, international energy and environmental issues, and controversial political matters. He is a frequently called-upon source for tier-1 media including CBS, CNN, BBC, PBS, MSNBC, NPR and national newspapers and business publications for commentary on issues of the day. He joined H+K in 2004, after 14 years with Texaco and Chevron, where he headed corporate public relations.
  • Bill Coletti will be the new co-lead of the firm’s crisis practice, joining existing co-lead Tim Luckett. He currently serves as executive vice president and general manager of Los Angeles/Irvine. Coletti brings broad experience in national and international politics as well as the management of public policy issues on behalf of clients in the U.S. and globally. He was a senior strategist in Public Strategies’ Austin office, having joined the firm there in 2001. Coletti is a seasoned strategist and counselor that H+K has called on for a number of its crisis and reputation management projects over the years, working with AT&T, Target and many others. Growing the firm’s crisis practice and focus on reputation management is a critical goal for H+K

    Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada again named one of Canada's Best Workplaces

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada again named one of Canada‘s Best Workplaces


Seven-time winner also named a best workplace for women for third year in a row

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– It’s official: the Great Place to Work® Institute Canada has named Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada (H+K)one of the Best Workplaces in Canada – for the seventh consecutive year. Listed alongside only 100 other companies – all announced in the Globe and Mail‘s special national report today – the firm was also honoured with a Best Workplaces for Women Award for the third year running.

For the second year running, H+K is also one of only six organizations to win in the “Credibility” category, where an organization’s track record of integrity and consistent communication with staff are key criteria. It celebrates companies that ask for, respect and respond to employee feedback.

“We know, without question, that our people are the finest public relations and public affairs practitioners in the country. Creating an environment that makes people feel engaged, appreciated and motivated to perform has always been our top priority,” says Mike Coates, chairman and CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies. “This award is special because means that the culture we’ve created at H+K is one to which our people feel connected.”

Hill+Knowlton Strategies is well-known for its family-friendly, flexible commitment to work-life balance. In addition to employees’ eligibility to “buy” or “sell” up to one week of vacation per year, H+K also has a “gift of time” program that offers an extra half day off before nationwide long weekends; this results in an additional 3.5 days off each calendar year. Some offices even offer onsite massage therapy.

There are “H+Kers” who telecommute, allowing them to work from home, while others work part-time. It’s not unusual for employees to participate in school carpools or leave early to take elderly parents to doctor’s appointments since the company trusts that work will get done – even if it’s after 5 p.m.

The company also has a long history of subsidizing health-club memberships and, after listening to employees’ feedback about the program, updated the fitness-subsidy initiative: “Employees now have far more choice; they can use their annual subsidy to offset the cost of personal home-fitness equipment, cover the costs of team sports or even yoga and dance classes, or use it to join a …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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Companies Build Public Trust Through Sustainability Reporting, New Research Shows

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Companies Build Public Trust Through Sustainability Reporting, New Research Shows

National polling from Hill+Knowlton Strategies reveals more than 4 in 5 Americans believe corporate efforts to be sustainable increase public trust, even when results fall short of goals

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Corporations have learned in recent years that their success depends heavily on public confidence. That confidence is driven not just by business performance, but also by an evolving set of factors that impact the public’s view of a business as a trustworthy entity.

A recent survey1 conducted by Hill+Knowlton Strategies revealed that one of the more significant drivers of public confidence in a company is its commitment to sustainability, and its efforts to communicate about and deliver on that commitment. The global communications advisory firm defines the goal of corporate sustainability to be managing the environmental, economic and social effects of a corporation’s operations so it is profitable over the long-term while acting in a responsible manner to society.

“The takeaway is that corporations that report citizenship activities can gain a higher level of public trust and greater license to operate. Conversely, companies that report very little face a growing risk that incomplete disclosure is seen as an effort to deliberatively hide poor corporate governance and subpar operations,” said Robert Ludke, H+K Strategies senior vice president and head of the firm’s Governance+Sustainability practice.

The survey results showed a clear link between corporate communications around sustainability efforts and corporate performance and reputation. Among the key findings:

  • 91 percent of respondents said they believe that it was important for corporations to behave sustainably in 2013 and beyond, and that such behavior was critical to companies’ long-term success;
  • 81 percent believe companies should report on their sustainability efforts on an ongoing basis rather than through a static report;
  • 82 percent believe that a company can regain public trust through an honest and transparent reporting of its efforts to be more sustainable, even if that reporting highlights where it falls short of its goals; and
  • 84 percent believe greater visibility into corporate sustainability efforts will increase trust in a company.

“The expectation of sustainability springs from greater awareness and understanding of issues like climate change, water scarcity and income disparity — …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Hill+Knowlton Toronto Bolsters Senior Team

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Hill+Knowlton Toronto Bolsters Senior Team

Jen Koster leads marketing communications group and Cathy Worden appointed VP of public affairs

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada (H+K), the country’s top-rated public relations and government relations firm, announces two senior appointments in its Toronto office. Cathy Worden joins the firm as vice-president of the public affairs unit, and vice-president Jen Koster is promoted to leader of the office’s marketing communications group.

“We are lucky to have people of Jen’s and Cathy’s calibre guiding teams and clients, bringing each the benefit of their expertise and industry insights,” says Ilyse Smith, general manager at H+K Toronto. “As senior members of the Toronto office, their perspectives, commitment to quality and insightful counsel help shape the focus and set priorities across the office.”

Cathy Worden has several years of senior experience in government and politics at both the federal and provincial levels – including serving as chief of staff to both Minister Brad Duguid at the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development & Innovation and Minister Dwight Duncan at the Ontario Ministry of Energy; senior advisor of economic and infrastructure policy for Premier Dalton McGuinty; and roles with both Industry Canada and Natural Resources Canada. Her strategic mindset will help connect clients to people and important developments at Queen’s Park. Cathy brings perspective on a range of business and political issues across infrastructure, transit and transportation, energy and innovation.

Already leading a variety of client files, Jen is expanding her mandate to oversee the business development and staff management of the team. Her experience leading complex national marketing communications files in food and beverage, consumer packaged goods and consumer electronics files will be put to good use as she counsels the team. Jen works closely with Hilda Kinross, national marketing communications practice leader.

About Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada

With nine offices across the country, Hill+Knowlton Strategies is a leader in both public relations and public affairs. The company is the No. 1-rated strategic communications firm in Canada. It specializes in corporate communications, public affairs, marketing communications, crisis, energy, technology, health care, digital communications, financial communications and transactions. The only communications firm to have earned the Order of Excellence from Excellence Canada, it is also recognized as one of the 2012 Best Workplaces in Canada. Its parent company, Hill+Knowlton Strategies Inc., has 89 offices in 52 countries …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance