Meet the people
leading the
SEC Newgate Group

Fiorenzo Tagliabue is the founder of SEC back in 1989 and continues at the fore front of the development of the agency which has turned into one of the top 30 global PR consultancy. He is currently Chief Executive Officer of SEC Newgate SpA the operational holding of the group and also of the newly financial holding SEC Newgate Strategy Group established in 2022. He also holds other executive roles in several boards of the Group’s subsidiaries.

Fiorenzo Tagliabue played a pivotal role in the internationalization of SEC SpA that he steered across several crucial stage from 2013 onward, including the listing at the London Stock Exchange (AIM Segment) in July 26th 2016, the merging with PORTA plc (a PR Group focused on financial communication) that brought to the formation of SEC Newgate on 2 September 2019 and finally the engagement of Three Hills Capital Partners as financial partner of the Group and one of its minority shareholders.

Prior to founding SEC, Mr. Tagliabue worked as a journalist and was founder of the weekly publication “il Sabato” which he edited until 1987. He served as Managing director of NEI Spa, the company that edits the daily newspaper Avvenire (1983-1989) and as general secretary of the Vatican Television Centre (1986-1989).

He also holds numerous teaching posts in the area of communication, in particular in public communication. He was a member of the board of directors of the Fondazione Teatro alla Scala of Milan for 10 years, and has been a director in the board of the Fondazione Banco Alimentare onlus. Currently he sits in the Board of IUAV (Istituto Universitario Architettura Venezia) one of the most important architectural Department of the country, based in Venice and Action Contre la Faim (ACF).

Jon Silvan is Founding Partner and CEO of GSG. GSG is regularly ranked as a top public affairs firm and was recently recognized as Public Affairs Agency of the Year by PRovoke Media. Jon has guided GSG’s growth for more than two decades from a boutique agency into a leading public affairs, communications, and research firm with an award-winning team of over 150 professionals in six offices across the U.S.

As a strategist and advisor, Jon is known for his smart counsel, sharp insights, and drive to win. Jon provides guidance to GSG’s clients on a wide range of issues including public affairs, corporate positioning, reputation management, and political strategy.

Jon’s clients include Fortune 500 companies, national issue advocacy groups, and some of the country’s top government officials. Among his numerous achievements, Jon partnered with World Trade Center developer Silverstein Properties to gain necessary stakeholder support to break ground and rebuild at Ground Zero. He has advised many elected officials over the years including New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, and NYC City Comptroller Scott Stringer.

Jon helps his clients tackle pressing issues, often at the center of the national spotlight. Some of Jon’s clients also include, Apollo Global Management, the Black Economic Alliance, Facebook, Major League Soccer, MGM Resorts, CVS Health, Port Authority of NY/NJ, the MTA, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Rockefeller Foundation, Hispanic Federation, Pershing Square Capital Management, and T-Mobile.

Jon is regularly acknowledged for his talents and expertise in his field. He was named #2 on Observer’s 2021 PR Power 50 list. He was recognized by City & State NY as one of the 100 most powerful people in New York City politics and as one of 2021’s top Political PR Professionals.

Jon is a member of the Arthur Page Society, which represents C-level communicators. He served as Treasurer of the PR Council, a Steering Committee member of A Better New York (ABNY), he is a board member of the Citizens Budget Commission, a member of the Partnership for NYC, and Vice Chair of the Storahtelling Board of Directors for Lab/Shul, a nonprofit organization that advances Jewish literacy through the arts.

A proud lifelong New Yorker, Jon lives in Tribeca with his wife Marnie Berk, a public interest attorney and their three children.

Jefrey Pollock is the Founding Partner and President of GSG. Since its inception, Jefrey has helped build GSG into a premier strategic research and communications firm that the Holmes Report previously named Public Affairs Agency of the Year (Americas). Jefrey was twice awarded “Pollster of the Year” by his peers in the bi-partisan American Association of Political Consultants and has year over year been named one of the most powerful people in New York politics by City and State.

Jefrey’s political clients include Governors John Carney (DE), Janet Mills (ME), and JB Pritzker (IL); Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Joe Manchin (WV), Ed Markey (MA), and Jacky Rosen (NV); Attorneys General Letitia James (NY), and Josh Shapiro (PA); Lieutenant Governors Bethany Hall-Long (DE), Denny Heck (WA), and Kathy Hochul (NY); State Auditor Rob Sand (IA); State Comptroller Susana Mendoza (IL); and members of Congress David Cicilline (RI), Jason Crow (CO), Val Demings (FL), Dwight Evans (PA), Bill Foster (IL), Josh Gottheimer (NJ), Jim Himes (CT), Steven Horsford (NV), Sean Patrick Maloney (NY), Don McEachin (VA), Greg Meeks (NY), Jerry Nadler (NY), Kathleen Rice (NY), Linda Sanchez (CA), Ritchie Torres (NY), and others. He has also worked for national organizations such as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Governors Association, EMILY’s List, Priorities USA Action, End Citizens United, Senate Majority PAC, and House Majority PAC.

Jefrey has conducted issue advocacy research, brand analysis, and attitudinal studies for Major League Baseball, Everytown for Gun Safety, Comcast, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Harvard University, AFSCME, Giffords, Ford Motor Company, Con Edison, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, University of Pennsylvania, and MGM Resorts.

Pollock has also served as a pollster and consultant for international political campaigns and democratic change initiatives in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Kazakhstan, Albania, Trinidad and Tobago, Georgia, and Kosovo. He was part of the research and strategy team for the successful election of former President of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernández and previously worked for Governor Pedro Rosselló of Puerto Rico.

