Leading international communications consultancy, Hill & Knowlton, has created a global multi-specialist Corporate Response group to counsel CEO's and Communications Directors through the current market turmoil.

The new group will provide a ‘one-stop-shop' to advise on the full breadth of issues companies face – from restructuring and asset-disposal, through managing change and employee motivation, to building reputation and creating market opportunity.

The group will draw from seasoned specialists in H&K's financial, analyst relations, change and internal, government affairs, and crisis communications groups. Supported by sector specialists and WPP partner companies, the group will have regional hubs in London, New York and Hong Kong and will report directly to H&K Chairman and CEO Paul Taaffe.

Taaffe said: "Economic uncertainty is not a new phenomenon and strategic communication has proven to be an essential tool in helping companies find safe harbour or even benefit from market turbulence. Consequently companies are calling for a single source of ‘joined-up' communications advice to support across a breadth of issues. Our new group will offer multi-specialist ‘SWAT' teams, providing analysis counsel, content and, as required, implementation via our network.”

By harnessing communications to help navigate a path through current market turbulence, H&K says the new global Corporate Response group will provide a much needed global perspective for CEO's and their increasingly embattled management teams, working alongside existing advisors.

Taaffe continued: "These are pressured times and it can be difficult to see beyond the immediate environment, the day–to-day and the 'HQ view' to get a complete picture of how management decisions will affect reputation around the world. Investment in communications needs to work smarter and a single source of experienced and trusted advice can provide efficiencies as well as solutions. We expect to work with in-house senior professionals and other agencies to provide new ideas and a global perspective."

Notes to Editors

About the Corporate Response team
H&K employs around 2,000 consultants around the world. The global Corporate Response team will draw on these consultants to create bespoke, multi-specialist teams to serve existing and new clients. As required, H&K will partner with WPP partners including Penn, Schoen & Berland on stakeholder research and Commetric on media & influencer analysis.