Global Corporate and Geopolitical Advisory Council

Simone Ceruti, Vice President and Head of Public Affairs EU, has 30 years of public affairs, communication, advocacy and ESG experience in the packaging, technology, consumer rights, health and consumer goods sectors. He has extensive insight and expertise, acquired in diverse executive roles, in developing and implementing multi-faceted internal and external consumer advocacy campaigns and strategies, building multi-stakeholder alliances, and representing strategic business interests in various international trade associations.  

 In 2018, Mr. Ceruti launched Digital Together, a think tank representing the voice of digitally-active EU citizens. He has held senior corporate roles at Zambon Group, Danone, BOLDT and APCO in Milan and Brussels, focused on external stakeholder relationships and advocacy across multiple sectors. Prior to joining SEC Newgate, Mr. Ceruti worked as Group VP Corporate Communications and External Affairs at Seda International Packaging Group, active across the EU and North America. 

Mr. Ceruti studied Marketing & Corporate Communication at the Accademia di Comunicazione in Milan, and European Studies (CHEE) at the École Nationale d’Administration in Strasbourg. 

Sam draws on 20 years of diverse experience in senior corporate, government and diplomatic roles to help clients manage challenges and realise growth. He has advised c-suite executives, boards, cabinet ministers and senior policy makers on complex stakeholder issues, policy advocacy, reputation and crisis management.

Drawing on roles within AGL’s Executive Leadership Team, and as a senior policy maker within the federal government’s Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio, Sam brings unique insight to clients navigating the challenges of the energy transition, as well as Australia’s economic security across diverse sectors from energy to agribusiness, critical infrastructure to defence technology. He develops engagement strategies to positively position corporates and industry bodies with government and the wider community, evolving Social Licence and ESG capabilities that build trust and reputation.

As a former diplomat, including Deputy Consul General and Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner in Australia’s Consulate in Hong Kong, Sam has extensive experience advising on cross border transactions and helping clients manage geo-strategic risk and resilience as they develop new export markets and diversify supply chains. He has advised on high profile transactions helping clients engage successfully with the Foreign Investment Review Board process and related national interest concerns. He has developed whole of industry market development strategies for the Australian wool, beef, pork and seafood industries and led major policy development for the Australian government’s economic engagement in key regions including Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea, India, Europe, China and North America.

James has 20 years’ experience in advising leading Asian and international organisations and individuals on complex reputation briefs, brand building, cross border M&A, crisis management and investor relations. Prior to Newgate, James was the General Manager of Sandpiper Communications (formerly MHP Communications) in Hong Kong. He has almost a decade of experience in Asia, having formerly been a Partner at Finsbury, where he helped launch the firm’s first Asia office in Hong Kong in 2011.

James has advised private and listed companies across the financial services, professional services, energy and TMT industries. Key highlights in Asia include advising China Gas on its successful US$2.2 billion hostile bid defence from Sinopec; Foxconn Technology on shareholder unrest and ESG; the Qatar Investment Authority on its US$10 billion JV fund with Citic and US$600 million stake acquisition in Lifestyle International Holdings; BlackRock on its maiden activist project in Hong Kong; AGIC Capital on profile raising to support fundraising and European deal flow; Sun Hung Kai Properties on the Hong Kong High Court Trial of its Joint Chairmen; Moody’s Investors Services on its appeal following censure from the SFC in Hong Kong; and the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board on its expansion in Asia.

Alistair has over 25 years’ experience in corporate positioning and financial communications, advising a wide range of organisations both in the UK and internationally.

Clients have ranged from start-ups, HNWIs, boutiques and family businesses to PE houses, large multinationals, banks and global asset managers, to business advisory firms, industry trade bodies and government departments. Alistair has supported the launch of several businesses, helping to shape and articulate social purpose; he has advised on fundraising strategies, has advised on high profile domestic and cross-border transactions; provided crisis and issues management; advised on rebranding strategies and has led a number of award-winning media and policy campaigns.

As well has leading the Communications Practice of SEC Newgate UK, Alistair runs the Pensions Advisory practice, which provides strategic consultancy to the Trustee Boards of FTSE100 pension schemes. He started his career in public affairs before moving into corporate and financial communications.  He has been listed in Spears500 as one of the UK’s leading reputation managers for the last four years.