He was one of the original contributors on MSNBC when the channel first launched, and regularly appears as a political pundit for ABC, CNN, and FOX News Channel television programming. An accomplished author and editorialist, Jefrey’s writings have appeared on the AP wire, Philadelphia Inquirer, Campaigns & Elections magazine, Polling Report, and msnbc.com. He also has served as the moderator for focus groups with voters for ABC’s This Week. Additionally, Jefrey has testified before the United States House Ways and Means Committee to discuss American public opinion on tax reform.

Jefrey has served as an Instructor of Public Policy and Administration at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs for over 16 years. He has guest lectured at the United States Military Academy, Harvard University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Pollock holds a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration with a concentration in Advanced Statistical Analysis from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in American History.

He is on the national board of the American Association of Political Consultants and has recently been named a member of the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations. He is also a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild SAG/AFTRA having appeared in two major motion pictures (The Place Beyond the Pines and Non-Stop).

Emma specialises in creating positive change through communications. She has 30 years’ experience in the communications industry. Today she is Chief Executive of SEC Newgate UK, part of the international communications group, SEC Newgate S.p.A. on whose board she also sits. Her clients include business leaders, household brands and international organisations. She is a regular feature in the ‘PR Week UK Power Book’.

She is Deputy Chair of the Elton John Aids Foundation and a Non-Executive Director of the Green Finance Institute. She is the former Chair of the UK’s largest ovarian cancer charity, Target Ovarian Cancer, and of The Barbican Centre Trust and served on both boards for nine years. She was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in 2017.

Brian is the Managing Partner of SEC Newgate Australia and co-founder of SEC Newgate Research. He is also Deputy Chief Executive of SEC Newgate S.p.A., the parent company of SEC Newgate Australia.

In a consulting career spanning two decades, Brian has come to be regarded as one of Australia’s leading communications practitioners with expertise in strategic issues management, financial transactions, government relations, media management and community campaigning.

Brian has led several high profile and complex public affairs campaigns and financial transactions in the infrastructure, transport, banking, energy, agriculture, arts, media, and sports sectors.

Brian is a Director of AFL Club the Sydney Swans, the Committee for Sydney, SEC Newgate S.p.A and the Clontarf Foundation, which supports educational opportunities for young Indigenous Australians.

Prior to his career in consultancy, Brian was a political adviser to the Greiner Government in New South Wales. He started his career as a journalist with The Land newspaper.

Sebastian Hejnowski has more than 20 years of experience in communications. Sebastian is heading regional offices in the Central and Eastern European countries, the Balkans and the Gulf. He was recognized as a leader of Eastern European Consultancy of the Year at EMEA SABRE Awards, three times in the last decade (2015, 2017 and 2019). Worked for 3 years in Paris headquarters of MSL. Moreover he ran the advertising agency Leo Burnett.

Managed communication strategies and leader PR and PA services for for various clients in different sectors including IT, airlines, finance, media, FMCG.

Expert and practionier in creating plans of crisis management, strategic and Public Affairs advisory. Managed public affairs campaign for fight in defence of television station TVN.Warner Bros.

He was responsible for the image the biggest clients present in the CEE region.

Sebastian is involved in current trade, social and political affairs. He served as a judge in Europe’s trade contests, such as the Golden Drum, Cristal Festival and Złote Spinacze.

He willingly shares his knowledge of public relations at media trainings and practical classes.

Member of SEC Newgate since the year of its foundation, she has been a partner and the vice president of the company since 2001 and Country Manager Italia since 2017.

A professional journalist and copywriter, she managed content management and integrated communication projects, especially in the corporate, political and public administration fields. Currently, she oversees the more complex communication’s and advocacy’s strategic plans and coordinate the teams for tenders and special projects for Clients and for the agency.

She curated exhibitions and publications about communication and Italian advertising, especially for RAI-Sipra. Between 2005 and 2008 she taught “Advertising’s Forms and Languages” at the Università Cattolica in Milan.

Having graduated in Modern Arts and obtained a doctorate in History of Italian Language and Literature, she has published several works of literary criticism, about the nineteenth and twentieth century’s important authors and movements, such as Ugo Foscolo, Alessandro Manzoni, Neoclassicism and Romanticism, Giovanni Testori.

She’s been member of the Board of Museo Poldi Pezzoli and Teatro Franco Parenti (Milan), she currenty member of the Scientific Comittee of the Centenary of Giovanni Testori and in the board of Portofranco Onlus.

Founder of CLAI, Eric is a professional in corporate communications, public affairs and sensitive and crisis communications. He advised or still advises Air Liquide, Rio Tinto, Nestlé France, AstraZeneca, Schindler, Lafarge, Lilly France, Urbis Park, e.on, Altéo, the Ansa, the Hersant Media Group, the Reyl bank, Transdev, International Papers, Bridgestone, the CESE.

President for more than 8 years of Publicis Consultants, he was in charge of many large-scale campaigns, such as the pension reform, the health insurance reform, the state reform, the establishment of the LOLF, the GDF-SUEZ merger, Alcan’s takeover bid for Pechiney and Sanofi’s for Aventis.

Honorary ‘Maître des Requêtes’ at the ‘Conseil d’Etat’, former technical adviser to the Cabinet and then director of central administration at the Ministry of the Interior from 1981 to 1986, Eric has a thorough knowledge of the decision-making processes for public actions.

A former ENA student (Pierre Mendès-France promotion-1978), Eric also has a DESS in political science, a master’s degree in private law and a diploma from Sciences Po (Public Service section, promotion 1974).

He is a published author, his books include: “Corporate communications: le manuel des strategies” (2009), PUF; “Affaires de com’” (2011), Odile Jacob; “Il y a 30 ans, l’Acte I de la décentralisation” (2012), Berger Levrault; “Pour en finir (vraiment) avec le millefeuille territorial” (2015), l’Archipel; “De l’art de faire dire du bien de soi par les autres” (2019), Ed Bourin François.

