DECEMBER 6, 2021, BRUSSELS—Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K), one of the world’s leading communications firms, is bolstering its global public affairs capabilities with the appointment of Guillaume Klossa as Senior Vice President, European Affairs.
With a successful track record as a political adviser and corporate strategist, Klossa, a French national based in Brussels, will support H+K’s clients across Europe and elsewhere in anticipating strategic needs driven by regulatory and business agendas. He will focus on supporting clients business opportunities arising from ongoing digital transformation, the new EU Cybersecurity Strategy, the European Green Deal and NextGenerationEU – the EU’s post-Covid recovery plan. Klossa will report to H+K’s Continental Europe and Brussels CEO, Melanie Faithfull Kent.
“Guillaume is a highly respected political adviser and European business and thought leader,” said Faithfull Kent. He brings to Hill+Knowlton Strategies an understanding of client needs in many sectors to reinforce our 360° approach to strategy, public affairs, communications, and societal responsibility. With Guillaume on board, our teams will be even better equipped to meet the challenges our clients entrust us with.”
KIossa previously served as a special adviser to Andrus Ansip, former vice president of the European Commission in charge of the Digital Single Market, with a focus on AI, blockchain, and media. He was a member of the European Council’s Reflection Group on the Future of Europe, chaired by former Spanish prime minister Felipe Gonzalez. And as a senior political adviser to Jean-Pierre Jouyet, the minister in charge of the last French EU presidency, Klossa defined and implemented digital, cultural, communication and inter-institutional strategies.
“Guillaume brings a rare national, regional and global outlook that truly fits our clients’ needs, at a time when governments are playing a larger role in business outcomes than ever before. Today our clients require integrated communications and public affairs approaches to address new and complex challenges locally, regionally and globally,” said Philippe Maze-Sencier, H+K’s Global Chair of Public Affairs. “Public Affairs is a key strategic focus at Hill+Knowlton, and Guillaume brings invaluable experience and understanding of the opportunities driving the current European political, regulatory, and business agenda. He will further strengthen our global network of public affairs experts, which empowers clients to advance reputation, manage risk, and achieve their commercial objectives in today’s extraordinarily demanding environment.”
Most recently, Klossa was director of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the influential worldwide media alliance, where he was responsible for strategy, public affairs, communications, global events and transformative programs. Under his leadership, the EBU launched MediaRoad, a European public-private project to boost digital innovation in the sector; the AI and Data Initiative, the Public Service Media (PSM) Contribution to Society project; and Keep Media Good, the first-ever transnational, multimedia PSM marketing campaign. Prior to that, he was executive vice president for McDonald’s France, overseeing public and governmental affairs, communications and sustainable development.
Klossa founded the think tank, EuropaNova, and the Young European Leaders program. He co-chairs CIVICO Europa, an independent non-profit association that works to give new impulse to European democracy. Under his leadership, CIVICO Europa, with the support of the EU institution, We Europeans, organized the largest ever European AI-powered transnational consultation, which reached 38 million citizens in 24 languages across 27 countries.
“I am excited to help Hill+Knowlton further its already impressive integrated public affairs and communications offering,” said Klossa. “I am particularly pleased to be able to contribute my professional experience and deep commitment to European affairs and greatly look forward to working with teams to provide the highest quality counsel on real solutions to the many complex issues raised by Europe’s digital and green transformations.”
For Media Enquiries
Sarah Brandon, Global Marketing and Communications Lead
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About Hill+Knowlton Strategies
Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Inc. is an international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational, and global clients. H+K operates 77 offices in 43 countries worldwide, as well as an extensive associate network, delivering award-winning campaigns to clients across all sectors and disciplines and with a focus on continued innovation for the industry. Headquartered in New York, the firm is part of WPP, one of the world’s largest communications services groups.
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