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

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