Eric has been decorated as Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour and Officer of the National Order of Merit.

Jon Silvan is Founding Partner and CEO of GSG. GSG is regularly ranked as a top public affairs firm and was recently recognized as Public Affairs Agency of the Year by PRovoke Media. Jon has guided GSG’s growth for more than two decades from a boutique agency into a leading public affairs, communications, and research firm with an award-winning team of over 150 professionals in six offices across the U.S.

As a strategist and advisor, Jon is known for his smart counsel, sharp insights, and drive to win. Jon provides guidance to GSG’s clients on a wide range of issues including public affairs, corporate positioning, reputation management, and political strategy.

Jon’s clients include Fortune 500 companies, national issue advocacy groups, and some of the country’s top government officials. Among his numerous achievements, Jon partnered with World Trade Center developer Silverstein Properties to gain necessary stakeholder support to break ground and rebuild at Ground Zero. He has advised many elected officials over the years including New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, and NYC City Comptroller Scott Stringer.

Jon helps his clients tackle pressing issues, often at the center of the national spotlight. Some of Jon’s clients also include, Apollo Global Management, the Black Economic Alliance, Facebook, Major League Soccer, MGM Resorts, CVS Health, Port Authority of NY/NJ, the MTA, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Rockefeller Foundation, Hispanic Federation, Pershing Square Capital Management, and T-Mobile.

Jon is regularly acknowledged for his talents and expertise in his field. He was named #2 on Observer’s 2021 PR Power 50 list. He was recognized by City & State NY as one of the 100 most powerful people in New York City politics and as one of 2021’s top Political PR Professionals.

Jon is a member of the Arthur Page Society, which represents C-level communicators. He served as Treasurer of the PR Council, a Steering Committee member of A Better New York (ABNY), he is a board member of the Citizens Budget Commission, a member of the Partnership for NYC, and Vice Chair of the Storahtelling Board of Directors for Lab/Shul, a nonprofit organization that advances Jewish literacy through the arts.

A proud lifelong New Yorker, Jon lives in Tribeca with his wife Marnie Berk, a public interest attorney and their three children.

Jefrey Pollock is the Founding Partner and President of GSG. Since its inception, Jefrey has helped build GSG into a premier strategic research and communications firm that the Holmes Report previously named Public Affairs Agency of the Year (Americas). Jefrey was twice awarded “Pollster of the Year” by his peers in the bi-partisan American Association of Political Consultants and has year over year been named one of the most powerful people in New York politics by City and State.

Jefrey’s political clients include Governors John Carney (DE), Janet Mills (ME), and JB Pritzker (IL); Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Joe Manchin (WV), Ed Markey (MA), and Jacky Rosen (NV); Attorneys General Letitia James (NY), and Josh Shapiro (PA); Lieutenant Governors Bethany Hall-Long (DE), Denny Heck (WA), and Kathy Hochul (NY); State Auditor Rob Sand (IA); State Comptroller Susana Mendoza (IL); and members of Congress David Cicilline (RI), Jason Crow (CO), Val Demings (FL), Dwight Evans (PA), Bill Foster (IL), Josh Gottheimer (NJ), Jim Himes (CT), Steven Horsford (NV), Sean Patrick Maloney (NY), Don McEachin (VA), Greg Meeks (NY), Jerry Nadler (NY), Kathleen Rice (NY), Linda Sanchez (CA), Ritchie Torres (NY), and others. He has also worked for national organizations such as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Governors Association, EMILY’s List, Priorities USA Action, End Citizens United, Senate Majority PAC, and House Majority PAC.

Jefrey has conducted issue advocacy research, brand analysis, and attitudinal studies for Major League Baseball, Everytown for Gun Safety, Comcast, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Harvard University, AFSCME, Giffords, Ford Motor Company, Con Edison, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, University of Pennsylvania, and MGM Resorts.

Pollock has also served as a pollster and consultant for international political campaigns and democratic change initiatives in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Kazakhstan, Albania, Trinidad and Tobago, Georgia, and Kosovo. He was part of the research and strategy team for the successful election of former President of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernández and previously worked for Governor Pedro Rosselló of Puerto Rico.

He was one of the original contributors on MSNBC when the channel first launched, and regularly appears as a political pundit for ABC, CNN, and FOX News Channel television programming. An accomplished author and editorialist, Jefrey’s writings have appeared on the AP wire, Philadelphia Inquirer, Campaigns & Elections magazine, Polling Report, and msnbc.com. He also has served as the moderator for focus groups with voters for ABC’s This Week. Additionally, Jefrey has testified before the United States House Ways and Means Committee to discuss American public opinion on tax reform.

Jefrey has served as an Instructor of Public Policy and Administration at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs for over 16 years. He has guest lectured at the United States Military Academy, Harvard University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Pollock holds a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration with a concentration in Advanced Statistical Analysis from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in American History.

He is on the national board of the American Association of Political Consultants and has recently been named a member of the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations. He is also a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild SAG/AFTRA having appeared in two major motion pictures (The Place Beyond the Pines and Non-Stop).

Thomas Varvitsiotis is a preeminent figure within the communication industry, boasting over 30 years of experience in advising elite organizations across the public and private sectors in Greece, Southeastern Europe, and the United States.

His expertise lies in public affairs and stakeholder relations, where he has played a pivotal role in navigating major privatization projects and orchestrating complex issues management initiatives across diverse industries. Thomas’s strategic insight has been instrumental in driving successful large-scale transactions and transformational projects, particularly within the dynamic regulatory landscapes of Southeastern Europe.