Thyago has over 20 years of experience in advocacy campaigns, crisis and stakeholder management, market intelligence and government relations in various sectors, with emphasis on healthcare, infrastructure, aviation, mining and energy. He has led local and regional operations for multinational consultancies, leading projects and operations in Argentina, Peru, Chile and Mexico, among others. In the public sector, he has worked at the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro and in the department of special projects area of ​Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV), where he participated in stakeholder management and sustainable development projects for the Brazilian Federal Government and the governments of several states in the country. Previously, he worked as a correspondent for TV Globo’s G1 portal in the Middle East, based in Egypt, and as a special political reporter for the UOL portal.

Mario Mauro is a former Italian defence minister from Enrico Letta’s grand coalition government (April 2013-Feb 2014), a former Christian Democrat MEP (1999-2013) and former Vice-President of the European Parliament (2004-09) that offer expertise in geopolitics and defense policy.

Jim Papa runs GSG’s Washington, D.C. office, guiding operations and strategy for its public affairs, communications, and research practices. He advises CEOs and other C-suite executives as they grapple with public affairs challenges and opportunities across multiple industries, including health care, financial services, defense, technology, education, and the environment. Some of his current and former clients include General Motors, Global Foundries, H&R Block, LEGO, Micron, Pershing Square Capital Management, PhRMA, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Earthjustice, League of Conservation Voters, FWD.us, and People for the American Way.

Prior to joining GSG, from 2009-2012, Jim was Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs in the Obama White House. There, he handled a range of issues that included energy, health care, technology, transportation, the environment, and economic development. He played a role in the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Affordable Care Act, Dodd-Frank financial regulatory reform, middle class tax cuts, the repeal of Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell, several Free Trade Agreements, and the reauthorization of the FAA. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said about Jim, “Papa is someone you want in the trenches with you.”

Prior to serving in the White House, Jim earned a reputation as a top flight communications and political strategist on Capitol Hill. He served as a senior advisor to Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel, Chief of Staff to Rep. Rush Holt, one of the only three scientists serving in Congress at that time, staff director and press secretary to Rep. Rosa DeLauro, and deputy staff director of Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle’s communications and technology leadership committee. As senior advisor to Emanuel, Jim managed the 2006 class of Democratic House freshmen, providing locally-tailored guidance on message development, crisis communications, stakeholder outreach, legislation, and media. 90% of those Members were re-elected in 2009, bucking the historical trend of losses following sweeping electoral gains.

Jim is an experienced spokesman and media trainer who has prepared clients for broadcast appearances ranging from Meet the Press to 60 Minutes. He has guest lectured at Georgetown University, George Washington University, and American University.

Jim has a J.D. from Georgetown Law and an undergraduate degree from Cornell University. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife, Katie, and their two children.

Allie joined SEC Newgate after a number of years in government on appointment, working most recently as a direct policy adviser to the Business and Trade Secretary of State.

She previously led the Institute of Directors’ EU and trade policy, working closely with a wide range of cross-sector businesses and politicians across all parties during Brexit, and on wider international trade and investment issues. She has sat in several expert groups in Whitehall and in Brussels, including the Brexit Business Taskforce, Northern Ireland Technical Advisory Group and European Economic Social Committee, as well as regularly contributing to parliamentary committee evidence sessions with MPs and peers.

Allie has appeared extensively on media platforms across a diverse expanse of policy areas, and has 15 years of experience of working with stakeholders across Westminster and Whitehall, from the media and parliamentarians to officials and think tank leaders.

Candise has experience advising Hong Kong, Mainland Chinese, Japanese and multinational companies on a wide range of critical business issues, ranging from reputation management, crises, M&A transactions, litigations, proxy battles and public affairs. Prior to Newgate, she was with CBRE as Communications Manager, where she led both the internal and external communications for the real estate services and investment firm in Hong Kong and the broader Greater Bay Area.

Previously she worked for Brunswick where she supported an array of businesses in private equity, asset management, banking and TMT on their communications needs. During her time, she handled a series of high-stakes corporate reputation issues for leading family businesses and inbound transactions. She speaks native Chinese and fluent English and Japanese.