In addition to his consultancy work, Thomas holds esteemed leadership positions including President of the Fletcher Club of Greece, Vice-President of the Lambropoulos Foundation, and President of the Urban NGO “Paradeigmatos Harin.” These roles reflect his commitment to shaping discourse and fostering engagement on pressing socio-economic issues.

His early career as a journalist for *Eleftheros Typos*, one of Greece’s leading political newspapers, and as the publisher of the internal affairs magazine *Emphasis* (1993-1995), endowed him with a profound understanding of media dynamics and narrative strategy—skills that continue to inform his approach to strategic communications today.

Thomas is an alumnus of Boston University and holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, providing him with a solid foundation in international relations and diplomacy. As an accomplished author, he has penned numerous articles and reviews, including editing the influential publication *The Future of Southeastern Europe* (Sideris Publishing, 1997).

Throughout his career, Thomas has demonstrated an exceptional ability to navigate complex challenges with precision and confidence. His strategic insights not only drive tangible outcomes but also shape critical conversations across sectors

Yiannis Olympios is a distinguished thought leader in strategic communication, renowned for his ability to navigate complex landscapes and deliver impactful solutions. With over three decades of experience, he has established himself as a trusted advisor to a diverse array of international and local organizations.

His career highlights include serving as the Spokesperson for the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1990 to 1993, where he adeptly managed media relations during a pivotal era of geopolitical transformation. Yiannis’s expertise extends across public and government affairs, corporate communications, and crisis management, making him a sought-after strategist for corporations and government entities alike.

For the past twenty years, he has spearheaded intricate public affairs programs and communication campaigns throughout Greece and the surrounding region. His proficiency in developing strategies that address multifaceted regulatory environments and crafting effective market entry plans has proven invaluable. He excels in crisis management, employing a nuanced understanding of political, economic, and societal dynamics to guide organizations through challenges.

Yiannis’s hands-on approach ensures that he is deeply engaged in every initiative, tackling the complexities of business and politics to formulate strategies that drive meaningful change. His work has not only shaped public perception but has also fostered enduring trust among businesses, communities, and policymakers.

Before joining V+O, Yiannis provided strategic counsel to leading Greek companies, significantly enhancing their communication initiatives and public profiles. His academic foundation—a Master of Arts in Comparative Development from Bristol University—equips him with insights into the role of scenarios in policy planning, further enriching his strategic capabilities.

In summary, Yiannis Olympios combines strategic insight with a profound understanding of stakeholder needs, positioning him as a leading figure in the field of strategic communication. His influence on key decisions and his commitment to creating impactful strategies make him an invaluable asset to any organization seeking to navigate the complexities of today’s communication landscape.

Emma specialises in creating positive change through communications. She has 30 years’ experience in the communications industry. Today she is Chief Executive of SEC Newgate UK, part of the international communications group, SEC Newgate S.p.A. on whose board she also sits. Her clients include business leaders, household brands and international organisations. She is a regular feature in the ‘PR Week UK Power Book’.

She is Deputy Chair of the Elton John Aids Foundation and a Non-Executive Director of the Green Finance Institute. She is the former Chair of the UK’s largest ovarian cancer charity, Target Ovarian Cancer, and of The Barbican Centre Trust and served on both boards for nine years. She was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in 2017.

Mark has an unrivalled understanding of the interface between politics, communications and business. Founder of Newington in 2006 (which merged with Newgate to form SEC Newgate UK in 2021), Mark led the award-winning consultancy to its UK TOP TEN rating. He regularly advises senior corporates on public affairs and communications issues.

Mark is a Fellow of the PRCA, winner of PRCA Outstanding Contribution to Public Affairs Award 2020 and a Warden of the Company of Communicators.

Mark was a Labour Councillor in Southwark 2002-14, including six years as Chairman of the Labour Group, and two years as Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee. He was a campaign manager in three general elections for the Labour Party. He was an expert witness on lobbying transparency in front of the Council of Europe.

Mark also served for five years on Marston Group’s Ethical Advisory Group and served on the Federal Executive of the Lib Dems in 1992.

Mark is an Awards Judge for the PRCA, Public Affairs Awards and PR Week.

Brian is the Managing Partner of SEC Newgate Australia and co-founder of SEC Newgate Research. He is also Deputy Chief Executive of SEC Newgate S.p.A., the parent company of SEC Newgate Australia.

In a consulting career spanning two decades, Brian has come to be regarded as one of Australia’s leading communications practitioners with expertise in strategic issues management, financial transactions, government relations, media management and community campaigning.

Brian has led several high profile and complex public affairs campaigns and financial transactions in the infrastructure, transport, banking, energy, agriculture, arts, media, and sports sectors.

Brian is a Director of AFL Club the Sydney Swans, the Committee for Sydney, SEC Newgate S.p.A and the Clontarf Foundation, which supports educational opportunities for young Indigenous Australians.

Prior to his career in consultancy, Brian was a political adviser to the Greiner Government in New South Wales. He started his career as a journalist with The Land newspaper.

Sue is regarded as one of Australia’s leading market and social researchers. She has more than 25 years’ experience as a market researcher, research buyer and communications consultant in the corporate, financial, issues and political arenas.

Her core expertise is conducting sensitive community and stakeholder research for organisations facing complex issues and working with clients to identify the most effective ways in which to engage and influence. She has recently been sought after as a commentator on community sentiment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sue’s broad experience includes community sentiment towards major infrastructure projects and on key policy issues, stakeholder reputation research for major corporates and government departments and agencies, testing messages and narrative development, retail shareholder research and facilitating deliberative forums and ‘deep-dives’.

Sue is also a Partner of SEC Newgate Communications. She holds a Bachelor degree in Organisational Communication from Charles Sturt University and a Masters in International Communications from Macquarie University. She is a Qualified Professional Researcher (QPR), a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and has the IAP2 Certificate of Engagement.

Angus has 25 years’ experience advising non-executive directors and senior executives from corporates and government on the management of complex and high-profile public affairs and reputation issues. He has held senior roles at GrainCorp, Insurance Australia Group and Klarna. As a consultant, he has also advised clients from various sectors including transport, media & communications, sport, childcare, health and energy.

Through these roles he has built his approach on authenticity, clarity and trust. He places a strong emphasis on understanding each brief’s unique circumstances and stakeholders prior to developing and implementing effective campaigns for his clients.
Angus leads SEC Newgate Australia’s ESG practice and was involved in the development and release of our international SEC Newgate ESG Monitor.

He specialises in corporate communications, public affairs, issues and crisis management, internal communications, M&A, demergers and government relations.

In addition, Angus brings a broader perspective, with experience working in disciplines outside corporate affairs / strategic communications, including in operational excellence, change management and small business management.

He began his career promoting nightclubs and giving consultancy to liquor brands around the world before moving to Mexico in 2002, where he founded the agency shortly thereafter.

He began his communications career at Burson Marsteller before joining Cuervo to lead the public relations team of brands such as Tequila Gran Centenario. He subsequently founded Another Company in 2004.

Member of SEC Newgate since the year of its foundation, she has been a partner and the vice president of the company since 2001 and Country Manager Italia since 2017.

A professional journalist and copywriter, she managed content management and integrated communication projects, especially in the corporate, political and public administration fields. Currently, she oversees the more complex communication’s and advocacy’s strategic plans and coordinate the teams for tenders and special projects for Clients and for the agency.

She curated exhibitions and publications about communication and Italian advertising, especially for RAI-Sipra. Between 2005 and 2008 she taught “Advertising’s Forms and Languages” at the Università Cattolica in Milan.

Having graduated in Modern Arts and obtained a doctorate in History of Italian Language and Literature, she has published several works of literary criticism, about the nineteenth and twentieth century’s important authors and movements, such as Ugo Foscolo, Alessandro Manzoni, Neoclassicism and Romanticism, Giovanni Testori.

She’s been member of the Board of Museo Poldi Pezzoli and Teatro Franco Parenti (Milan), she currenty member of the Scientific Comittee of the Centenary of Giovanni Testori and in the board of Portofranco Onlus.

Rafael Mora’s business experience was a key element in bringing SEC Newgate Colombia to life: he has led projects ranging from product launches to a presidential campaign. He has worked with multinational, transnational and local companies in both strategy and advertising. Media placement and media buying are two of his main specialties.

As a founding partner of Arena Media in Colombia, he led the media company’s entry into the Colombian market, helping to make it one of the leading media companies within the global Havas group. He has experience in almost every consumer sector, from banking and financial services to automotive, politics and beverages.

He was a partner and owner of Toro Mora Fischer America, an advertising agency based in Bogotá. During his time there, he and his colleagues transformed the venerable store into one of the top five agencies in Colombia. In 2006, it was recognized as Agency of the Year and one of the most influential communications companies in the country by P&M.

He founded several successful companies in the communications industry, including Demo/Bozell, the origin of SSPM, a company that was later acquired by the multinational Lowe and Partners (currently Mullen Lowe SSP3) and PR Communications, after Dattis Communications. In political marketing, he was among the strategic advisors for the advertising campaign of then-candidate Andrés Pastrana, who was elected president. He has also been an associate at Beber/Silverstein Americas in Miami, and has worked with major international agencies including Leo Burnett, JW Thompson and McCann-Erickson.

Industrial Engineer from the Universidad de los Andes. She served as Advisor for Presidential Management through the United Nations Development Program-UNDP and as Minister of Communications during the Government of President Andrés Pastrana. During this period she was President of the Board of Directors of Telecom and of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, as well as a member of the Superior Council for Economic and Social Policy.

Responsible for the design and implementation of the Connectivity Agenda for Colombia. She was part of the directive level of the presidential campaigns (1994 and 1998) and the campaign for the Mayor of Bogotá (1987) of Andrés Pastrana. During the Mayor’s Office of Pastrana, she held the Secretary of Finance of the District and the Management of the Telecommunications Company of Bogotá.

In the private sector, she has been Vice President of Marketing of Banco de Colombia (1991), Administrative and Financial Vice President of the Fund for the Promotion of Exports (1992), Advisor for telecommunications projects of the Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo Organization (1992-93) , President of the Colombian Union of Advertising Companies, which represents advertising agencies (1996-1997), Advisor to the Global Education Group (1997) and member of the Board of Directors of Nestle (1996).

She is currently a Member of the Board of Directors of the Global Education Alliance. He participates in the group convened by the Ford Foundation to build a shared vision on mining in Colombia – GDIAM.

Founder of CLAI, Eric is a professional in corporate communications, public affairs and sensitive and crisis communications. He advised or still advises Air Liquide, Rio Tinto, Nestlé France, AstraZeneca, Schindler, Lafarge, Lilly France, Urbis Park, e.on, Altéo, the Ansa, the Hersant Media Group, the Reyl bank, Transdev, International Papers, Bridgestone, the CESE.

President for more than 8 years of Publicis Consultants, he was in charge of many large-scale campaigns, such as the pension reform, the health insurance reform, the state reform, the establishment of the LOLF, the GDF-SUEZ merger, Alcan’s takeover bid for Pechiney and Sanofi’s for Aventis.

Honorary ‘Maître des Requêtes’ at the ‘Conseil d’Etat’, former technical adviser to the Cabinet and then director of central administration at the Ministry of the Interior from 1981 to 1986, Eric has a thorough knowledge of the decision-making processes for public actions.

A former ENA student (Pierre Mendès-France promotion-1978), Eric also has a DESS in political science, a master’s degree in private law and a diploma from Sciences Po (Public Service section, promotion 1974).

He is a published author, his books include: “Corporate communications: le manuel des strategies” (2009), PUF; “Affaires de com’” (2011), Odile Jacob; “Il y a 30 ans, l’Acte I de la décentralisation” (2012), Berger Levrault; “Pour en finir (vraiment) avec le millefeuille territorial” (2015), l’Archipel; “De l’art de faire dire du bien de soi par les autres” (2019), Ed Bourin François.

Eric has been decorated as Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour and Officer of the National Order of Merit.

Passionate about operational excellence, Feriel is a seasoned association executive. She brings over 20 years of experience in managing organisations to SEC Newgate EU, 15 of which with associations, large and small, across a variety of sectors. She launched SEC Newgate EU’s association management practice.

Prior to joining SEC Newgate EU in 2011, Feriel worked for a Brussels-based association management company. She also worked for the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, providing technical assistance to EU-funded projects. She began her career as a translator-interpreter.

Feriel graduated in 1994 from the Brussels Institut Supérieur de Traducteurs et Interprètes as a French, Italian and English interpreter. She also holds an Executive Master in International Association Management from the Solvay Brussels School. Feriel is a member of ASAE and the Center for Association Leadership and has served as Chair-elect of the AMCI Global Task Force and as a mentor for the CIPE Know How programme, mentoring the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie du Cap Bon (Tunisia).

She speaks French, English, Italian, Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese and holds Belgian and Algerian nationality

My expertise and focus is mainly public affairs and stakeholder management. I have ample experience with the lobby in The Hague, but also with advocacy at regional and local levels. I like to switch between strategic choices, contemporary issues that arise and hands-on support. I am passionate and work side-by-side with my clients throughout the process. I am also passionate about intelligence questions, data driven public affairs and the development of IT tools for ambitious public affairs professionals. For example, together with colleague Mark van den Anker I developed our successful Stakeholder Intelligence Monitor (SIM) and I bear the responsibility for the further development and growth of the SIM. Representing Wepublic, I am also involved in our international Interel network.

Previously, I worked as a public affairs advisor at Schiphol Group and as a consultant at Berenschot and EPPA Politiek & Lobby Consultants. I have also been working for the VVD for years, at both local and national level.

In my spare time I enjoy sports (running, crossfit, strength training), surfing, reading and dinners and drinks with family and friends. I can cook quite nicely and I also really enjoy eating out. I have two daughters with whom I like to go out to museums and theaters or explore the outdoors.

I love working on complex issues in the field of public affairs and stakeholder management by helping to make it concrete and to just do it. I gladly assist clients in supporting and developing public affairs strategies, which we then jointly implement. By making the representation of interests and lobby concrete and tangible, I show how they can contribute to the objectives of the organization. I am passionate and work closely with my clients throughout the process. My working method is characterized by a ‘hands-on’ and a thorough approach combined with humor and perspective.

I am enthusiastic about asking questions regarding intelligence, data driven public affairs and developing IT tools that can be of added value in our field. Together with my colleague Maaike van Hooidonk I developed our successful Stakeholder Intelligence Monitor (SIM) and I bear the responsibility for the further development and growth of the SIM.

The future of our field will, in my view, be based more on the use of data and IT applications.

Sebastian Hejnowski has more than 20 years of experience in communications. Sebastian is heading regional offices in the Central and Eastern European countries, the Balkans and the Gulf. He was recognized as a leader of Eastern European Consultancy of the Year at EMEA SABRE Awards, three times in the last decade (2015, 2017 and 2019). Worked for 3 years in Paris headquarters of MSL. Moreover he ran the advertising agency Leo Burnett.

Managed communication strategies and leader PR and PA services for for various clients in different sectors including IT, airlines, finance, media, FMCG.

Expert and practionier in creating plans of crisis management, strategic and Public Affairs advisory. Managed public affairs campaign for fight in defence of television station TVN.Warner Bros.

He was responsible for the image the biggest clients present in the CEE region.

Sebastian is involved in current trade, social and political affairs. He served as a judge in Europe’s trade contests, such as the Golden Drum, Cristal Festival and Złote Spinacze.

He willingly shares his knowledge of public relations at media trainings and practical classes.

“Woman to Watch in 2022” on the Forbes Women Power Rising list. The protagonist of the “Women of Success” series in the Vogue Polska magazine.

Co-founder and vice president of the agency. He has nearly 20 years of experience in communication consulting, strategy development and the implementation of PR and marketing projects.

For 10 years she held managerial positions in Publicis Groupe. She was the director responsible for business development in the Central and Eastern Europe region, opened offices in the Czech Republic and Turkey, and integrated teams in Romania, Bulgaria and Slovenia. Previously, she was the managing director of MSL, one of the largest PR agencies in Poland. For three years she was the Chief Communication Officer at Publicis Communications, where she dealt with consulting for the management board. Her professional experience also includes working for the global network agencies Edelman and Havas.

It has won over 20 prestigious awards and distinctions, including: EFFIE, Golden Drum, SABER Award, IPRA Golden World Award, European Excellent Award, Złote Spinacze, Impactory, and twice the “Social Campaign of the Year” titles. She is a juror at international creative festivals, from the Arab Emirates through France, to virtually all important competitions in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe:

Since 2017, he has been a member of the Expert Council of the THINKTANK Center for Dialogue and Analysis. She is a mentor of the Business Leaders Foundation. She conducts original classes at the University of Warsaw, and also lectured at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Lazarski University.

Founding Partner and CEO of SEC Newgate Middle East and Strategy Board Member at MEPRA

With a degree in Arabic at Ca’ Foscari University, Elena began her professional activities in communications and marketing management at Il Sole 24 ORE group in Milan, where she worked for 10 years.
After moving to Dubai with her family in 2010 she became Account Director for the Luxury and Consumer sector at MS&L (Leo Burnett Group).
In 2013, she met Twister’s partners and founded Twister Middle East. In 2021, SEC Newgate acquired a 70 per cent stake in Twister Middle East and the Dubai-based agency was renamed SEC Newgate Middle East.
Elena leads an international team of specialists, personally overseeing professional work for clients and making a rich wealth of competences and experience available to them. Recognised by PR Week’s Global Power Book as one of the most influential communications strategist in the Middle East from 2021.

Michael T. Schröder is the founder and main shareholder of the agency ORCA Affairs, which was founded in 2010. He has over three decades of experience in art communication, cultural communication, and public relations.

In 1989, the disciplines of communication changed – from art and cultural communication to public relations. In the course of his career in the agency sector, Michael T. Schröder has led renowned communications agencies such as Ketchum, ABC EURO RSCG or Hill & Knowlton as well as Chairman and CEO Germany & Eastern Europe. From 2015-2017, he also held the position of Global President at IPREX.

Michael T. Schröder’s consulting mandates have included numerous public and private clients since 1989. Business customers included Lufthansa, BASF, E-Plus, Deutsche Bahn, CocaCola, OPODO, Easyjet and Vattenfall. In the public sector, Michael T. Schröder has advised various federal ministries and federal authorities, including the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Federal Ministry of Economics, the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, the Federal Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Federal Ministry of Justice.

From 1998 to 2014, Michael T. Schröder held several teaching positions at universities, including the FU Berlin, THW Berlin and the Technical University of Munich. In his role as President of the Marketing Club Berlin, he introduced the “M – Marketing Award Berlin” for outstanding achievements of Berlin companies in 2008 and founded the “Initiative Deutsche Manufakturen – Handmade in Germany” in 2011, of which he is still chairman today.

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.

Terence leads SEC Newgate in Singapore and Southeast Asia, and has significant experience in corporate communications, financial communications and public affairs. Since joining the public relations industry in 1999, Terence has been advising on long-term strategic profile-raising, reputation management and issues management programmes. He has advised on crisis communications, litigation support, government relations, community engagement, employee engagement and customer engagement initiatives, and also coached C-suite and operational management teams on messaging and presentation skills, as well as public speaking. His clients have spanned a wide variety of sectors, such as the financial services, food and beverage, gaming, healthcare, manufacturing, professional services, as well as transport and logistics. In particular, he has extensive experience in the real estate sector, providing strategic communications advice on corporate positioning, fund raising, issues management, asset acquisitions and divestments, as well as public and private M&A transactions.

His client list includes ANZ Bank, ARA Asset Management, Ascendas-Singbridge, the Australian Commonwealth Territory, Blackstone, CDL Hospitality Trusts, Credit Suisse, Cromwell European REIT, CWT, ESR-REIT, Fraser & Neave, Frasers Property, Global Logistic Properties, IHH, Income Singapore, KKR, Lippo Karawaci, Northstar Group, OCBC, OUE, Pan United, Sembcorp, Suntec REIT, Thai Beverage, TSMP, Warburg Pincus, and Wheelock and Company. Significantly, he has advised a number of these clients since the early to late-2000s, and has advised the majority of these clients on multiple mandates and projects.

Terence has an unparalleled track record of advising on successful financial communications and capital markets transactions. He has advised on numerous headline M&A deals involving some of the largest regional groups, starting with the merger of DBS Land and Pidemco Land to form CapitaLand in 2000, and the UOB takeover of OUB in 2001. In recent years, he advised Temasek on its acquisition of Olam, KKR on its acquisition of Goodpack, Temasek on the merger to form Ascendas-Singbridge, KKR on its joint offer on United Envirotech, Temasek on the merger of CitySpring Infrastructure Trust and Keppel Infrastructure Trust, Baring PE Asia on its Offer for Interplex, Hotel Holdings on its offer for Goodwood Park hotel, Temasek on its acquisition of SMRT, Jacobs Douwe Egberts on its offer for Super Group, the Lippo Group on its offers for Auric Pacific and HMC, CWT on its acquisition by HNA, a consortium led by ARA founder John Lim on the privatisation of ARA Asset Management, Global Logistic Properties on its acquisition by an investor consortium, IHH on its acquisition of Fortis, and Wheelock and Company on its offer for Wheelock Properties. In the Singapore REIT space, he has advised ESR-REIT and Viva Industrial Trust on their merger, which was the first in the sector, and subsequently on the merger of OUE Commercial REIT and OUE Hospitality Trust, and on the merger of Frasers Logistics & Industrial Trust and Frasers Commercial Trust. He advised Singapore Airlines on its recent rights issue to raise gross proceeds of approximately S$8.8 billion during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also advised Mercatus on its divestment of several retail malls in Singapore, which were some of the largest real estate transactions in recent years. Terence has also advised on about a third of the 40 largest SGX IPOs, including the USD5.5 billion Hutchison Port Holdings Trust IPO, which continues to be the largest listing in the history of Singapore.

Terence is an accredited member of the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore. He served for several years as a member of a Citizens Consultative Committee and various sub-committees in the Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency (GRC). Prior to Newgate, Terence spent thirteen years with Gavin Anderson & Company, which merged with Kreab to become Kreab Gavin Anderson in 2009. Before that, he was a corporate banker for four years with Crédit Industriel et Commercial, working in Paris, London and Singapore. He has lived in France for more than five years, and is fluent in French. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

When I decided to study Business Administration, my father said “that has to do with salesmen, right? You should study Law – that’s definitely more respectable!”. Truth is that I did study Law, but when he wanted me to go further and access public notaries, I fortunately managed to convince him to do an MBA. That’s when my passion for marketing, communication and sales began. Since then, I have been working with dozens of clients, brands and above all hundreds of people. In the meanwhile, I have been able to make great friends, play tennis, paddle and golf, and build a wonderful family along the way.

Tanja is a seasoned communications specialist with over 25 years of experience in corporate and public affairs. Having held leadership positions at international firms such as Coca-Cola Germany and REWE Group, she possesses extensive expertise in addressing the needs of global clients and managing comprehensive stakeholder campaigns.

Her specialization lies in political campaigning on critical corporate and industry issues. Tanja has built extensive networks in the German political and media sectors, covering a wide array of fields such as the technology, sustainability, social affairs, health, food, retail, and consumer protection. Her range of skills includes strategic communication, stakeholder management, change and crisis communication, media relations, and the development of industry alliances and association management.

On the corporate side, Tanja worked for various international clients such as Weight Watchers, Adobe, Podigee, Edwards, Merck, Action Discounter, Transdev, and Hager Group. On the public side, she worked for the European Commission DG Sanco and DG Employment, as well as for German federal ministries and their respective authorities

Sergio has more than 15 years of broad experience in financial audit of national and international clients, for both statutory and group reporting purposes under Italian GAAP, IFRS and US GAAP; as Audit Manager, he has worked for 3 years in the United States, where he was the coordinator of the Italian Desk in New York. He also performed long-term assignments providing financial analysis and consulting services in Amazon Italy and other international clients.

From 2017 to 2020 he worked as Finance Manager in a digital company providing software solutions for the automotive industry in Europe, based in Milan, and recently listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

Sergio joined SEC Newgate on 1 June 2020 as Group CFO.

He has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Italy’s leading university Bocconi in Milan, and he is qualified in Italy as a Certified Public Accountant.

Michele is a business executive with a long and solid experience in Professional Services gained in multinational contexts for more than 30 years.

He spent 25 years in Accenture as Managing Director where he matured significant capabilities in managing Transformation initiatives for Telco, High Tech, Chemical and Automotive clients.

After three years in the Customer Care BPO sector as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Comdata S.p.A, in 2018 Michele joined RGI Group, ISP (Independent Software Provider) leader in the EMEA Insurance market, with the role of COO.

Over the years he proved significant ability in managing and evolving corporate operations to sustain company performances in term of profitability, process effectiveness and industrialization. He’s strongly skilled in developing long term relationships with Clients based on results, value delivered and trust.

He values building collaborative work environments in complex situations, leveraging on diversity, teamwork and engagement of talented people to deliver outstanding outcomes.

Michele joined SEC Newgate in 2022 as Chief Operating Officer.

Cara has more than two decades of communications industry experience working with global Fortune 500 companies and U.S. federal agencies. Her work spans multiple market sectors, including Energy, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive and Technology, with a particular focus on supporting organizations working in regulated industries on corporate affairs, policy, and reputation strategy.

Cara joined SEC Newgate on 1 April 2024 as Chief Growth Officer, Global and Americas.

A proven leader with a successful track record of implementing strategies that increase sales, business performance and agency reputation, Cara has spent her career at two of the world’s leading multinational communications holding companies, WPP and Omnicom. Most recently, Cara spent five years with BCW, a WPP company, leading growth for the agency’s largest region in alignment with the company’s objectives, market conditions, and industry trends. She previously spent a decade at Ketchum, an Omnicom company, where she led business development and strategy for the Washington, D.C. market, in addition to several industry sectors for North America.

Cara lives in Washington, D.C. with her fiancé and their four children.

Maurizio Maione has spent nearly 20 years advising organizations in different segment of communications, from crisis to issue management, from sustainability to community relations. During his career Maurizio has dealt with different models of the advisory business from local boutique heavy specialised firms to national players to eventually global multinationals in a continuous travel back and forth. He has also lived different experience as far as his role was concerned, being an advisor, a partner and a manager in different contexts.

He has a deep understanding of several industries including energy, chemicals, automotive and infrastructures. Over the time he has developed a sheer interest in training activities and currently he is engaged in media training and public speaking sessions, nationally and internationally.

Maurizio currently serves has Chief of Staff of the Group CEO a position where he can deliver his first hand knowledge of the progressive construction of the Group as he was engaged in the internationalisation process from the very beginning in 2013, along with previous know-how from being part of WPP before joining SEC Newgate in 2009. Part of his daily work in related to coordinating and overseeing the build up of international teams from across the Group when pitching global prospects.

Aged 55, Maurizio holds a degree in Macro economics and Politics and a Master in Mass media and Journalism. He is based between Milan and Rome.

Irene has been working in marketing and communications for more than 15 years. With a career spanning in two continents as consultant for international B2B and B2C companies, she developed a diversified know-how in strategic marketing, digital, branding, market research and CRM. She has experience in various industries, such as automotive, omnichannel retail, food & beverage and SaaS.

She joined SEC Newgate as Group Marketing Manager in July 2021, her first group-wide initiative being the launch of SEC Newgate ESG Monitor in October of that same year.

Irene holds a Bachelor in Conference interpreting from SSIT (Milan, Italy), a Bachelor Degree in French and English Literature and Linguistics from Università degli Studi (Milan, Italy) and an Executive Master in Marketing and Sales from ESADE Business School (Madrid, Spain) and SDA Bocconi (Milan, Italy).

Having been a lecturer at IULM University (Milan, Italy), she values learning and coaching for younger generations and she’s active in mentorships programs as mentor for Bocconi University and Young Women Network.

In addition to her native Italian, Irene speaks English, French, German and basic Spanish.